The Forum Habit: Practicing Trust, Presence, and Better Thinking with Dan Hoffman

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Hoffman—founder, CEO, and president of Circl.es—to unpack the surprising truth behind real leadership growth: it happens in small circles, not big rooms. Dan traces his path from building M5 Networks and navigating a tough public-company chapter, to a life-changing sabbatical in Barcelona that reframed how he thinks about success.

He introduces a simple but powerful idea: small, curated peer forums help people live and lead better. We explore why five to ten diverse peers, structured conversations, professional facilitation, and a hybrid cadence anchored by in-person retreats consistently outperform traditional corporate learning. Dan breaks down how Circle Space uses data, design, and psychological safety to scale authentic connection—echoing research like Google’s Project Aristotle on trust, equal airtime, and vulnerability.

Beyond the frameworks, Dan opens up about how forums shaped his own choices, taught him to listen more than speak, and strengthened him as a leader, partner, and human. If you’ve ever wondered whether a peer forum could help you grow—or what it feels like to sit in a truly safe circle—this conversation might be your invitation.

If you enjoy the episode, follow the show, share it with someone who leads teams, and leave a quick review to help bring more leaders into circles where growth becomes a habit.

Please visit www.internationalfacilitatorsorganization.com to learn more about Mo Fathelbab and International Facilitators Organization (IFO), a leading provider of facilitators and related group facilitation services, providing training, certification, marketing services, education, and community for peer group facilitators at all stages of their career.