Your Table Launch Meeting

Having a successful launch to your table is important. We call it a “launch” because, just like a rocket, you’ll want to light the fuse and start out with a bang! Avoid the temptation to “ramp up” over a few weeks, and instead launch with excitement, a clear purpose and a solid direction. Here are a few things to keep in mind for a great Men’s Table Launch.

Have a meal. Start with a breakfast, lunch, dinner or coffee—depending on the time of your meeting. Remember that being at a table is important, not a sofa or recliner. The table is a place where you are upright, engaged, facing the other men. A meal gives you that right from the launch pad.

A meal is also an opportunity to get to know one another. When people are eating, they can remain engaged and not be talking the entire time. A meal is also a social setting. Men will feel mentally and physically relaxed, free to be themselves.

Take time to learn about each other. The most important thing you can accomplish during your launch meeting is for each man to learn something about the other men at the Table. At your first meeting you should focus on relationships to cement a man’s desire to continue in at the Table. A man will not keep coming to meet with people he doesn’t know.

Ask each man to share something about himself. See suggested launch questions/discussion below. As the leader, avoid lecturing. Set the tone that every man can talk at every meeting.

Ask the group for a commitment. The Men’s Table will be new to most participants. They’ll want to kick the tires, experience what it’s like, before committing to it long-term. Ask them for a four- or six-week commitment up front. Set an expectation to come a number of times, so they can really understand what you’re try to accomplish each week before making their final determination. If they don’t come again the second week, you can contact them and remind them, “You promised me four times before you make up your mind.” You want the Table to become a habit in a man’s life, and that’ll take 4-6 weeks to build.

Set a ground rule of confidentiality. “What happens at the Table stays at the Table,” or something along those lines. Men need to know they have a place they can talk freely and know it won’t get back to their spouse, their family, the coworkers. Over time they will crave this environment, where they can discuss and work through issues and know they’re thoughts and reactions are safe. You may want to share “The Brothers’ Creed”, a short document we use to encourage an understanding of the purpose of a Men’s Table.

Start and end on time. At your launch meeting you’ll also want to communicate that you value the men’s time. Starting late and going long will signal that the Men’s Table isn’t a clear commitment. Instead, begin on time, even if some arrive late, and end on time. You can hang out afterwards for more conversation, but ensure that men receive a signal they can leave at the appointed time—whether an hour or 90 minutes.

SUGGESTED TABLE LAUNCH QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION

For your first meeting, consider a discussion centered on getting to know one another. These can be light, low-risk questions, or more in-depth, depending on whether or not the men are already familiar. Here are some practical questions to open up conversation:

Level 1: Easy Icebreakers (Low Risk, Builds Comfort)

• Where did you grow up, and what shaped you most in those early years?

• What’s one job (or life experience) that taught you something important?

• Who has had the biggest influence on you as a man?

• What’s something most people here probably don’t know about you?

• What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

• If you could master one skill instantly, what would it be?

Level 2: Personal Formation (Moderate Depth)

• What has most shaped your faith journey so far?

• When have you experienced significant growth in your life? What triggered it?

• What’s a challenge that stretched you but made you better?

• What does “being a godly man” mean to you?

• Where do you feel strongest right now?

• Where do you most want to grow?

Level 3: Spiritual & Relational Depth (Higher Trust)

• What is one area of your life where you need prayer?

• What is one temptation or struggle men often face that you’ve had to learn to fight?

• When do you feel closest to God?

• What kind of man do you want to be remembered as?

• What fears tend to hold you back?

• What does accountability mean to you?

Vision-Oriented Questions (Great for First Meeting)

• Why did you choose to join this group?

• What would make this group a success for you?

• What kind of brotherhood are you hoping to build here?

• How do you want to grow by the end of this season together?