Let’s Talk: Round Tables

1. Let’s Talk: Round Tables Joseph Wurcher AU Program Manager Robert Green AU Speaker Phone Numbers: toll free 866-803-2145 toll 210-795-1099 Passcode: 3909572

2. ROUND TABLE FORMAT (What’s the experience like?)

3. The Format

4. 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

5. PREPARATION

6. 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

7. 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

8. You can flourish in any environmentif you prepare for it!

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

10. 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

11. Consider the Audience Remember, your audience is: • Smart • Busy • Well read • In need of solutions

12. 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!

13. 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.”

14. 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.”

15. 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.”

16. Using PowerPoint Your basic PowerPoint: • Standard intro slide • One slide per topic • One conversation starter per slide • Wrap up topic slide • Contact info slide

17. 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 with your PPT. Remember you don’t know what the group conclusions will be!

18. Getting Topics in Order Think about how the conversation will likely go so topics transition logically.

19. 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.

20. 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!

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

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

23. Room Set-Up Up to 30 participants

24. Room Structure • 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

25. PRESENTATION

26. Recording – So You’ll Remember Ideas: • Paper flip chart (very low tech) • iPhone (low tech) • Portable recorder (medium tech) • USB recording mic (high tech)

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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)

30. 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.

31. 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

32. 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!

33. 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

34. 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.

35. Delivery – Enforcement (Problem Attendees) If you encounter: • Chronic talkers • Chronic gripers • Distracting behavior

36. 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.

37. 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

38. 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

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

40. AFTER YOUR SESSION (To be completed by December 15)

41. 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

42. Contact Us! Joseph Wurcher joseph.wurcher@autodesk.com Robert Green rgreen@cad-manager.com