Event recap · Jul 23, 2026 · 4 min read

Be inefficient: Notes from Charles Vogl's Art of Belonging

EV

EO Vietnam Editorial

Twenty minutes into Charles Vogl’s workshop, people had turned their chairs away from the stage. In groups of three or four, they talked about a relationship built on trust. The afternoon had moved from presentation to conversation almost immediately.

Attendees in small groups at The Art of Belonging workshop — The Art of Belonging. EO Vietnam, 23 July.

More than 40 EO Vietnam members and guests attended The Art of Belonging at Hotel Caravelle Saigon on 23 July 2026. Le Tuan Anh, EO Vietnam’s president, opened the event. Then Harley Trung, Learning Chair, introduced Charles, author of The Art of Community.

Le Tuan Anh opening the afternoon — Le Tuan Anh opens the afternoon.

Harley Trung introducing Charles Vogl — Harley Trung introduces Charles.

The small-group turn

Charles moved between brief explanations and small-group exercises. He used humour, including jokes at his own expense, then gave each group a specific question to discuss. About an hour into the session, he asked who was surprised by how connected they already felt. Most hands went up.

Charles Vogl speaking on the art of belonging — Charles Vogl on the art of belonging.

“When I talk about the crisis of belonging, it's when we feel lonely around a lot of people.”

– Charles Vogl, at The Art of Belonging

An invitation is personal

Charles distinguished an announcement from an invitation. An announcement can reach hundreds of people. A personal invitation tells one person that their presence would be noticed. The effort is part of the message. Charles gave examples such as a handwritten note, a direct message or a conversation that cannot be automated.

“It doesn't even matter if people say yes. Just the invitation builds connection.”

– Charles Vogl, at The Art of Belonging

Two attendees in conversation — One conversation at a time.

Around the campfire

Charles also used the image of a campfire: a circle small enough for people to give one another their attention. For people meeting for the first time, he suggested groups of no more than five. Beyond that, it becomes harder for everyone to hold a relationship with everyone else. The idea could apply to a dinner table, a team conversation or a message sent to one person instead of a mailing list.

Families have gathered around literal campfires for generations to do exactly this. Charles simply reminded the leaders in front of him that the oldest tool we have for trust still outperforms whatever we keep trying to replace it with.

Attendees working in small groups mid-session — Attendees in groups, mid-session.

4.5 / 5

How attendees rated the experience

The full workshop room in conversation — The room doing its work.

What founders took away

Post-event survey respondents rated the workshop 4.5 out of 5.

Several responses mentioned the personal invitation and the smaller breakout groups. One attendee summarised the lesson in two words: “Be inefficient.” It is awkward advice for founders accustomed to making things faster and easier to scale. That may be why it landed.

Yen Do, the EO Vietnam member who championed the event, closed the afternoon by thanking Charles and presenting him with a personalized EO jacket.