Values and Behaviors That Empower CEO Forums to Transcend

In a world where leaders are pressed for time, overloaded with information, and often isolated at the top, the CEO Forum remains one of the few places where they can think clearly, speak honestly, and grow intentionally. The world’s highest-performing CEO Forums don’t succeed by accident. They thrive because their members operate from a deeply shared set of values. These values are not just theoretical ideals; they are observable behaviors practiced consistently over time.

After decades inside these rooms (and Zooms), as a member, facilitator, researcher, and student, I’ve seen ten values rise again and again as the differentiators – values that separate “good” groups from truly exceptional ones: confidentiality, vulnerability, commitment, preparation, generosity, courage, honesty, respect, empathy, and growth-mindset. When these values are practiced consistently, they create conditions where leaders learn faster, make better decisions, and experience the rare gift of genuine peer support.

Let’s explore each value and what looks like in practice:

Confidentiality: Protecting the Container 

What happens during the meeting stays there. While it is one of the sacrosanct values observed by the top CEO Forums, it is never taken for granted. Preserving confidentiality requires commitment, loyalty, and intentionality. They recognize the wisdom of never sharing someone else’s story – a practice that has utility beyond the peer group, indeed.

Members demonstrate confidentiality when they:

– Speak freely without fear of their comments resurfacing elsewhere.

– Avoid triangulation and refuse to discuss another member’s issues outside the room.

– Treat each story as if it were their own.

Vulnerability: Dropping the Armor 

Vulnerability is the gateway to genuine connection, requiring a combination of generosity and courage, not lip service. High-performing CEOs practice vulnerability when they:

– Admit mistakes openly.

– See asking as an act of resourcefulness.

– Understand the value of going deep and getting to the root cause.

Commitment: Showing Up Fully 

In a high-performing forum, commitment is visible not invisible. Members show commitment when they:

– Attend meetings consistently and on time.

– Engage fully, avoiding distractions.

– Support group members outside the meeting as well.

Preparation: Respect for the Room 

Preparation transforms meetings from discussions into breakthroughs. In elite CEO Forums, you’ll see members:

– Arrive having reflected deeply on their issues.

– Provide clear context when presenting challenges.

– Review pre-read materials to elevate the conversation.

Generosity: Giving Without Keeping Score 

Generosity in CEO Forums shows up in dozens of micro-moments:

– Offering expertise without expecting something in return.

– Leading Tiger Teams to support a member going through a crisis.

– Modeling vulnerability and providing the tacit permission for others to do so as well.

Courage: Saying What Needs to Be Said 

Every leader needs colleagues who will tell them the truth when no one else will. Courageous behavior includes:

– Asking the hard question.

– Challenging assumptions respectfully.

– Identifying the elephants in the room.

Honesty: Truth Without Harm 

Honesty is essential, but in high-performing groups, it’s delivered with care. Members demonstrate honesty when they:

– Provide feedback that is both direct and constructive.

– Share what they really think, not what is easiest.

– Own their viewpoint without blaming or deflecting.

Respect: The Foundation of Professional Kinship 

Respect is a behavior long before it becomes a value. It shows up as:

– Listening deeply to understand.

– Valuing diverse experiences and backgrounds.

– Challenging ideas without diminishing people.

Empathy: Understanding Before Advising 

Many CEO Forums are filled with problem-solvers. But exceptional ones practice empathy first and share their experiences and ideas second. Empathy looks like:

– Asking clarifying questions before recommending actions.

– Putting yourself in the other leader’s context.

– Validating the emotions behind the issue.

Growth-Mindset: Learning as a Leadership Advantage 

The most defining value of elite CEO Forums is the belief that everyone can get better. Growth-mindset behaviors include:

– Welcoming feedback and applying it quickly.

– Seeing setbacks as data, not failure.

– Coming to each meeting with a Beginner’s Mind – open to embracing new ideas, frameworks, and perspectives.

Why These Values & Behaviors Matter  

In 2026 and beyond, CEO Forums hold even greater strategic importance. Leaders face unprecedented volatility, rapid technological shifts, and increasing pressure to deliver financially, culturally, and ethically. Isolation is costly. Blind spots are dangerous. Unchecked assumptions can be fatal.

These ten values, with their supporting behaviors, create a unique ecosystem where leaders can:

– Confront complexity with clarity.

– Test ideas in a safe, skilled environment.

– Build resilience through shared experience.

– Develop habits that translate directly into better organizational performance.

They empower you to apprehend and safeguard each of the Five Factors necessary for driving high-performing forums. Beyond that, these values nurture something rare for leaders today: a space where excellence and humanity coexist.

When confidentiality protects the room, vulnerability opens it, commitment stabilizes it, preparation sharpens it, generosity enriches it, courage strengthens it, honesty clarifies it, respect elevates it, empathy deepens it, and growth-mindset propels it, something extraordinary happens.

A group of leaders forms a community, and this community becomes a force multiplier that develops better leaders, stronger teams, and improved organizations.

That’s why the world’s highest-performing CEO Forums don’t simply meet. They transcend.