The steps to facilitating an effective roundtable discussion Have you ever run a roundtable discussion? Throughout my years in publishing, I've taken part in countless roundtables. During some, I was the facilitator and other times I was a participant. Although there are many ways to direct them, my ideal approach to running roundtables focuses on the fundamental needs of the attendees. My approach to facilitating roundtables To begin roundtables, I get all the attendees into the room and ask, "If you could have the answer to one question that would help change the fundamental way your business runs, what would it be?" I then take careful note of these important inquiries from the audience. If people share the same question, I ask them to specifically state that fact. I do this to help score the questions - the highest score goes to the question asked by the most people. I begin roundtables this way for two reasons. First, this method leads us towards a list of questions that people want answered. Second, it helps us prioritize and forge the roundtable's direction. Some questions will be unique; others will be echoed by numerous attendees, clearly showing their relevance within our industry. By executing dozens of roundtables this way, I have made one major observation: this format is very effective in doing the most good for the most people. It provides an incredibly high degree of value, as multiple minds share pertinent first-hand information.
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The value of roundtables From time to time, my consulting clients ask me ask me if it'd benefit them to attend a roundtable moderated by me, when they already have me on retainer. My reply is always yes, because the roundtable environment allows for input from many experts with varying perspectives and produces new thinking that challenges existing best practices. After all, today's best practices for online publishing and marketing are very different than those of just five years ago. When you go into a roundtable, it's not about just getting your question answered. The point of a roundtable is to speak with moderators, who are often experts and consultants with a broad knowledge, and listen to what other attendees have to share. There's also a solid chance that at least one person in the room has experienced the same problem you face, and has solved it. Perhaps some have found different solutions to your problem, which may be more or less appropriate for you. An additional highlight of moderating and attending roundtables is that you receive unexpected valuable information. You will likely hear about problems that you haven't faced yet, but will in the future. Although you may not be aware of the issue yet, hearing solutions from other professionals will help you plan accordingly. Trying to compare roundtables is like comparing apples and oranges...they both have nutritional value, but have very different tastes and consistencies. When I moderate a roundtable, I try to lay back and facilitate answers from the audience. I throw in any missing advice or bust myths when necessary, and I steer the conversation away from any third-party accounts that may lose the veracity of the problem and solution, as something may be lost in translation. Ultimately, what's important to remember is that during a roundtable, everyone in attendance will get some level of consultation as they learn from both the moderators and the participants. View Blog Post & Leave a Comment [-503.623013-] | Featured Product | 
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