Your first Circle meeting

Get to know each other and lay the groundwork for a successful Circle.

Before You Start:

Goal: Welcome your Circle, get to know each other, and leave your first meeting feeling connected and excited about what's ahead.

Meeting Agenda · Approx. 60 mins

  • 👋 Welcome and introductions · 10 mins
  • 💡 Circle Fundamentals · 10 mins
  • 💬 How we'll show up for each other · 10 mins
  • ✍️ Where we are and where we're going · 20 mins
  • 🎯 One Action · 5 mins
  • 📅 Prepare for Next Meeting · 5 mins

👋 Welcome and introductions · 10 mins

Welcome, everyone. I'm so glad we're all here. This is our first meeting, and the goal today is simple: to start getting to know each other and set ourselves up for a highly successful Circle.

Circles work best when members get to know and trust each other. So let's get started.

Go around the Circle. Each person answers:

  • My name is…
  • One word that describes how I'm feeling coming into this meeting is…
  • I joined this Circle because…

NOTE: Keep introductions to 60–90 seconds each.

💡Our Circle fundamentals · 10 mins

The most successful Circles share a set of values that everyone commits to. These are our Circle Fundamentals that create the conditions for real trust and growth. Let's read through them together.

  1. Confidentiality: What happens in your Circle should stay in your Circle

  2. Compassion: Practice empathy, consider different perspectives, and try your best to express yourself openly and sincerely

  3. Communication: Listen with intent and make space for everyone to talk without distraction or interruptions

  4. Commitment: Everyone should be invested in your Circle’s success—this means showing up to meetings and being fully present

Do any of these values feel like they need to be adjusted for our group? If so, let's talk about it now.

If you agree to the values, say "I'm in" or give a thumbs up.

NOTE: Consider reading these fundamentals aloud at the start of every future meeting as a quick reset. It only takes 60 seconds and makes a real difference.

💬 How we'll show up for each other · 10 mins

To make planning meetings easier, let's agree on some basics right now: when we meet, how often, and how we stay connected between meetings.

Decide as a group:

☐ REGULAR DAY AND TIME Pick a recurring slot and schedule your next 3 meetings before you leave today.

☐ MEETING FORMAT In person, virtual, or a mix?

☐ BETWEEN-MEETING COMMUNICATION Set up a group chat on Lean In Connect or another tool, so you can share resources and cheer each other on. Set up the group chat now, if possible, as it will be easier while everyone is together.

☐ LEADERSHIP MODEL One facilitator every meeting, or rotate? Either works, but someone should own logistics so meetings stay on the calendar.

✍️ Activity: Where I Am / Where I Want To Be · 20 mins

Part 1 (10 mins)

Go around the Circle. Each person shares two things (about 2 minutes each):

  1. Where I am right now: professionally or personally, where are you today?
  2. Where I want to be: what's one thing you're working toward or hoping to change?

Part 2 Circle Time Capsule (10 mins)

Now you're going to create something together. Each person contributes one sentence to your Circle's shared time capsule: a collective record of this moment that your Circle Leader will read back to the group at your 6-month meeting.

Take a moment to complete one of these sentences:

  • "What I hope to gain from this Circle is…"
  • "Six months from now, I hope our Circle has…"
  • "In six months, I hope my career has changed as follows: ..."

NOTE: The Circle leader should record everyone's sentence in one place: a shared note, a doc, or even a physical piece of paper sealed in an envelope. Members should email or text their sentence to the leader, or share it out loud so it can be written down. Then, keep this record somewhere safe.

After 6 months of meeting, we'll read the time capsule aloud and ask everyone to share again, "where I am right now" and "where I want to be." We'll reflect on how far we've all come since the Circle began and decide what to focus on next.

🎯 One Action · 5 mins

Before we close, we'll each commit to one concrete action to step outside our comfort zone or try something new in the next 30 days. Saying it out loud is important, because that creates accountability, giving you the little extra push you need to go for it.

  • Think of one thing you'll do in the next four weeks — something connected to what you shared in the activity, or simply a step toward a goal.
  • Go around the Circle. Each person shares their action in 60 seconds or less.
  • Write it down somewhere you'll see it.
  • At your next meeting, check in on each other's progress.

📅 Wrap-up · 5 mins

Before you close:

  • Confirm your next meeting date, time, and location
  • Go around the Circle and finish the sentence: ""One word for how I'm feeling leaving this meeting is…""

Congratulations on your first Circle meeting. What you shared today took courage.