Napoleon Hill coined the concept of the mastermind alliance in his classic book Think and Grow Rich. He believed that a group of like-minded, achievement-oriented individuals could dramatically leverage each other's success.
The old adages still hold true today, "the sum of the whole is greater than its parts" and "two heads are better than one". More and more today people in business are harnessing the power of mastermind groups to think bigger. Combining the power of several minds to solve problems, seek advice, different perspectives and achieve goals, simply creates greater results than "going it alone".
Mastermind groups commit to showing up and contributing to the success of each other. They become trusted confidants who rely on each other for priceless insights, candid feedback, valuable ideas, encouragement, inspiration and motivation.
Mastermind Group Types
Essentially, the types of groups are as endless as your imagination. Mastermind groups in large companies frequently consist of managers from different divisions, internal client groups who serve each other, or new leaders who want to further their development. Some mastermind groups are industry specific. They can be Financial Planners, Coaches, or Supply Chain Managers who commit to learning from each other. Small business owners often create mastermind groups to develop strategies, share lessons learned and resources.
The Planning Process
The first and most important step in forming a successful mastermind group is planning. Details can be fine-tuned once the group is formed, but having a clear picture up front will increase your chances of getting the right people the first time around. It will also help you communicate with potential members.
What will be the group's purpose and objectives? Be sure to think through both "what it is" and "what it is not". For example, a mastermind group is typically not a leads network.
What are the ground rules and boundaries? What's ok and not ok? And don't forget to plan for how the ground rules will be enforced.
How large will the group be? Groups typically have less than 10 members.
Where, how often, and how long will you meet? Some groups meet virtually through teleconference or the internet. The virtual groups usually meet more often. Other groups meet in person. They typically meet monthly or quarterly for a couple of hours.
How will meetings be structured? Some are structured with a facilitator and an agenda, some allot equal time to each member, some simply focus on the most pressing issues.
Who is the "ideal" member for your group? What are their characteristics? What is their expertise? What value will they add to the group?
Where To Find Members
Don't forget, finding the "ideal" member is the goal. Warm bodies do not equal "ideal" members. Some places to look for "ideal" members: Your existing network; Professional Associations; Chamber of Commerce; Your place of worship; Internet bulletin boards or networking groups; etc.
Managing Expectations
Everyone in the group needs to understand that there is a development curve in forming a mastermind group. While you're ramping up, members need to have open and honest conversations about group norms and expectations. These conversations solidify buy-in, begin to build bonds, and lay the foundation for trust.
Being a part of a successful mastermind group can be an invaluable and enriching experience, both personally and professionally. Some groups have literally shared the evolution of entire careers with each other. Wouldn't that be an amazing experience to look back on? Now that's what I call "power".
About The Author
Lora Adrianse is passionate about inspiring the enrichment of growth and development in others. As the owner of Essential Connections, she is a catalyst for clients who aspire to achieve extraordinary results. She is the coach of choice for people who desire to unleash their potential and maximize their personal and professional development. She is accomplished in developing employees at all levels, a seasoned business manager, and an expert in building solid business relationships with customers as well as other business partners. Her natural instincts enrich her ability to get to the heart of the real business issues people face today. She can be reached through her website www.connectionscoach.com, www.connectionscoach.com
tidy up service Glenview ..The title of this article also happens to be the... Read More
One of the main reasons that may hinder us from... Read More
It was one of the worst periods of time in... Read More
1)Failure is normal.Everyone has faced failure. Some people talk about... Read More
They say that if you really want to stretch yourself... Read More
I confess, I love westerns. There is nothing like those... Read More
We all strive for a 'balanced life'. Although we may... Read More
We all know as we are progressing towards our personal... Read More
Evaluations are a tremendous resource to help us know where... Read More
Have you ever made plans in your career but never... Read More
Whenever we have a bad experience or we own up... Read More
I used to see a chiropractor who handed out a... Read More
Far too many of us struggle through life despite more... Read More
I have found that sometimes the subtle difference in our... Read More
Both the worst and the best of the great achievers... Read More
When entering second adulthood, many women will begin a journey... Read More
Does your life feel less than fulfilling? Are you waiting... Read More
Bank account bare? Bedroom barren? Body running on empty? Buddha... Read More
The first thing that you need to do is get... Read More
The scene from "Biloxi Blues" where Matthew Broderick's character kept... Read More
What are your fears? Fear of failure? Fear of success?What... Read More
The starting point of all great success and achievement is... Read More
If it comes to the question what we really want... Read More
What do Sam Walton, Ray Kroc, Hilton, Marriot, Firestone, Elvis... Read More
Each and every day, there are people all around the... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..This summer (2005) huge crowds in England and Australia have... Read More
There are those out there who would lead us to... Read More
(excerpted from the book Seven Strategies for Wealth and Happiness)Wouldn't... Read More
Of course by now we are all becoming aware of... Read More
Bill is a man for the people, of the people... Read More
You've tried and failed. You've watched others fall. You're wiped... Read More
Succinctly said, success is harmony. When the result is congruent... Read More
Why do so many of us lack belief in ourselves?... Read More
Dr. Deepak Chopra is a well-known author of more than... Read More
The most important quality you can ever develop is having... Read More
Success can easily be compared to the "genie trapped in... Read More
One of the keys to being successful in anything you... Read More
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.... Read More
Becoming successful is not easy. We all get tossed around... Read More
When you analyze the traits of successful people, you will... Read More
Want to make success a habit in your life? If... Read More
It sounds simple- right? You are where you THINK you... Read More
Very few of us can pick up a complex task... Read More
In this article we mention 7 tips for your success.... Read More
If you want to be rich and famous, you have... Read More
Recently, I have been riveted by the amazing reality show... Read More
Dr. Wayne Dyer published his best-selling book, "10 Secrets for... Read More
(Excerpted from the 1999 Weekend Seminar audio/CD series)Parents, leaders, employers,... Read More
In terms of life success, there are four pretty obvious... Read More
Ten years ago I went into the studio and recorded... Read More
Success |