Engaging subject matter experts: Setting up The Collaboration Table

Running a marketing team and asking it to create compelling content takes a willingness to work with the subject matter experts in your company. And, it’s all a bit muddy if we aren’t all approaching “the table” with those intentions. It becomes really hard to get things done and drive business forward. 

So, how do we set up The Collaboration Table so that:

1. everyone coming to it has the same expectations
2. we’re engaging and encouraging our subject matter experts
3. we capture specialized knowledge for sharing with our audience

Setting the table:

• Name a host: One person, one lead for addressing the agenda, taking notes or assigning someone to, and moving the meeting along with an eye on time.
• Write down an agenda: Preferably the host starts it, shares it ahead of time, and allows others to add to it. Then the host can review it, re-organize it as needed, and be prepared with questions and expectation setting.
• We all hold space for each other: That looks like an understanding of the meeting, goals, and agenda. We breathe when we want to control. We take responsibility for our part in the meeting, taking our own notes or helping the team take notes, and following up with next steps.

While I was on the Digital Communities Team at Red Hat, everyone approached our Collaboration Table with respect for each other’s responsibilities, anxieties, needs, wants, perspectives, and requests. We spoke calmly and kindly even when we were annoyed or tired. We got excited for each other. Looked for the best solutions for each other. We understood that even if we didn’t understand we could trust.

We weren’t perfect. But we had the table set.

It helped us stay on track when we veered, deal with bad days and bad news, and build trust. And that trust is the basis of what we as a team need to in order to share with others and build their trust in us.