Imagine transforming a group of strangers into a cohesive, self-functioning team in just five months. That’s precisely what I do with my Forum Launch Process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how I help groups ramp up into a brand-new Forum.
Meeting ZERO: Laying the Foundation
My goals for this meeting are:
- Build social capital: Help members bond and get to know each other more deeply.
- Introduce Forum fundamentals: Explain the four core tenets and provide an overview of how Forums work.
- Set goals (AIMs): Establish monthly goals to create accountability and value from the start.
- Schedule monthly meetings: Lock in meetings for the next 12 months.
I call this Meeting ZERO because it’s not the traditional Forum agenda and is instead meant to build deep social connections and learn about the Forum process.
Between Meeting ZERO and Meeting #1, I remind everyone of their AIMs to keep accountability high. We also set up a group chat to facilitate communication and ensure everyone is connected.
Meeting #1: A Traditional Forum Agenda
In this meeting, I
- Run the group through a traditional Forum agenda, however I play every role.
- Assign roles to each member.
- Introduce the Deep Dive section with a mini deep dive for everyone (called Leads).
- Choose someone to do a full Deep Dive at the next meeting.
Between Meeting #1 and Meeting #2, I train members on their roles and host a coaching session for the upcoming deep dive. This ensures everyone is prepared and confident in their new roles.
Meeting #2: Training Wheels
The group starts to take ownership, but with guidance:
- The group runs the meeting with my support.
- I facilitate the deep dive section and introduce the blind window process.
- We give the group access to their Forum Code of Conduct to review.
Between Meeting #2 and Meeting #3, I ensure the Goals person and Moderator are sending out their reminders, keeping everyone on track. We don’t do a coaching session for a Deep Dive; we’ll use that section of Meeting #3 for the Code of Conduct.
Meeting #3: Removing Training Wheels
My goal is to let the group run the meeting without me:
- I’m still involved, but only to provide guidance when needed.
- The group reviews and signs their Forum Code of Conduct.
- We ensure someone is set up for the next month’s Deep Dive and coaching.
Between Meeting #3 and Meeting #4, I sit in on the coaching session to ensure it’s done correctly and that the Goals person and Moderator send out reminders. This is a critical period as the group takes more ownership of the process.
Meeting #4: The Final Handoff
This is my last meeting with the group, and my goal is to talk as little as possible and let them run the show.
Between Meeting #4 and Meeting #5, I again sit in on the coaching session to ensure it’s done correctly and that the Goals person and Moderator send out reminders. This final check-in ensures the group is ready to fly solo.
From Meeting #5 on, the group is on their own, with me providing virtual support. Some organizations have me check in annually to ensure they’re still on track, which is a good practice because, with time, groups tend to stray away from the core structure of a meeting.
After thousands of hours running Forums, I’ve crafted a process that transforms a group of strangers into a cohesive, self-functioning team. It’s not easy, but with this 5-meeting process, I’ve seen remarkable results.