Distinctive Features of Forums
We believe a Forum experience is built on three pillars - curated peers, a hybrid approach, and expert facilitation. Consider these three dimensions when evaluating whether a Forum is right for you. Here’s what we consider “best practices” for each:
01
Curation
Application
Prospective members share their background, goals, and what they hope to gain and give.
Review
Each application is reviewed to assess compatibility, diversity, and fit.
Matching
A combination of live humans and technology pairs members who then review the match themselves.
02
Hybrid
Meetings
Every program finds the right balance between virtual meetings, which save time and allow for great peer-matches, and in-person.
Retreat
Intense time together sharpens trust and sets the Forum up for a year of making big moves. It’s also fun. Forums with an in-person retreat outperform those that skip.
03
Facilitation
Professional vs. Member-Moderated
Professional facilitation can be transformative, especially in the early years of a Forum or during high-impact in-person retreats. While many Forums thrive with member-led moderation, communities without a deeply rooted Forum culture can experience inconsistency in quality, structure, or depth of engagement.
Methodology
At its core, Forum is beautifully simple, much like a three-chord blues song that still moves the room. But beneath that simplicity lies endless depth: a rich mix of exercises, formats, and refinements that continue to evolve the Forum experience and keep it dynamic, meaningful, and alive.
Forums in Action
YPO Key Associate Forums
This program allows YPO members to give the gift of Forum to their most valued employees. It is growing fast, with hundreds of live Forums already.
Thousands of executives across the world who work at YPO companies are thrilled to connect deeply with peers and renew year after year.
CircleSpace Forums
Since 2017, CircleSpace has partnered with communities like MHI, Schools like Harvard Business School, and Companies like Dupont to deliver Forums and Forum-like programs.
A forum comes in many flavors and sizes - search here to find the perfect one for you
