Successful Forums put an extremely high value on confidentiality. If 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 and easy tip […]
Even the best Forums feel a little blah occasionally. It’s good for every member to feel comfortable with the group’s style and process. But that can also lead to a little…um, boredom. Even small changes can add a bounce to […]
How do you mesh the lives of busy executives with the protocols of Forum? With planning. Lots of it. Successful Forums set their meeting dates early. Members hold the date as sacred, and schedule around it. But we all know […]
Many Forums stay in touch between meetings by using a phone app to share quick comments, photos, ideas, etc. There are many possibilities for voice chats and video chats – What’s App, Line, Kik, Slack, Squirrel and WeChat are just a […]
The best laid plans are those that include contingencies. Forum members take time out of their busy schedules to attend meetings because they anticipate value from them. That attitude may shift if they experience sessions with too little to do. […]
When you start an exercise in your group, do you know who will go first? It may depend on the purpose of the exercise and it’s wise to think it through in advance. Whether you hit that goal often depends […]
Overloaded business leaders may have a hard time shifting from their work perspective to their Forum perspective when they first arrive to their meeting. Opening the meeting with a minute of silence gives members a chance to make that transition […]
You may think that a question is just a question. You ask it and wait for everyone at the table to respond with their ideas and feedback. But…it does not always work that way. Experienced facilitators come to their discussions […]
Warren Buffett once said that in the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield. Facilitators can embrace this observation to enhance a meeting’s take-away value. Before the group adjourns, ask your members to look back on […]
When it comes to listening, are you a dog or a cat? Dogs are born to listen, often with that whimsical head angle…cats, not so much. Dogs perk up whenever someone speaks to them and they listen intently. Cats can […]