Q: Our Forum has gotten too loose. We aren’t abiding by our Constitution anymore, and we’ve become pretty sloppy with getting to meetings on time and preparing for our presentations. I’m not the Moderator, and I’m not sure how to get us back on track. What advice can you share?
– Anonymous
A: Thank you for the great question. I have seen this happen in Forums and I think it’s important not to normalize it. The small things can seem insignificant at first. Meetings start a little later. Preparation slips. The Constitution gets referenced less often. Over time, the Forum can drift quite a long way from the standards it originally agreed to.
I’d start with a conversation with the Moderator. You don’t need to confront the entire Forum yourself, especially if that doesn’t feel comfortable. But you do need to raise the issue. Tell the Moderator what you’re experiencing and, importantly, why you feel the Forum is losing some of its value for you.
I’d suggest using part of an upcoming meeting to revisit the Constitution together. The Constitution isn’t about rules for the sake of rules. It’s an agreement the Forum made about how you want to show up for each other and create the conditions for a great Forum.
If the group no longer agrees with some of those standards, then change them together. But if everyone still believes they matter, then recommit to them. What usually doesn’t work is quietly allowing the standards to erode.
Sometimes a Forum starts to drift because it has become a little stagnant or stale. If that’s the case, it might be time for a tune-up with a professional facilitator. This could be a full-day facilitation at your annual retreat, a workshop during an upcoming meeting, or a virtual boost. Forum Sherpa can help with each of these. Feel free to email Elena@forumsherpa.com for details.
Once your Forum has reset, I’d also suggest making a Constitution review part of your regular rhythm. Revisiting it once a year can help ensure everyone stays aligned on the standards you’ve agreed to.
Ultimately, the Moderator has an important role, but every member has some ownership of the quality of the Forum. If you’re seeing the Forum drift and it’s affecting the value you’re getting, I think you have a responsibility to say someth