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
cleaning help near Mundelein ..(excerpted from the Day That Turns Your Life Around)After having... Read More
What is success? As author and speaker Earl Nightingale said,... Read More
Okay, so you've finally made that big decision to start... Read More
FOCUSAs you're building your business, you can choose to win... Read More
What would happen if you lived your life by design... Read More
Fear, or negative anxiety, is the modern day bubonic plague,... Read More
One of the inevitabilities of University life is the examination.... Read More
'No man is an island' the saying goes. The implication... Read More
Have you ever made plans in your career but never... Read More
Greatness is all around us. From Oprah to Bill Gates... Read More
Self-sabotage is one key factor that keeps our business from... Read More
Get your act together Make sure that you have all... Read More
I was at a dinner party the other night when... Read More
Success is something that happens all by itself once you've... Read More
Dare to Dream~It is said that every person has at... Read More
If you could choose a cartoon character from your childhood... Read More
This article is about a subject that few people think... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
(excerpted from The Challenge to Succeed audio series)It is a... Read More
This past Memorial Day weekend I decided to revisit my... Read More
In the first part of this article you learned some... Read More
Conditions differ from circumstances. Circumstances are changeable conditions which merely... Read More
"If you want to increase your success rate, double your... Read More
Back from my amazing summer excursion, a month long drive... Read More
Many among us, on many instances, have the habit of... Read More
reliable maid service Wilmette ..Do You Know You Have the Power to Harness Huge,... Read More
I've been thinking a lot about what I believe to... Read More
"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my... Read More
Authors such as Napoleon Hill have produced a great deal... Read More
In my work with clients, the issue of perspectives comes... Read More
Lots of people network but few reap the rewards of... Read More
A person who is illiterate can look at a word... Read More
The gambling instinct is in every man or woman. All... Read More
Everyone wants a life that works effectively, whether that means... Read More
'No man is an island' the saying goes. The implication... Read More
Have you ever thought about how you want to live,... Read More
Are you getting frustrated because the work you continue to... Read More
Success can easily be compared to the "genie trapped in... Read More
I have written much about how, in order to have... Read More
Most of us fear change, because - as we've all... Read More
Persistence is the foundation of success. Although there are many... Read More
"Walk away from the 97% crowd. Don't use their excuses.... Read More
Here are 3 powerful steps you can take to free... Read More
Sometimes short cuts are not worth taking. They may bring... Read More
Many UK citizens want to settle or retire in Spain... Read More
How many people do you hear complaining about their job,... Read More
Jobs are heating up. We're all feeling the pinch of... Read More
A young girl opens a birthday card from her grand... Read More
Get ready to sail the Seven C's - the Seven... Read More
I am unashamed to copy the peak performance techniques of... Read More
Success |