Mastermind groups form with two or more peers who are committed to helping each other succeed. The group brainstorms on problems, gives advice to one another, and holds each other accountable for what they said they were going to do. I’m going to try to convince you that you need to be in a mastermind group!
The accidental mastermind group
Last year I started meeting with a fellow Q2 Leader. We were introduced by a mutual friend who recognized that we shared a similar approach to leadership. We discussed what was going on at work and would offer commentary. Along the way I heard a podcast about mastermind groups and I realized what we had done was formed a mastermind group of our own!
In general a mastermind group is made up of two or more people. In my group we ask each other for the wins we had since we met last. There’s always a win! Sometimes we report on wins at work, and sometimes wins outside of work. For example, in our last meeting I reported that I had applied content marketing to an initiative at work, which is going quite well. My mastermind teammate reported that he was able to disconnect from work while on a road trip with his wife and kids. Wins all around!
Other approaches to mastermind groups
I’m new to the mastermind concept, and I don’t follow some of the recommended practices. Many mastermind groups rotate having people sit in ‘the hot seat’. This person reports on what they’ve done towards their goals, or on roadblocks. The rest of the group then brainstorms or gives advice to this person. I can imagine this might be rather brutal if there isn’t an environment of trust and respect.
Encouragement and accountability
The mastermind sessions I’m in are a bit more meandering, but I get so much out of them. I learn new ways of looking at common problems and what’s working and what’s not working for my mastermind teammate. I get to encourage and I am being encouraged as well. We follow up on goals but are not militant about accountability. It seems just knowing someone might ask you about it is enough to keep us on track!
I’m convinced that mastermind groups can only work if the people involved are 7 Habits people: proactive, starting with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win/win, and seeking first to understand before being understood. We don’t have to be perfect at all of these things, and sometimes the brainstorming and advice will focus on one of these skills. But with a good foundation, the magic of synergy is possible.
Synergy occurs when the output from two or more people is greater than or more significant than could have been achieved by one person alone. I find this happens quite often in the mastermind group. I’m inspired, I connect dots, and I come up with something new. At the same time I’m amazed by what my mastermind teammate comes up with. Often our reported wins are much greater than what we thought we would have accomplished at the end of the last meeting.
Pre-reqs for a successful mastermind group
In order for a mastermind group to be successful, there are a few pre-requisites:
- You must believe you have value to share. I know you do, but you must know you do.
- You must be open to receiving feedback and improving.
- You need to be flexible. The feedback and ideas you gain may take you in a direction you hadn’t thought of before.
- You need to be committed to the group. You need the group and the group needs you. Show up as your best self, ready to encourage and be encouraged.
Why you should consider forming or joining a mastermind group
Have you ever been encouraged by someone to try something you didn’t think was really right for you (but maybe you kind of did know it was right)? When you tried it and it turned out good, did you feel excited because you accomplished something you didn’t think you were capable of? I bet you have a story like that. Imagine being encouraged like that on a regular basis, by people who sincerely believe in you and want you to explore your full potential. Wow! Game changer. This is the power of the mastermind group.
Q & A
Q: How do I form a mastermind group? Observe your peers. Are there any that you respect for their ability to learn new things and move forward? Who is around you that is aligned with your approach to self-growth? Who energizes you when you are around them? These are people who might make good mastermind teammates.
Q: Can it be technical in nature? I don’t see why not. Brainstorming on technical issues often produces ideas that any individual wouldn’t have thought of. Mix in some encouragement to build confidence and I think you have a winning combo.
Q: Does age of the participants matter? I really don’t think so, as long as everyone is committed to sharing their wins, keeping each other accountable, and listening to everyone in the group. This isn’t group mentoring or training, where one person is the go-to answer person.
Q: Can people at different “levels” be in a mastermind group together? From my brief research, mastermind groups are always billed as “peer-to-peer”. However, if people who are not peers are getting into a new space together, I don’t see why this can’t work. Trust, respect, and openness are key.
tl;dr
Mastermind groups consist of two or more people who are committed to helping each other succeed in an environment of trust, respect, and accountability. The interactions are often synergistic and propel participants towards growing their value faster than the members could on their own.
engineer your life
Look around and see if you can find a peer or two to form a mastermind group with. Give it a trial period so all members have a chance to bow out gracefully if they don’t find it useful.
