Running a useful online exchange: a 60-minute format

A useful online exchange is a small working session with a defined question, prepared participants and visible next steps.

### Before the call: design the decision Choose one question that can be explored in an hour. “How do ecosystems collaborate?” is too broad. “What should a first mentor exchange include?” is workable. “Which two parts of our founder onboarding should be tested in another market?” is better still. Invite people because their experience is relevant, not because their title looks impressive. A compact group is easier to moderate. Send a one-page pre-read with the question, the intended outcome, the format, the confidentiality boundary and two prompts for reflection. Ask participants to arrive with one example and one unresolved question. This reduces presentation time and gives the conversation a starting point. ### The 60-minute agenda **0–5 minutes: welcome and boundaries.** The host states the question, the intended outcome, the timebox and what may be shared afterwards. Confirm whether the exchange is on the record, off the record or governed by a specific attribution rule. **5–12 minutes: participant context.** Each person gives their role, ecosystem, relevant experience and one sentence on what they want to learn. The moderator keeps introductions short. **12–25 minutes: first round of examples.** Each participant shares one concrete practice, including what it was designed to achieve and where it was limited. No slides unless they are essential. **25–42 minutes: working discussion.** The moderator groups questions, tests assumptions and invites quieter participants in. Ask “What would this require in another ecosystem?” and “What would make this fail?” **42–52 minutes: convert learning into options.** Identify two or three actions, experiments or questions that participants could take forward. Name who might own each one. **52–58 minutes: next steps.** Confirm the action, owner, timing and any permission needed. Distinguish a firm next step from an idea to revisit. **58–60 minutes: close.** Each participant states one takeaway or commitment. The host explains when the notes will be circulated and how corrections can be made. ### Roles that keep the session useful The host owns the purpose and welcomes participants. The moderator protects the question, time and balance of voices. A note-taker records decisions and open questions without creating an unofficial transcript. Participants bring relevant examples and respect the agreed confidentiality boundary. One person can hold more than one role in a small session, but make the roles explicit. A moderator who is also a participant should say when they are offering an opinion rather than directing the group. ### Capture next steps, not everything Use a simple note with five fields: question; useful observations; agreed actions; owner; timing. Add a sixth field for permissions: who may receive the note and what may be quoted or attributed. Send the note promptly. Invite corrections, especially where a participant’s practice or organisation is described. Close the loop when an action is complete or no longer relevant. A short, accurate record is more useful than a long document nobody checks. LINKK’s online exchanges are interest-only until dates are confirmed. If you want to take part, express interest through the relevant LINKK channel and wait for confirmed details rather than treating an announcement as a booking. ### Make preparation proportionate The pre-read should take less time to complete than the meeting itself. A useful version can contain the host’s question, three lines of context, one example from the host, two prompts and a short note on what will happen with the output. Ask participants to bring only material they are authorised to share. If a document is longer than two pages, identify the exact paragraph or question that matters. The moderator can use three prompts when the conversation becomes abstract: “Can you give a specific example?”, “What would need to change for this to work in another ecosystem?” and “What is the smallest test we could run?” These prompts keep the group close to practice without forcing premature agreement. **Practical takeaway:** write the closing action table before the exchange begins; it will sharpen the question and expose missing owners. **Closing CTA:** Add an Offer on LINKK GLOBAL if you can host a focused online exchange, or follow LINKK updates for confirmed exchange dates.