Let’s Talk: Round Tables

Joseph WurcherAU Program Manager

Robert GreenAU Speaker

Phone Numbers: toll free 866-803-2145 toll 210-795-1099 Passcode: 3909572

ROUND TABLE FORMAT

(What’s the experience like?)

The Format

Time (in Minutes) Description of Activity

-15:00 – 0:00Pre-Class Rapport Arrive early to start building rapport with participants Use this time to introduce yourself and learn a little about each one

0:00 – 5:00Welcome & Introduction of topic Role: Presenter Briefly introduce yourself and purpose/focus of the discussion Share your guidelines for good discussion Don’t spend time on attendee introductions or ice breakers

5:00 – 80:00 (if AM)5:00 – 50:00 (if PM)

Discussion Role: Facilitator Engage discussion on each of your key topics

o Approximately 14-15 mins / topico Watch clock, stay on schedule to cover all topics

80:00 – 90:00 (if AM)50:00 – 60:00 (if PM)

Summary Role: Facilitator Bring together key “take aways” on each of your key topics

o Accomplished through group interaction Summarize conclusions at high level

Requirements

• 3 -5 Concise, well-defined topics • Cover all topics during discussion• Facilitator Role > It’s not about “You”…It’s about the discussion• Establish a “seek to understand” atmosphere• Spark debate / Acknowledge many points of views / Don’t

lecture• Fair and equal opportunity to speak• In depth understanding of topics• Leave them wanting even more

PREPARATION

Poll slide – Before preparation section

Q. Which best describes how you feel about doing a round table session at Leadership Forum AU 2012

Answers I’ve never done anything like this I’m a bit nervous about interacting with the audience I feel OK but would love some good pointers This will be easy – I’m already a pro

Poll slide – Before preparation section

Q. Which best describes how you feel about doing a round table session at Leadership Forum AU 2012

Answers I’ve never done anything like this I’m a bit nervous about interacting with the audience I feel OK but would love some good pointers This will be easy – I’m already a pro

You can flourish in any environmentif you prepare for it!

Preparation – Key Points

Prepare an agenda that gives you a foundation yet isn’t so restrictive that you can’t improvise. To do this:

Preparation – Key Points

Prepare an agenda that gives you a foundation yet isn’t so restrictive that you can’t improvise. To do this:

Consider the executive audience Have interesting “conversation starters” Have enough topics to carry the session Provoke thought about methods Deliver new ideas Propose (don’t dictate) solutions

Consider the Audience

Remember, your audience is:

Smart Busy Well read In need of solutions

Consider the Audience

Remember, your audience is:

Smart Busy Well read In need of solutions

The key: If you can get them to open up they’ll engage each other and all you’ll have to do is moderate!

Conversation Starters – Use Questions

Start with consensus questions, stated neutrally, then divert into discussion.

Like this:

“Haven’t we all had to manage tough implementations where employees can’t get motivated?”

Not like this:

“People are just lazy. Here’s how you manage an implementation.”

Conversation Starters – Use Questions

Start with consensus questions, stated neutrally, then divert into discussion.

Like this:

“Haven’t we all had to manage tough implementations where employees can’t get motivated?”

Not like this:

“People are just lazy. Here’s how you manage an implementation.”

Conversation Starters – Use Questions

Start with consensus questions, stated neutrally, then divert into discussion.

Like this:

“Haven’t we all had to manage tough implementations where employees can’t get motivated?”

Not like this:

“People are just lazy. Here’s how you manage an implementation.”

Using PowerPoint

Your basic PowerPoint:

Standard intro slide One slide per topic One conversation starter per slide Wrap up topic slide Contact info slide

Using PowerPoint

Your basic PowerPoint:

Standard intro slide One slide per topic One conversation starter per slide Wrap up topic slide Contact info slide

Don’t box yourself into conclusions withyour PPT. Remember you don’t knowwhat the group conclusions will be!

Getting Topics in Order

Topic 1Topic 2

Topic 3Topic 4

Topic 5

Think about how the conversation will likely go so topics transition logically.

Getting Topics in Order

Topic 1Topic 2

Topic 3Topic 4

Topic 5

Think about how the conversation will likely go so topics transition logically.

The goal is to make sure the conceptual flow builds from topic to topic just like an organic conversation would.

Getting Topics in Order

Think about how the conversation will likely go so topics transition logically.

The goal is to make sure the conceptual flow builds from topic to topic just like an organic conversation would.

Build your slides accordingly!

Topic 1Topic 2

Topic 3Topic 4

Topic 5

“Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance” Walter Davis (my AP physics teacher)

ROOM SET-UP(What does it look like?)

Room Set-Up

Up to 30 participants

• Table tents – for attendees to write their names• Projector and Screen• Flip Chart

Recommended Best Practice• Scribes (1 -2) – to capture points from discussion

• Flip Chart • Live MindManager• Live Word

• Recorder – iPhone or other• Timer – personal clock or actual person

Room Structure

PRESENTATION

Recording – So You’ll Remember

Ideas:

Paper flip chart (very low tech) iPhone (low tech) Portable recorder (medium tech) USB recording mic (high tech)

Recording – So You’ll Remember

Ideas:

iPhone (low tech) Portable recorder (medium tech) USB recording mic (high tech)

Guidelines:

Place phone/recorder/mic on centrally located table Test record to make sure all voices can be heard Use recording as a basis for summary write-ups

Delivery – Check Your Ego

Remember:

The audience is the star You are in a service role Facilitate, don’t dominate Talk less, listen more Ask clarifying questions

EGO

Delivery – The Referee’s Role

As referee you

Explain the rules Keep the game moving Allow everyone to participate Call time out when needed Enforce the rules (if needed)

Delivery – The Referee’s Role

As referee you:

Explain the rules Keep the game moving Allow everyone to participate Call time out when needed Enforce the rules (if needed)

The trick is to do it in a way that people don’t see you as a referee but more like a friendly moderator.

Delivery Tips – Participant Rules

Here are the participant rules I use:

When you comment make it snappy No long speeches No complaining about Autodesk Share solutions not gripes Talk about what works for you

Delivery Tips – Participant Rules

Here are the participant rules I use:

When you comment make it snappy No long speeches No complaining about Autodesk Share solutions not gripes Talk about what works for you

The goal is to generate lots of cool hints, ideas, and action items the participants can use later. The goal is not to have an extended gripe session!

Delivery Tips – Rules for Moderator

Here are the guidelines I use as moderator:

Keep it moving! Moderate, don’t pontificate Watch faces for pacing queues Discourage chronic talkers Encourage quiet people to speak up Get solutions flowing

Delivery Tips – Rules for Moderator

Here are the guidelines I use as moderator:

Keep it moving! Moderate, don’t pontificate Watch faces for pacing queues Discourage chronic talkers (politely) Encourage quiet people to speak up Get solutions flowing

Create a quick moving, comfortable environment where people share ideas equally and feel they were the star of the show.

Delivery – Enforcement (Problem Attendees)

If you encounter:

Chronic talkers Chronic gripers Distracting behavior

Delivery – Enforcement (Problem Attendees)

If you encounter:

Chronic talkers Chronic gripers Distracting behavior

State the problem and politely point out that dominating, sidetracking or distracting the group isn’t fair to others. Better to have one person not happy with you than the entire group.

Delivery – Timing is King

Keep it moving:

Too quick beats too slow Keep comments brief You can “call on” students for control Do NOT let anyone take over

Delivery – Timing is King

Keep it moving:

Too quick beats too slow Keep comments brief You can “call on” students for control Do NOT let anyone take over

Coping strategies:

If all else fails say “we need to keep moving” then do so If the conversation slows down move to a new topic If the conversation starts to repeat move to a new topic

Now Dive In!Use the concepts we’ve discussed today and you’ll have blast moderating your roundtable sessions!

AFTER YOUR SESSION(To be completed by December 15)

Roundtable Summary Brief

Prepare a Summary Brief of Discussion• From your recording, prepare a Summary Brief of the outcomes and

key takeaways generated around your 5 topics

Template Provided• A simple template will be provided for easy creation

Upload to AU Website• Upload through Speaker Resource Center• Valuable for participants and others

Contact Us!

Joseph Wurcherjoseph.wurcher@autodesk.com

Robert Greenrgreen@cad-manager.com

Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. © 2013 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.