Idea in Brief
The Untapped Opportunity
Peer forums are groups of four to 10 people who meet regularly to discuss their work and lives—and learn from one another. But because of their small size and private nature, they’re still unknown to many people who could get value from them.
The Benefits
While their makeup, focus, and sponsors can vary, all successful forums allow participants to share concerns, show vulnerability, hear different viewpoints, clarify priorities, make decisions with greater confidence, and form connections that help them feel safe, grounded, and capable in an uncertain world.
The Best Practices
Good forums pay careful attention to group composition, principles for participation, meeting structure, processes, and content, and use flexible technology. They also seek to continually improve the forum experience for everyone.
Fifteen years ago, Mike Novakoski, the president and CEO of EV Construction, joined a local peer support group for company leaders run by YPO (formerly the Young Presidents’ Organization). At the time he doubted he would stick with it; he expected he’d be too busy to go to the meetings involved. Now, he says, “I can’t imagine life without it.” The group has helped him connect more authentically and build trust with others, he says—so much so that he has encouraged his family, friends, colleagues, and suppliers to find or form their own peer groups.
