TOPLINE MEETING HOST
THE GOAL: Participants walk away with new ideas and know each other more deeply.
YOUR ROLE: Act like air traffic control, not the pilot. Step in only when it’s required to keep the conversation interesting and non-obvious.
WHAT TO AVOID:
Obvious points and ideas
Repeating the same points and ideas
Affirmative Points
MANAGING the CONVERSATION
Remember the questions are conversation starters; no need to ask them all. Feel free to let the conversation flow wherever—as long as it remains interesting.
Enforce the rules. Shut down side conversations and cut off long comments.
If you’re bored by the observation, so is everyone else! When an idea is being rehashed, or you think more than half the participants have heard it before, it’s time to start pushing toward more risky, overlooked, and non-obvious ideas.
Involve everyone, or don’t invite them to the meeting If someone is in a meeting but not involved in the conversation then they should save their time and watch a recap of the meeting.
Acknowledge and model vulnerability. When someone shares something, thank them immediately after. If the group is hesitant to get vulnerable, try modeling candor yourself.
AFTER the CONVERSATION
Follow up with your group on your shared email thread. Consider sending a thank you, a link to an article a group member referenced, or an idea that emerged during the meal for the group to reflect on.
