Forum: The Secret Advantage of Successful Leaders

by Mo Fathelbab

Keep company with those who may make you better — English saying

Who Belongs and Why

Peer exchange groups come in various shapes and sizes. Members may have a lot in common because of a shared passion or past. They are just as likely, though, to seem totally diverse, brought together originally by membership in a sponsoring organization and kept together by the value they gain from the experience. Regardless of the composition, one of the first things that affects the group’s success is who the members are, how they are selected, and how many there are.

The commonality that gives individuals a reason to come together and commit time, energy and resources to this endeavor can be causebased, such as any of the myriad groups that use peer exchange to enhance the effectiveness of their local affiliates. It can be role-based, such as a group of dentists, or it can be generated by membership in a sponsoring organization, such as a Newcomers Club. While the causebased group may have little commonality of background, education, income level, or profession, initially at least the members have a clearly defined issue to address. Conversely, the role-based group will share a profession and probably also have much more in common in terms of background, education, and income level, but at first won’t necessarily all have the same clearly defined reason for joining. Sponsored groups, of course, can vary all along this spectrum. Newcomers, for example, might have geography in common and little else.

While this book will primarily focus on role-based groups, please recognize that many of the tools shared will be of benefit to all kinds of PEGs. The emphasis here on role-based groups derives from the fact that it is in that arena that I and the other professionals at Forum Resources Network primarily work. Whether because of the financial resources at their disposal or their comfort with using consulting professionals, chief executives and other senior business leaders are our most regular and enthusiastic clients. They know the benefits available from PEGs and eagerly seek to preserve and enhance them. Other groups are often more reticent, at least until they have engaged in the first consulting project. Obviously, one of my purposes here is to overcome that diffidence so that PEGs can work their particular brand of magic on all levels of the socioeconomic spectrum and among all cultures and kinds of people.

Thank you very much for the outstanding job you did training the newest St. Louis forum group. As being part of the group, I felt that everyone had a very positive experience, and you gave us all the knowledge and energy to successfully participate in our own forums. It is encouraging to see someone that seems to enjoy their work as much as you do. Your approach as a facilitator allows for the trainees to open up and share their concerns and needs with the group. I feel fortunate to have had you as our facilitator.
Tim O'Keefe
President, Right Choice Services

Where Forum differs from traditional education is that the group members provide the content and it is based on their experience – there are no theories here!
Peter Thomas
Founder, Century 21 Canada