Sometimes, even the healthiest Forums get a little stale or stagnant. Member interest or participation might wane, and the group may not earn as much value from their overall Forum experience as they once did. Fortunately, there’s an antidote that can cure the inertia and rejuvenate your Forum so you keep moving forward together, and it’s called Forum 2.0®.
Forum 2.0®, Defined
Forum 2.0® is an innovative suite of resources and interactive events designed to maximize the experience and takeaway value for each member of your Forum.
The creative tools, processes, and formats that Forum 2.0® offers have breathed new life into countless EO, YPO, and Independent Forums by restoring the enthusiasm these groups need to thrive. When all members eagerly anticipate their meetings and annual retreats, the group as a whole is able to achieve higher levels of depth and discover new ways to support each other’s growth.
How Forum 2.0® Came to Be
Although initial business peer groups began emerging in the 1950s, the Forum concept as we know it today began to take shape in the 1970s in YPO. These self-moderated groups were focused on three main components:
- Monthly updates from each member
- Presentations, where members describe their challenges to the group and receive input
- Housekeeping items to align the group and prepare for the next meeting
This model proved effective for several decades, but as Forums evolved and developed deeper connections, some groups began to outgrow the traditional tools and formats. Rather than risk her Forum slipping into stagnation, ForumSherpa Founder and CEO Ellie Byrd decided to take action in her own Forum.
“We started to feel a little complacent,” Ellie says about her Forum. “We felt like we needed more than the traditional resources we were using, and although we wanted to stay together as a Forum, the standard tools weren’t really equipped to help us maximize value for our time. We were growing worried that we were reaching the end of our road together.”
Fortunately, Ellie and her Forum mates weren’t willing to accept that there were no new summits to conquer. Working alongside long-tenured and deeply dedicated EO and YPO members, Ellie began collecting and creating new tools, exercises, and processes that would ultimately become the Forum 2.0® suite of resources. “I used my Forum as a guinea pig to try them out before introducing them to other Forums”, she says.
And they’ve been helping Forums reach higher summits for decades.
The Forum 2.0® Suite of Offerings
There are multiple tiers of Forum 2.0®, and many are customizable to maximize the positive impact on your Forum. Here’s a look at some of the offerings:
- The ForumSherpa Resource Center. A searchable library of traditional and Forum 2.0® exercises, tools, and more.
- Forum 2.0® Boost Programs. Half-day in-person or virtual events where one of our Certified Facilitators guides your Forum through introductory Forum 2.0® exercises and tools.
- Forum 2.0® Retreats. Custom eight-hour events to take your Forum’s Annual Retreat to the next level.
- Forum 2.0® Chapter Workshops. Three to six-hour learning events for your entire chapter to learn the Forum 2.0® basics.
- Forum 2.0® Moderator Coaching Series. Training from our Certified Facilitators to guide Forum Moderators to successfully implement and maintain Forum 2.0® in their Forums.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. We offer even more resources, workbooks, and events that are tailored to your unique Forum, and we can’t wait to support your group’s journey toward higher summits.
Find Out if Forum 2.0® is Right for Your Forum
Forum 2.0® is ideal for healthy, mature Forums. Although we normally recommend it for groups who’ve been together for five or more years, we understand that different Forums grow and evolve at different rates and that younger Forums may benefit from it as well.
Are you interested in taking your Forum experience to new heights? Contact us for more information!
Written by Britt Spread