6 tips for a successful Fireside Chat

From communication to the comfort of participants and atypical environments, an informal business meeting must be organized according to certain rules...

1/ Put comfort first

Comfortable seats of different heights, a calm environment, free access to alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages - comfort should be a priority at these small meetings, where the atmosphere should be friendly and informal.

2/ Adapt your Fireside Chat to the season

In summer, this "fireside chat" will take place outdoors. Surprise your guests! At the foot of an oak tree, in a patch of greenery, beside a lake, the intimacy of a discussion can also take place outdoors. And your participants will enjoy all the proven benefits of nature on health and morale.

3/ Communicate in advance

Communicating about the topics you'll be covering will make people want to attend. Include a short description of each workshop if there are several, with the name of the speaker, the day's topic, etc.

4/ Be rigorous in your choice of speakers

They will have to respect the rules of duration, frame the subject and be the driving force behind the discussion. Include a moderator if your speaker has mastered his or her subject but is not necessarily accustomed to this working environment.

5/ Balance the number of seats

In the case of simultaneous Fireside Chats with a large number of participants, offer the same number of places as the actual number of participants. E.g.: 10 groups of 10 people for a total of 100 people. This will prevent some events from being overcrowded and others from being empty.

6/ Keep an eye on the clock

20 minutes? 30 minutes? 45 minutes? 1 hour? All these durations are interesting, but you need to define them beforehand without exceeding them. We're often more efficient when we have a time limit.