Does Forum Build Stronger Leaders?

We’ve often discussed how Forum affects us on a personal level - how it helps us to navigate our lives and gives us a place to unpack safely. But can Forum be as much a strategic tool as it is a personal development one? We have found that Forum builds stronger leaders. It molds resilient, adaptable individuals who take what they learn and share it within their companies. But don’t just take our word for it. 

Here’s a little look at some of the things we’ve heard from leaders in Forum. 

Making Sure to Have the Tough Conversations

According to Charlene Li, part of what Forum does well is that it encourages digging deeper into the tough stuff. She mentions how members have the hard conversations with each other and ask probing questions to get to the heart of the challenge that they are facing. Charlene mentioned in a recent interview that one of the most beneficial parts of Forum is that not only does it ensure that the tough conversations are had, but it also makes sure that each member’s voice is heard. It encourages everyone to self-reflect, no matter the topic exploration of the day. In essence, you go deep internally so that you can help externally. Delcie Bean concurs with this by adding, 

“My Forum’s health can always be assessed by asking whether or not we are providing the place to be completely vulnerable and offering an outside perspective that challenges us to see new angles to our issues.” 

But how does this translate into leadership? Well, as Charlene emphasized, good leaders are never surface-level. Through Forum, she has learned to know when to press an issue and when to drill down into the core of the problem. Forum gives us a safe, tried and tested methodology of doing this. By making sure that, as leaders, we are able to have the tough conversations in Forum, we ensure that we know when and how to have tough conversations with our teams, our business partners, and our investors. And, as Charlene practiced with her co-author, when those difficult conversations cropped up, she was able to find a swift and clear solution to all problems. 

You Get Out What You Put In

If you have ever spoken to anyone about Forum, you know that members always say, “You get out what you put in.” And this is undoubtedly true. As Charlene Li recently discussed,

 “If you show up with half-done preparations, you’ll waste time on things that don’t matter. If you don’t think deeply about the presenter’s question and how your experiences may lend value, you are doing them, and your Forum as a whole, a disservice.” 

Essentially, to steal a phrase, you get what you pay for. Except in this case, you get the result of the efforts expended. 

If we look at how this translates into leadership, let’s look at what Edward Dalton had to say.  He has had many opportunities to experience different types of leadership. And as he put it, anyone who has had a bad leader can tell you that the consequences of half-assery in the working world are much further-reaching than within Forum. Leaders who put in little effort to their teams, but expect the world in return, often find themselves frustrated and without results. In his various forums, he was always struck by how much thought and time everyone put into their responses, something which he says is a clear indication of how they are as a leader, too. 

Edward has learned that strong leaders understand that investing time, energy, and mentorship in their teams will result in more productivity and greater happiness overall. Teams who feel seen and understood are far more likely to be loyal to their companies and better representatives to the general public. If you put in the effort, so will they.    

Taking Time to Reflect

One aspect of leadership that is often glossed over is time. Not just how to manage it, but also where to spend it. This is something that Dan Hoffman has first-hand experience with. There are only so many hours in the workday, and we can’t all be having three-hour-long heart-to-hearts with our teams. Or else, like Dan, you will spend too much time on one thing and not enough time on others. And this is where Forum has helped leaders budget reflection time wisely. 

Edward Dalton and Charlene Li speak openly about the importance of reflection and taking the necessary time to reflect deeply. They both say that they are taught this in Forum, and that it is encouraged beforehand. However, as Edward mentioned, for him  it doesn’t need to end there. Taking the necessary time to reflect on every aspect of his leadership style gives him the chance to check in with areas that may be overlooked. Now, it may seem like a time drain, but it is actually the opposite. By taking the time needed to reflect, Edward is actually able to see weaknesses and areas for improvement, which results in better time spent overall. Essentially, by spending time, he saves time. 

As he so eloquently put it, “It is far wiser to use time for reflection and improvement than to waste it on putting out fires later on.” 

Leadership is an Honor

The final aspect of leadership that we have noticed from Forum members is seeing leadership as an honor, not as a burden. This is something that Charlene emphasises continuously. For her, her status as a leader is not just an auxiliary function, but is inherently valuable in itself. Her role requires her to lead teams in order to get the job done, yes.  But in Forum, she learned a whole new meaning of leadership. She was chosen to moderate, essentially being asked to step up as the leader of a room full of leaders. “Cue imposter syndrome, right?” she said. But this is also where she got to understand what a deeply honorable thing it is to lead. She, out of many candidates, was entrusted with the health and well-being of her Forum. She was the person whom they believed was capable and steadfast enough to get things done. Dan Hoffman also speaks openly about his journey in moderating and how it has made him a better leader in meetings, and how he has learned to lead differently. And Delcie mentioned that, 

“Every now and then, people are blessed to have a truly selfless mentor who gives to you without agenda or hopes of reward. With Forum, I have a whole group.” So how could he not be a better leader for learning from them. 

If we extrapolate these learnings into leadership as a whole, it’s truly a shame that some leaders don’t see the depth of what they do. They are the people that their teams look to for guidance, for validation, and for strength. Leadership, while cumbersome at times, is about more than assigning tasks and giving instructions. It’s about making sure that everyone on the ship reaches dry land at the end of the day.  

Strength in the Doing

It’s all well and good to speak theoretically on what makes a strong leader and how they lead their flock. But with all things considered, the proof is in the execution, as seen by the types of leaders that Charlene, Delcie, Dan, and Edward are. Through their experiences, they have learned that leaders are only strong in the doing, not in the thinking about the doing. 

Forum gave these leaders the tools they needed to put actionable practices in place. It helps them to build robust methods that can withstand a bit of a shake-up now and then, and gives them the confidence to see their plans through. 

And if nothing else, Forum gives them the safety to complain about how tough being a leader can be.