Have you ever seen a member nod off during Forum? It may not be a reflection on the moderator, the agenda or the subject at hand. It just happens. Maybe the room is too warm, a member didn’t sleep […]
Making eye contact is essential to good communication. It signals that both the speaker and listener are engaged. Occasionally, though, you may find yourself in a meeting where the speaker seems focused on only one person at the table. Most […]
What pops into mind when you think about your best Forum experiences? Try to describe what made them stand out. Did your group have a breakthrough with a fresh perspective? Did you discover an intriguing topic? Perhaps it had amazing […]
Do your Forum meetings feel a bit stale? Do certain things make you sigh, because it feels like you have to grin and bear it? Writer William Phillips is credited with the observation that boredom is a form of criticism. […]
Some Forums use the “One Word Barometer” exercise as an ice breaker when they start their meetings. Each member says a single word that describes their frame of mind. For example, they could be focused, stressed, sad, overwhelmed or optimistic. […]
Founding documents lay out the structure, protocols and expectations for new Forums. The value of these documents is not so much in the words, but rather in the group’s commitment to them and to each other. When members stray away […]
A San Francisco Forum added a new component to their regular meetings to jump-start forum meetings. It clears their minds, increases their energy and stretches their attention spans. The magic formula is good, old-fashioned exercise! Jump-Start Forum Productivity Moderator Joe said […]
If your Forum is like many, getting a group of busy business executives in one room is a little like herding cats. There are times when you need to reschedule a meeting or add a new event to your activities. […]
For most people, peer pressure works. Though it may have negative connotations, it’s a powerful tool to accomplish good things. Forums can use peer pressure to add accountability to members’ goal achievement. Here’s a quick, light way to add it […]
Successful Forums put an extremely high value on the confidential environment. If confidentiality it is missing, members will not participate to their fullest. So it’s virtually impossible to remind ourselves of its importance too often. You can use this quick […]