Business Roundtables
Where creative thinking meets practical advice...for breakthrough results.
As a business owner, entrepreneur or CEO, there’s no doubt that you are constantly thinking of ways to make your business more profitable and more manageable. The question is...
Why haven’t you taken action?
- I don’t have peers with whom I can validate my ideas or plans for the business, so I am uncertain about the benefit of implementing them.
- I have actually run out of ideas with respect to a particular business issue or opportunity, and I want to get a new perspective.
- I am so busy working in the business that I have, that I haven't had time to develop the business that I want.
- All of the above.
You are not alone. These challenges are universal, and that's why we offer Business Roundtables. It can be lonely at the top, but when you have peers who want you to succeed it makes all the difference.
Participating in a Business Roundtable will allow you to step back from your business as a way to move forward. Through this unique learning experience, you will:
- Engage with new business ideas to get a fresh perspective on your challenges and opportunities.
- Exchange guidance and feedback with other experienced business owners.
- Make your business more profitable and more manageable.
Apply for membership in a Business Roundtable today. Or to learn more, explore the Frequently Asked Questions to the right or contact us to speak with someone about how a Business Roundtable could benefit you, and your business.
Click here to join a Business Roundtable
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who joins a Business Roundtable?
Is a Business Roundtable the right solution for me?
Why should I join a Business Roundtable?
What is the price of a Business Roundtable and what do I get for my money?
How do I join a Business Roundtable?
What happens during a Business Roundtable session?
How many people participate in a Business Roundtable?
What are the “best practices” and “new ideas” that are discussed at a Business Roundtable session?
When and where are the Business Roundtables held?
How much of a time commitment is required to participate in a Business Roundtable?
What if I am reluctant to share details about my business?
Can I use a Business Roundtable to grow my business?
Is there a guarantee that I will get results when I attend a Business Roundtable?
Why is a one-year commitment required to participate in a Business Roundtable?
What is a Business Roundtable?
A Business Roundtable is a group of CEOs, Managing Directors, or Business Owners that meets monthly, for a minimum of one year, with the goal of enabling each member to take his or her business to the next level, whatever that may be. This group acts like a board of directors that provides a variety of expertise and perspectives to each member’s business.
Who joins a Business Roundtable?
Anyone who leads a privately-held company may join a roundtable. Groups are formed by bringing together leaders of similarly-sized businesses that are non-competitive. Based on our experience, the key factors that lead to the best groupings are the number of employees and the age of the business; when groups are formed with these variables in mind, virtually all of the fundamental business issues that the owners and leaders face are the same regardless of the types of business. For example, one group may include the CEO of a staffing company, the Owner of a trucking company, and the General Manager of an architectural firm, all of which have between 50-75 employees. Another group may include a wellness coach, a lawyer, an interior designer, and a dentist who all have fewer than five employees.
Is a Business Roundtable the right solution for me?
You will find value in a roundtable experience if you:
- Run a business with fewer than 100 employees
- Realize that what worked in the past isn’t working now and you want to try new tactics to get better, different, or faster results
- Want to take your business to the next level or into a new market
- Find it energizing to learn new ideas
- Enjoy learning in a group setting
- Want a cost-effective way to get support for and advice about your business
Why should I join a Business Roundtable?
Joining a roundtable will increase the likelihood that you will meet your business goals by giving you new tools to add to your toolbox and a group of people to cheer you on as you apply them. Plus, it’s a really cost-effective way to get this kind of advice and guidance, so you can expect a high return on investment. When you participate in a Business Roundtable, you will:
- Access a confidential sounding board of experienced business professionals
- Have a forum in which you will learn new ideas and new ways of thinking about your business
- Receive practical advice that can be immediately applied in your business
- Develop relationships with other business leaders who will hold you accountable to follow through on your plans
What is the price of a Business Roundtable and what do I get for my money?
The monthly membership fee for a Business Roundtable is $195. This includes:
- A three-hour session that is facilitated by a business advisor
- Materials and tools that you can use in your business
- An online forum that will allow you to interact with other members between sessions
- Possibly the best part: breakfast
What if I attend the first session and then realize this isn't the right solution for me or my business?
It is very important to us that all participants find their roundtables to be a valuable experience. If you attend the first session and then reconsider your participation, we will happily refund your money for that session. If you decide to continue on but, months later, find that an extenuating circumstance will make you unable to continue your participation, you will be able to leave the group with 30 days' notice.
How do I join a Business Roundtable?
To become a member of a roundtable, simply fill out this short application form and one of our advisors will contact you to discuss group placement and finalize the arrangements.
What happens during a Business Roundtable session?
Each roundtable session is facilitated by a business advisor and follows a general format that includes a learning component and a peer advisory component:
- During the learning portion of the session, the group delves into discussion of a specific business best practice.
- During the peer advisory portion of the session, members have the opportunity to get immediate feedback from the group on the challenges or opportunities they face in their businesses.
While curriculum and topics are planned in advance, the roundtables are facilitated in a way that tailors that content as much as possible to the needs of the participants, so each member can receive the maximum value from the experience.
How many people participate in a Business Roundtable?
Roundtables are limited to 10 members plus a facilitator. This size is big enough to allow for a variety of skill areas and viewpoints while still being small enough to readily foster relationships and trust building within the group.
What are the “best practices” and “new ideas” that are discussed at a Business Roundtable session?
Each roundtable session will highlight one best practice or new idea based on the needs and the interests of the members. All of the best practices focus on business fundamentals and principles that apply across industries. Some examples of these include:
- An approach to defining the value your business provides in a way that will virtually eliminate your competition
- A simple performance management approach that will ensure you get results from your employees, while leaving them fulfilled and motivated (it is possible to have both)
- A lean process framework to streamline your most critical processes and save money
- A methodology for diagnosing the systemic causes of your business challenges so you stop wasting time, money and energy treating the symptoms.
When and where are the Business Roundtables held?
Roundtables are held at Main Office Executive Suites in Eatontown, New Jersey, which is conveniently located off Route 35 North. Generally, roundtables are held one Friday morning per month from 9am to 12noon, unless the roundtable members decide as a group that another time is more optimal.
How much of a time commitment is required to participate in a Business Roundtable?
Roundtables meet in person for three hours a month. Beyond that, you will have some short activities to complete each month in preparation for the upcoming session, and an online forum that is available for you to interact with members between sessions. Of course, you will also want to spend some time in each month applying new tools and techniques in your business, so you should plan for that as well.
What if I am reluctant to share details about my business?
Every member of the group, including the facilitator, signs a concise confidentiality agreement. This is simply a pledge to everyone else that the conversations that take place during the sessions will stay in the sessions. Also, keep in mind that the other members of the group will be in non-competitive businesses. If you are still unwilling to talk about your business in light of the agreement and the non-compete aspect of the roundtables, then this particular experience may not be right for you. Without sharing some basic information about your challenges or opportunities you won’t get much out of the process.
Can I use a Business Roundtable to grow my business?
The new ideas you will discuss with other members and the practical advice you will receive will certainly help you grow your revenue. The relationships you build with other members may lead to new opportunities to grow your business. However, formal selling and promoting are not allowed in the roundtables because they are learning opportunities, not networking groups.
Is there a guarantee that I will get results when I attend a Business Roundtable?
Like so many things, the result you get out of a roundtable experience will be based on what you put into it. We can assure you that you will learn about best practices that can be applied in your business to get great results, but we can’t make you apply them. If you decide to join a Business Roundtable, do so with the understanding that you are committing to yourself to set aside some time to work on your business.
Why is a one-year commitment required to participate in a Business Roundtable?
The one-year commitment is a pledge to the group that you are serious about taking your business to the next level and you are willing to help other members do the same. Unlike a traditional workshop, a critical component of a roundtable is the group dynamic and peer support. Having a consistent membership in attendance on a monthly basis helps the group get into a rhythm that will allow it to cover more topics and provide its members with more help.
After the first year, the group may decide to continue intact or individual members may leave so others can join. It begins to take on a life of its own.
Of course, if at any time some unforeseen situation precludes your continuing with the group, or if you simply do not believe you are getting value out of the experience, you can drop out of the group with 30 days' notice.
How can I get more information about Business Roundtables?
To get more information about our Business Roundtables, simply fill out this contact form and one of our advisors will get back to you.
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