In 1633, Dorchester, Massachusetts, was the home of the nation’s first town hall. According to the town’s court records, residents met every Monday at 8 a.m. to adjudicate disputes and adopt “such orders as may contribute to the generally good as foresaid.” The decisions taken during these sessions were regarded as binding on all men, “without gainsaying or protest,” and were respected as law.
As a successful way for the populace to decide on significant concerns of the day, the practice quickly expanded throughout New England. Residents were able to voice their opinions on local matters through town hall meetings. The informal forum with majority rule formed the basis of early American democracy and continues to be employed across the nation.
Town halls in a business setting often have senior leaders positioned to connect with employees and can be leveraged as an opportunity to share important information and insights. Some companies might refer to these gatherings as “all hands” meetings, and if done well, they can create clarity and answer some of the most pressing concerns employees have, especially when questions are gathered ahead of time.
These meetings are opportunities to connect with employees and take them out of their day, so your town halls should be well organized. It’s best practice to share the meeting focus and resources to capture questions. Some companies choose to partner with their communications department to help facilitate questions to the leaders and to filter questions that were submitted before the meeting or those that come in in real time: “It also is critical for each business function, including finance, HR, sales, and engineering, to provide updates about where they stand and what they are planning.”
