From Solo Leaders to Manager Communities
The Magic of Roundtables
Harness the Power of Roundtables
If one of your goals is to generate fresh ideas, spark innovation, and build camaraderie amongst your leaders, then a roundtable or indeed a series of them may be what you need.
What is a Roundtable?
A roundtable is a gathering of people focused on discussing a specific topic. In a physical setting, roundtables allow participants to see each other's faces and body language, which can significantly enhance understanding and communication. Virtual roundtables offer a similar benefit, as participants can see everyone directly on screen.
Why a Roundtable?
We incorporate roundtables into our manager program because leadership development goes beyond simply learning new skills and tools. Roundtables foster:
Peer Learning: Sharing experiences and insights with colleagues.
Network Development: Building connections and fostering a sense of community.
The Establishment of Cultural Norms: Discussing and solidifying best practices within your organization.
One of the recent participants in our leadership program put it neatly, she said…
“One of the standout aspects of the program was the Managers’ Roundtable. The conversations, debates, and topics discussed there fostered a sense of camaraderie and opened up crucial conversations. This not only helped the Management Team bond but also equipped us to tackle challenges collectively.”
Eva - PocketWorlds
The Roundtable Format
There's no single "right" way to conduct a roundtable. However, skilled facilitation is important to ensure a productive discussion. Here are some other considerations:
Group size: These kinds of discussions work best with around 3-8 people.
Turn-taking: Provide the group with some guidance as to how people should contribute - for example, using the hand raise feature in Zoom and awaiting the facilitator to bring them in or a more organic ‘popcorn’ style. There is no right or wrong and the cultural norms in your organization will influence this choice.
Set Expectations: Let them know the session isn’t directly intended to resolve any specific problem and is about exploring and unpacking topics in a bid to deepen understanding and connection. We find that good problem-solving tends to emerge as a natural by-product of a more free-flowing conversation. That said, assure participants that, if clear problems are identified and/or solutions arise, they will be written in the session notes.
Ownership: Identify an owner for any action items either in real-time or immediately post roundtable.
Optionality: Since these sessions are to promote community, it's better to make them optional. Any sense of obligation to attend should arise solely from the reputation the roundtables accrue from being of real value to people.
Sparking Engaging Discussions
One of the most important factors for a roundtable is to identify materials and topics that will engage the group. The two main ingredients are:
Pre-Meeting Energizers: Consider high-energy activities or quick games that get participants engaged and thinking creatively from the outset.
Prompts: You can use thought-provoking questions or articles. You can also incorporate case studies or even quick polls to ignite conversation. The prompts could be about leadership in general or something specific to your industry.
Discussion Prompts
Whilst we highly encourage you to invite the group to generate their own discussion prompts, we know this can be challenging at first. Especially for folks who haven’t facilitated or participated in this style of explorative discussion before. Here are ten questions offered up by managers from our program to kick off your roundtables:
The Power of Empathy: How can leaders use empathy to build trust and motivate teams?
Combating Burnout: What strategies can leaders implement to help team members avoid burnout in today's demanding work environment?
Thinking While Doing: How can leaders carve out time for critical thinking while actively executing strategy and tackling tactical work?
Clarity in Chaos: How can leaders set clear context and expectations for their teams in a rapidly changing environment?
Measuring Performance in Flux: How can you effectively assess an employee's performance when their role or responsibilities are constantly evolving?
From Good to Great: What differentiates a good leader from an exceptional one? Let's explore specific qualities that drive success in leadership.
Culture Counts: What defines an exceptional company culture? How can leaders foster a culture that promotes success and achievement?
Shared Responsibility for Growth: How do we strike a balance between personal responsibility and the company/manager's responsibility for an employee's growth and development?
Leading Remotely: How can leaders effectively convey their energy and inspire a remote team?
Conquering Imposter Syndrome: How can leaders overcome feelings of inadequacy and develop a more confident leadership style?
Are you ready to host a roundtable and would you like more support?
We can offer 1-on-1 coaching for you as a facilitator or step in and facilitate 1-2 sessions to get you set up. Hit reply to this email to arrange a call.