Exchanging ideas and collaborating are essential for business success. While many professionals consider networking an effective tool for building relationships and strategic partnerships, it can be difficult to make truly meaningful connections or share valuable insights in a crowded room.
If your business or practice is growing and you want to engage in meaningful dialogue and nurture invaluable connections with individuals in allied services and industries, consider joining a roundtable group.
What is a roundtable?
Your first thought when hearing the term “roundtable” might be the legend of King Arthur. In fact, Arthur seated the knights in his court at a round table so they would all be considered equal. A well-facilitated roundtable group is also anchored in equality and inclusivity – encouraging diverse perspectives, open communication, and shared problem-solving.
Roundtable discussions are structured conversations among a group of individuals who gather to explore a specific topic. They foster productive conversations, collaboration, and respect by providing equal opportunity for people from similar fields, with common issues or challenges, to freely voice their thoughts, experiences, and expertise.
Three ways a roundtable can benefit your business.
A roundtable can be a powerful tool for professional and business development. By bringing people together to share their thoughts on a particular issue, roundtable discussions give everyone the chance to refine their thinking based on the experiences of others. Participants problem-solve together, and every member of the group plays a vital role in the process.
I joined a roundtable at a time when I needed to expand my business but had no one to talk to about how to go about it. I found a community of mentors and peers who not only understood my challenges, but provided plenty of practical solutions, support, and the chance to share my ups and downs. The experience was so impactful that I’ve gone on to facilitate a roundtable called “From Dream to Team” with my colleague, Tanya Belanger. Part management training, part peer-support group, our community provides support for accounting firm owners who are making the leap from solopreneur to employer.
While there are countless benefits to joining a roundtable group, here are my top three:
- Knowledge Sharing: Roundtables serve as platforms for continuous learning. The structured format brings together diverse points of view while giving every member the chance to interact with and learn from each other on an ongoing basis.
- Creative Problem Solving: When you encounter a business problem or challenge, chances are other participants have dealt with it, too. Having a group of peers to turn to allows you to tap into a wealth of perspectives and develop innovative solutions you may not have considered.
- Networking and Collaboration: Roundtables create the opportunity for professionals to expand their networks in an intentional way. Quality interactions with peers and industry experts can lead to potential partnerships or future business collaborations.
How to find the right roundtable.
There are a variety of factors to consider when exploring roundtable options. Make sure you gather as much information as you can about:
- Participants: A roundtable comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise can generate a broad range of ideas and insights. However, you may be better served by a group of like-mined industry professionals with whom you have shared challenges and objectives.
- Agenda: The group should have a clear agenda, including topics and objectives, to provide structure and direction.
- Facilitation: A skilled facilitator is crucial to guide the discussion, promote respectful communication, encourage participation from all attendees, and manage time effectively.
Roundtables bring professionals together to collaborate, problem-solve, and grow their businesses. At Main Accounting Services, we specialize in increasing the success and profitability of growing law firms. If you are looking for professional partners to help you understand your firm’s finances and assist with accounting functions, click to schedule a consultation.