At a minimum, send out an email with a compilation of all top transcribed points and answers reached by your groups. Roundtable discussions are a great way to bring people together to network, collaborate, and create meaningful connections between professionals. To help moderators stay focused, guide them with a clear, specific brief that details discussion points and what you would like them to achieve. group attendees who share similar interests, group attendees from the same geographic regions. This ensures someone is always checking tables to keep discussions productive. A roundtable discussion can be a meaningful highlight of your conference or corporate event. You’re not there to sell. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION FORMAT . GOAL & OBJECTIVES: To facilitate a meaningful group discussion that is engaging and helpful. If you’re not hiring an experienced moderator, ensure your chosen person has a good understanding of the topics you need to cover and can help guide participants. Meet your preferred candidate face-to-face before booking to assess how they engage in conversation. But hosting a roundtable … Typically a roundtable meeting brings together several industry professionals who aim to solve a problem by providing equal inputs into strategy development. Decide on the right format. I get asked quite frequently to moderate roundtable discussions as part of my job and quite a few people have asked me exactly how one should go about the potentially tricky task of moderating. Through combined intelligence, you will be able to select the right roundtable discussion topic. The distinctive feature that differentiates … Unfortunately, these discussions can also be a disaster — because everyone has the chance to participate in conversation! A roundtable discussion is one piece of a much larger puzzle when planning a conference or corporate event. Rather than focusing on what's being said, they're focusing on how much time is left. We assist with registration, room set-up, seat assignments, and more. A roundtable discussion is most effective when participation in the table discussion is limited to a handful of members versus a large crowd. Unfortunately, these discussions can also be a disaster — because. If… Now you know how all about roundtable discussion formats. If you’re organising multiple groups from a variety of professional backgrounds, use your. Round table is a form of academic discussion. To start the discussions, have everyone quickly introduce themselves in a few sentences. Roundtable tip #1: Define your goals. Your roundtable discussion can be an engaging alternative to a keynote speaker. A wearer of many hats, she's worked in advertising, digital strategy, community management, and hosted her fair share of events around Melbourne. Roundtable Discussion Format: How to Run a Successful Roundtable Meeting Roundtables are great for networking, collaborating, and creating meaningful connections between professionals. Timer Screens: Typically, we don’t recommend incorporating any sort of timer screens. Thus “Discussion is a thought­ful consideration of relationships involved in the topic or the problem under study. INDEPENDENTLY MODERATED. One of these such discussion types is the “roundtable.” The title is descriptive—the participants sit at a literal round table, usually, or at least in a circle, implying no hierarchy, and each in turn contributes his or her ideas and expertise on the topic. Define the topic of the roundtable discussion. Roundtables are great for networking, collaborating, and creating meaningful connections between professionals. Roundtable discussions . 3. In the 2017 edition, the organizers let the participants connect with well-facilitated networking sessions and carefully curated content. This format provides them with the private attention of senior decision-makers, allowing them to share and support sensitive information in a secure environment. o By identifying areas of common interest. This can be a tricky person to find especially if you’re working with sponsors on a roundtable. You can put the topic on a screen or pass out a piece of paper with a list of discussion topics. Q&A Style. And those are the basics! The duration of the roundtable discussion should be between 60 and 90 minutes. Ensure yours is a success from start to finish by keeping on top of trends and challenges that are influencing events like yours with our free guide, The State of Conferences and Corporate Events in 2018, 3 Copywriting Tips to Increase Attendance at Your Conference, 3 Key Conference and Corporate Event Promotion Trends, The State of Conferences and Corporate Events in 2018: Trends and Challenges. If you have groups, assign time for each table to share the top line results and engage in further discussion. For example, to establish your event as a leader in your industry, releasing an infographic or presentation of the results achieved by your group/s will show value to future attendees and may even help to, Roundtable tip #8: Don’t leave participants in the dark, How to run a successful conference or corporate event. Roundtable discussants will share the conceptual, methodological, professional, or applied concerns about their paper. Rather than trying to guess what they want to talk about, just ask them! Here are some quick suggestions: How many attendees will be participating in the conversation? A roundtable is a facilitated discussion that gives each participant the maximum amount of group input on a given subject of common interest in a short amount of time. This should last no more than 10 minutes. A successful conversation will produce content that is valuable to both your attendees and your event brand. The roundtable is not a format to discuss product features and service capabilities. So, we've created a roundtable discussion format guide. Good roundtable discussion questions give each participant a chance to share something interesting. So how do you select a moderator that will help your event shine? To give everyone the opportunity to speak, try and limit the size of your roundtable to somewhere between 6-10 participants. However, the disadvantage of this is that you may actually see value in more than ten people being involved. The participants won't even notice the difference. Cancel … The panel or roundtable discussion is a generic term that means that more than two persons (speaker and moderator) are on the stage at the same time. when the group is going to be a long term engagement. It also gives you more control and flexibility over the session when you can adjust the timing as needed. Audio: We suggest using a wireless microphone (with speakers) for the facilitator. A successful conversation will produce content that is valuable to both your attendees and your event brand. Moderating: As the moderator, it’s extremely important that you set the tone from the start. That is, the roundtable discussion is a good vehicle for exploring territory with fairly knowledgeable members on a topic, or at least where each member brings knowledge to bear on a problem. We recommend seating between 5-8 people per table, depending on table size. Be prepared to discuss 2-3 major points and tensions of your paper. Realistically, not all participants may hear what they would like to hear, but hopefully, all parties would feel that their contribution is worth their time. Conducted using bespoke video conferencing technology, each of our roundtables drive 90 minutes of thought-leading discussion from six like-minded business leaders, all connected from their location of choice and supported by our in-house technical team. Each … There is no formal agenda, but there are specific topics. This is key to continuing to build upon the relationships. While this might sound like a headache of manual manipulation within excel, it doesn’t have to be. For example, if you want to extend one round by a minute or cut another round short, you can! Mel is a writer and editor at Eventbrite, helping event creators level up their marketing and put together more engaging experiences. Say, for example, your roundtable discussion wants to tackle a hot-button industry issue. Once you set your agenda, send it to your participants so they can mull it over beforehand. How? Now you know how all about. If you don’t have time for this on your agenda, don’t leave your attendees wondering what will become of their ideas. This is the person chairing and often leading the discussion. Our software can create strategic seating assignments at the touch of the button. How long will the roundtable activity run for? Participants agree on a specific topic to discuss and debate. These relations are to be analysed, compared, evaluated and conclusions are drawn. Your attendees have left feeling invigorated by the conversation. And you can even ask if there’s anything else they want to add in case there’s time left over. If relevant to your subject, you could also use include bonus questions for each table that play to the professional strengths of your attendees. Roundtable tip #5: Prepare a brief for facilitators. Roundtable tip #2: Review your attendee list, When people sit down to discuss an issue face to face, they have the opportunity to engage on a more personal level than sitting passively to listen to a presentation or speech. If you have concurrent discussions at your event, assign a facilitator for each table and have a roving moderator. Is there a problem that your industry faces that you would like to address? Roundtable tip #7: Transcribe the conversation, Have a staff member on hand to transcribe the major points and results of your roundtable discussion. The format of a virtual roundtable is crucial to its success. A roundtable discussion is one piece of a much larger puzzle when planning a conference or corporate event. Be very clear about what points you want attendees to discuss to remain productive rather than getting stuck on a single issue. Note that topics with the highest relevancy or frequency will likely be chosen. Attendees love roundtables because everyone has the chance to participate in conversation. One of the formats of a round table discussion is to have participants ask questions after the presentation. And we believe every event planner should be able to host a successful roundtable. When the session begins, the presenters offer their presentation … Do your research and ask potential candidates for professional references. Roundtable tip #3: Select a strong moderator. Instruct them to use the brief to encourage your attendees to speak and avoid answering their own questions. 90 minutes. When people sit down to discuss an issue face to face, they have the opportunity to engage on a more personal level than sitting passively to listen to a presentation or speech. It will also become the basis of your agenda (you can find our tips for a smart agenda below). The roundtable discussions are an opportunity for participants to get together in an informal setting to examine issues as they relate to pediatric surgical nursing. A Virtual Roundtable is a thought-leading discussion between senior corporate leaders using video conferencing technology. If relevant to your subject, you could also use include bonus questions for each table that play to the professional strengths of your attendees. has the chance to participate in conversation! Assess the title and companies of the attendees and try to create a spread of complementary skills across each group. Simply schedule a free consultation to learn more about our program. If your attendees came up with a solid plan, let them know how the information will be put to use and follow up with the results of any actionable outcome. Continue to do so for each round thereafter. The discussion requires a statement or enumeration of the facts to be analysed. To do so, you need a proper roundtable discussion format. Once everyone has met, you’re ready to introduce the discussion topics. Establishing the purpose of the conversation will help attendees work toward a common goal. A roundtable discussion can be a meaningful highlight of your conference or corporate event. This method can in reality encompass a number of different formats; roundtables are a form of academic discussion, used as a technique for community and public engagement, and may also be used by organisations and businesses. Look to your network for recommendations of someone your peers have had success with in the past. It’s important to remember that the moderator is at the table to facilitate conversation, not lead it. A round table discussion is an excellent form of small group communication. Collect information about their industry, areas of interest, geographical location, job title, etc. The World Café format is a simple, effective, and flexible format for hosting large group dialogue. A key role in any roundtable is the moderator. This person has to be articulate, confident and knowledgeable about the topics discussed. There is no projection Roundtables are one of those constructive conference formats that unleash the expertise of professionals in a friendly discussion where everyone has the right to contribute. When they register for the event, you should be collecting data about them. Hard-hitting, short panel discussion with the keynote/main stage presenters with no audience Q&A. All Rights Reserved. Give every attendee a copy of the agenda to keep them focused and informed. Don’t feel pressured for the discussion to reach a conclusion. The roundtable discussion format makes it easy for the facilitator to intervene if a disagreement between participants turns hostile. In it, you'll find all the tips + tricks for facilitating an energizing and impactful event. Set lead-in questions that frame the topic and give your moderator a guide on where to direct the conversation. See more. But hosting a roundtable event can seem like an overwhelming task. If your time allocation is generous, group sizes can be larger (10-15), but if time is short, groups will need to be smaller (6-8) to allow everyone a chance to be heard. There’s also a solid chance that at least one person in the room has experienced the … Roundtable definition is - a conference for discussion or deliberation by several participants; also : the participants in such a conference. This discussion format is also flexible in that it allows for variation in the number of participants in successive sessions. As an event planner, you want to ensure your attendees have meaningful conversations. Discussants will be grouped together with 5-10 other students to discuss the major points and tensions of their paper. This will help to avoid misunderstandings or vague answers. With or without utilizing our, And those are the basics! When you’ve set goals for your roundtable discussion, consider how your event might achieve them. Connect from any location. Each person is given equal right to participate, as illustrated by the idea of a circular layout referred to in the term round table. Delegates are given the opportunity to be active participants, rather than listening to a PowerPoint presentation. Roundtable Discussion Format: How to Run a Successful Roundtable Meeting, And we believe every event planner should be able to host a successful roundtable. With 30+ years of event planning experience, we'd like to think we know a thing or two. What will you do with the information after the event? Around the world format You can do a roundtable discussion using an around the world format, which means you start on one side of the room and then move one-by-one around the table until everyone has had a chance to speak. Webcast on Conference Session Formats - Roundtable sessions wecareaboutfamilies. With the data collected at registration. Your roundtable discussion was a success — congratulations! Attendees love roundtables because everyone has the chance to participate in conversation. Now what? Give your attendees a general idea of how the event will work and what to expect. Offering a digital alternative to physical business events and roundtable dinners, Virtual Roundtables help professionals to identify actionable solutions to their key challenges without the need to leave their home or office. The format. Without a strong plan, roundtable discussions can feel a lot like the kind of “blah” business meetings we leave the office to escape. Roundtable Discussions are small group discussions where everybody has an equal right to participate. Or, you can come up with a starter list of topics and have them specify which topics they are or aren’t interested in. Read the discussion topic/question and let them know how much time they’ll have to discuss. The event agenda was designed around three session formats: keynote speeches and panels, roundtable discussions, and of course networking activities. Delegates are given the opportunity to be active participants, rather than listening to a PowerPoint presentation. The more prepared they are, the better the conversation will be. We’re disrupting how people meet and network. A strong moderator can keep things on track and moving along if a discussion stagnates. When you walk into a roundtable room you will find a table with 8-10 chairs. However, it’s important to know exactly what you want your attendees to gain from a discussion format. This way, you are able to walk around the room and manage the event, all while on the move. To avoid a chaotic discussion or yawn-inducing event, here are eight top tips for running a successful roundtable discussion. Another format is to have questions submitted ahead of time. This may be part of a free paper session, or take place after several talks. Each table will seat 5-10 people and discussions … The best way to decide on discussion topics is to go straight to the source: the attendees. By a dedicated Meet the Boss Presenter. This structure has some benefits, because once a … This had varying degrees of … Contact us today to see how we can help your members and employees make smart connections. © 2020 Eventbrite. As an event planner, you want to ensure your attendees have meaningful conversations. Your agenda should outline: Have a staff member on hand to transcribe the major points and results of your roundtable discussion. In addition, because they are in a circle, they are able to see and hear each other with ease, not always the case in a series of rows that a typical lecture is held in. The facilitator needs to be well versed on the topic and engage the group member in the discussion. We’ve all been stuck in meetings or discussions that feel unproductive and go off-topic — the last thing you want is attendees to feel flat at the end of this activity. Assess the title and companies of the attendees and try to create a spread of complementary skills across each group. Part of your planning should include how the results of the discussion will be used. For example, to establish your event as a leader in your industry, releasing an infographic or presentation of the results achieved by your group/s will show value to future attendees and may even help to attract sponsors. For open-ended discussions, not all parties may agree at the end. It’s the place to discuss topics and issues which are typically affecting your industry or the work of your customers. Remind your attendees to follow-up and keep in contact with their new connections. To give everyone the opportunity to speak, try and limit the size of your roundtable to somewhere between 6-10 participants. To help define the goals of your roundtable discussion, consider the following: Establishing your goals upfront will help you run a smoother event from start to finish. Tables: Hence the name roundtables, you should quite literally use round tables. Discussion Topics: This is arguably the most important part of hosting a roundtable. [Tweet “How do you stop a roundtable discussion from feeling like another business meeting? Round table definition, a number of persons gathered together for conference, discussion of some subject, etc., and often seated at a round table. virtual. Sharing results with participants is a great way to keep them engaged after the event and it could also create content that helps attract a similar audience to future events. Each round is prefaced with a question. But hosting a roundtable event can seem like an overwhelming task. The process begins with the first of two or more rounds of discussion for groups of 4-6 seated around a table. As soon as everyone has arrived, provide clear instructions/expectations about the event. Collect a bunch of roundtable discussion topics, and get them validated by management, sales, and your partners. As the time comes to a close, give a 30-second warning to wrap up the conversations. Read our 8 top tips to keep conversations on track.”]. At the end of each 15-20-minute round, each member of the group moves to a different table. If after reading this, you don't feel up to facilitating, we're happy to help! Their opinion is the least important! That’s understandable. In discussion mere allega­tions un-supported by evidence are of little value.” Types of Discussion. Wrap-up: After the last discussion topic, wrap-up the event with closing announcements. This invite-only Virtual Roundtable is hosted by an individual industry solution provider.Driving B2B stimulating discussions between themselves and their qualified and targeted delegation. that helps attract a similar audience to future events. What does a roundtable session look like? Delegates are given the opportunity to be active participants, rather than listening to a PowerPoint presentation. Grouping Participants: You need to strategically seat attendees. Search for similar events to find and connect with tried-and-true moderators. Loading... Unsubscribe from wecareaboutfamilies? Therefore, the event takes the form of an expert meeting, with the advantage that participants attend voluntarily, which increases the production of exciting insights. Your roundtable discussion can be an engaging alternative to a keynote speaker. What is a roundtable discussion? Roundtable discussion tip #1: Define your goals. We also recommend asking them to submit one discussion topic for consideration. They tend to take away from the conversations. to personalise the experience for guests. No format is perfect, so adjust the format to meet your objectives. Like selecting a keynote speaker, who you choose to moderate the conversation could be the difference between a good event and a flop. Do you need to break them into smaller groups? You’re there to provide opinion and enable conversations. However, it’s important to know exactly what you want your attendees to gain from a discussion format. The format allows for extended discussion among a small group without having to rearrange the setting. Instinctively, we turned to our conference speakers to be moderators. Sitting in a circle ensures everyone feels involved and engaged in the conversation. Your roundtable discussion can be an engaging alternative to a keynote speaker. The point of a roundtable is to speak with moderators, who are often experts and consultants with broad knowledge, and listen to what other attendees have to share. Ensure yours is a success from start to finish by keeping on top of trends and challenges that are influencing events like yours with our free guide, The State of Conferences and Corporate Events in 2018. Luckily, we're here to help. For a one hour panel, there are four popular formats to consider: Mainstage Style; Q&A Style; Initial Remarks Style; Presentation Style; Mainstage Style. Sharing results with participants is a great way to keep them engaged after the event and it could also. With or without utilizing our matching software. If you’re organising multiple groups from a variety of professional backgrounds, use your attendee list to personalise the experience for guests. Roundtables are an ideal format for networking and in-depth discussion on a particular topic. It’s a good idea to encourage personal outreach rather than copy & pasting the same email to every person. Roundtable presenters should bring targeted questions to pose to others at the table in order to learn from and with those attending. It is very common to have participants representing different industries. To the source: the participants in such a conference quickly introduce themselves in a circle ensures everyone involved... Transcribed points and answers reached by your groups is most effective when in. Much time they ’ ll have to be active participants, rather than copy & the. 'D like to address or the work of your customers Webcast on conference session formats: keynote speeches and,. Attendees work toward a common goal lead-in questions that frame the topic or the problem under study or! Top tips to keep them focused and informed than getting stuck on a particular topic with well-facilitated networking sessions carefully. In successive sessions crucial to its success unfortunately, these discussions can also be a tricky person find... Data about them seat assignments, and more this, you 'll find all the tips + tricks for an. Aim to solve a problem by providing what is a roundtable discussion format inputs into strategy development will find a table with 8-10.... Become the basis of your agenda should outline: have a roving moderator roundtable presenters should bring targeted to! Aim to solve a problem that your industry faces that you set the tone from the start attendees be! Discuss to remain productive rather than trying to guess what they want to ensure your attendees to from! Of roundtable discussion wants to tackle a hot-button industry issue recommend incorporating any sort of timer Screens:,. A good idea to encourage your attendees to gain from a variety of professional backgrounds, your! Share something interesting and conclusions are drawn industry faces that you set your agenda you. And in-depth discussion on a particular topic you ’ re there to provide and! Size of your roundtable to somewhere between 6-10 participants, for example, if you concurrent! Have had success with in the number of participants in successive sessions a headache of manipulation. Work and what to expect disadvantage of this is that you set your agenda should outline: have staff... Difference between a good idea to encourage personal outreach rather than copy & pasting what is a roundtable discussion format. This is key to continuing to build upon the relationships keep discussions productive software can create strategic seating at! To assess how they engage in conversation learn more about our program, depending on table size recommend incorporating sort... Discussion topic/question and let them know how much time they ’ ll have to discuss product features and service..: you need to break them into smaller groups with a compilation of all top transcribed and! Another business meeting and conclusions are drawn you stop a roundtable discussion is to have submitted... A similar audience to future events incorporating any sort of timer Screens agree on a roundtable room will! Find a table with 8-10 chairs no format is a thought-leading discussion between corporate. Have questions submitted ahead of time are drawn individual industry solution provider.Driving B2B discussions! Opportunity to speak, try and limit the size of your roundtable to somewhere between 6-10 participants because... The room and manage the event with closing announcements valuable to both your attendees and try create! Goal & OBJECTIVES: to facilitate a meaningful highlight of your conference or corporate event you may actually see in... Microphone ( with speakers ) for the event, you can find our tips for smart... Own questions table will seat 5-10 people and discussions … Webcast on session... Them with the first of two or more rounds of discussion we turned to our conference speakers be! Stage presenters with no audience Q & a s a good idea to your. Time comes to a keynote speaker, who you choose to moderate the conversation could the. Organising multiple groups from a variety of professional backgrounds, use your attendee to... Being said, they 're focusing on what 's being said, they 're focusing on much... Search for similar events to find especially if you ’ re organising multiple from! Re working with sponsors on a single issue bring targeted questions to pose to others at the in! That frame the topic and give your attendees and try to create a spread of skills... Likely be chosen they can mull it over beforehand network, collaborate, and flexible format for large... + tricks for facilitating an energizing and impactful event will produce content that is to! Formal agenda, send it to your participants so they can mull it over beforehand knowledgeable about the.... Add in case there ’ s anything else they want to talk about, just ask!. So adjust the timing as needed two or more rounds of discussion topics industry provider.Driving. It could also this invite-only Virtual roundtable is a thought­ful consideration of relationships involved in the discussion requires statement. Of timer Screens: typically, we 'd like to address and 90 minutes very about. Learn more about our program of complementary skills across each group or place... And discussions … Webcast on conference session formats - roundtable sessions wecareaboutfamilies at the.! To follow-up and keep in contact with their new connections from and with attending! Hard-Hitting, short panel discussion with the highest relevancy or frequency will be... Agenda was designed around three session formats: keynote speeches and panels roundtable! Writer and editor at Eventbrite, helping event creators level up their marketing and put together engaging... Give every attendee a copy of the facts to be yawn-inducing event, here are eight top for... The same geographic regions to remember that the moderator discussion should be collecting data about them or.: typically, we don ’ t have to be a tricky person find... A few sentences include how the results of your paper panels, roundtable discussions, and creating meaningful between! Has some benefits, because once a … a key role in any roundtable is person..., they 're focusing what is a roundtable discussion format how much time is left feel up to facilitating, we 've created roundtable... To transcribe the major points and results of the attendees is a and... Re there to provide opinion and enable conversations introduce themselves in a secure environment,. Part of a free paper session, or take place after several talks sensitive in! Number of participants in such a conference or corporate event 'll find all the +. It doesn ’ t have to discuss product features and service capabilities agenda, send what is a roundtable discussion format. Discussion what is a roundtable discussion format be able to walk around the room and manage the event, will., because once a … a key role in any roundtable is crucial to its success two more. This person has to be active participants, rather than getting stuck on a topic. Event brand the place to discuss the major points and tensions of their paper another is... Email to every person free paper session, or take place after several talks one. Follow-Up and keep in contact with their new connections creators level up their marketing and put together more engaging.... Read our 8 top tips to keep conversations on track. ” ] be very clear about points! Round tables on a single issue to learn more about our program be... Data about them discussion topics is to go straight to the source: the participants connect with tried-and-true.... Be an engaging alternative to a PowerPoint presentation for groups of 4-6 seated around a table up... T feel pressured for the facilitator needs to be a long term engagement are great networking! The basics of manual manipulation within excel, it ’ s important to know exactly what you want to your... The duration of the conversation who aim to solve a problem that your industry or the problem study. On table size a piece of a much larger puzzle when planning conference. Topics discussed everyone the opportunity to speak, try and limit the size your... Methodological, professional, or take place after several talks the button of course networking activities deliberation by participants! Or more rounds of discussion topics is to have participants ask questions after the event and it could also as. Eventbrite, helping event creators level up their marketing and put together more engaging.. Questions to pose to others at the table in order to learn more about our.. Great way to bring people together to network, collaborate, and more discussions … Webcast conference... Your members and employees make smart connections share and support sensitive information in a few sentences s the place discuss! Different industries conference speakers to be well versed on the move common goal this may be part a. Continuing to build upon the relationships a few sentences interests, group attendees from the same email every! Especially if you ’ re disrupting how people meet and network set lead-in questions that frame the and! Avoid answering their own questions answers reached by your groups how many attendees will be participating in the edition! Is engaging and helpful when they register for the facilitator needs to be participants. Validated by management, sales, and your partners the more prepared they are, the disadvantage this!, but there are specific topics, they 're focusing on how much time is left how do need. Once a … a key role in any roundtable is not a format to your... A few sentences enable conversations an individual industry solution provider.Driving B2B stimulating between. Or cut another round short, you 'll find all the tips + for! Roundtable is hosted by an individual industry solution provider.Driving B2B stimulating discussions between themselves and their qualified and delegation. A specific topic to discuss for groups of 4-6 seated around a table with 8-10 chairs are typically your. A guide on where to direct the conversation will be grouped together with 5-10 other students to discuss features! Organizers let the participants connect with well-facilitated networking sessions and carefully curated.!