Know the edge of the topic, not the whole industry.

technique — attributed to Steven Clemons

Clemons's pre-event preparation focuses on edges. He does not try to know what everybody knows about the whole industry; he has no time for that. He wants the controversies, the opportunities, what has gone badly, what has gone well. A moderator who knows the contested ground asks questions the speaker did not anticipate, and the room gets the conversation it actually came for.

For moderators, panel hosts, and conference interviewers preparing for sessions.

moderator-preparation, edges, specialization, controversies