An AFFINITY-Moderator must be able to:

• Plan, conduct and evaluate moderating events and activities.
• Lead and direct IDIs, discussion groups, creative workshops etc. to enhance empathy and creativity as well as a constructive and target-oriented flow.
• Ensure that all respondents are given a chance to speak, and create an atmosphere that discourages any kind of verbal offence or insult, inappropriate comments or other destructive behaviour.
• Employ models, methods and mental aspects that help to lead interviews and discussion groups with efficiency.

An AFFINITY-Moderator must be able to:

• Understand and relate to the thoughts and feelings of respondents.
• Pick up on and read body language (i.e. facial expressions, gestures, posture).
• Tune into and interpret paraverbal signals (voice pitch, speed of speech, intonation, volume, breathing etc.).
• Handle their own emotions and align them with those of their respondents in order to work together not against each other.

An AFFINITY-Moderator must be able to:

• Impart information in a way that makes the target audience listen and understand.
• Embody professional competence and expertise.
• Present information in a format that is appropriate for the topic as well as the audience.

An AFFINITY-Moderator must be able to:

• Remain unfazed and in control when they are verbally attacked or faced with hostile comments.
• React with intelligence, eloquence and wit in a number of different interview situations.
• Act with self-confidence and assurance.
• Navigate out of situations in which they are being attacked or criticised by employing skillful counter techniques without launching a counter-attack.
• Maintain their composure in awkward or embarrassing situations.

An AFFINITY-Moderator must be able to:

• Enthusiasm
• Knowledge of human nature
• Intuitive understanding
• Self-awareness
• Emotional skills – ability to understand, perceive and control feelings

An AFFINITY-Moderator must be able to:

Think systemically, as somebody who is capable of looking at the overall system

• • Is less likely to overreact (i.e. take rash measures and correct these later)
  • Is rarely taken by surprise by the course of developments in a group discussion
  • Has a better understanding of the workings of a system (e.g. the system of the patient life world) and will therefore be able to take into consideration any influencers, interdependencies and long-term consequences