When you consult a road map, you are typically looking for the fastest route to reach your destination. Let’s say the map shows an unexpected tangle of stops, starts, reverses and detours…you might get where you are going but only […]
Have you ever left Forum wondering what you actually accomplished that day? John Randolph, a politician from Virginia, said time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions. You can set aside time in […]
Successful Forums develop strong bonds among their members. This is part of the “secret sauce” that makes Forum worth the time–and often sacrifice–required to participate. Members cannot take those bonds for granted though. Like other relationships they must be […]
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 […]