Posted by Theresa Bradley-Banta
In our post on How To Start a Mastermind Group we talk about the concept of the mastermind, which is based on the principle that when two or more minds blend their innate thinking power, there is created a third, exponentially more powerful mind.
The key to creating a successful mastermind group is for group members to agree on a set of rules or guidelines that assure the continued success of the group.
Two rules stand out above all others.
They are:
Show up for your meetings or calls
When you commit to supporting a group such as a mastermind group, the very best thing you can do is show up for your call or meeting. Your absence from your group will significantly change the dynamics of the group.
Picture this…
Close your eyes and imagine the people in your mastermind group.
Picture them clearly in your mind — all five (or six) of you sitting in your chairs around a circle. It’s great isn’t it?
Lots of energy, synergy, good feelings. You are ready to brainstorm!
Now, picture one of those chairs suddenly empty.
Do you see how dramatically the energy just changed… with only one member absent from the mastermind group?
Participate with an attitude of, “How can I be of service to the other members of my group?”
Your attitude should never be, “here’s what I need”. When you are of unconditional service to others, the universe will guarantee that you will in turn receive the support you need.
A word of caution; this does not mean you come to a mastermind call with the thinking you do not need any help. Don’t be a martyr by saying, “there’s nothing I need help with, I’m only here to help you.”
Being vulnerable and open to suggestions is part of the mastermind process.
Two simple rules.
Guaranteed to bring success every time.
Here are some other guidelines that will also help you run a great mastermind group:
Be prepared
If your group, or a group member, shares ideas in a previous meeting, give some thought to the resources you may have that will assist the member in their professional development. You do not have to have the answers to a particular challenge but you may know someone with experience in the area, or you may know of a book that further discusses the topic.
Accountability – keep each other on target
You can bring a great deal of support to your fellow group members by helping to keep them on target. It’s a great idea to have a mutual agreement amongst members of the group that each of you are willing to be held accountable for what you commit to doing.
Remind the group members of the actions they committed to taking and ask if they are moving in the right direction. This can be done in a respectful manner and from a sincere desire to be of support.
Focus – no distractions
This means no multi tasking — working on your computer, listening to the radio, reading email messages should be saved for another time. You should have a clear phone line with no background noise — this means you’re not driving your car, or attending a ball game.
Be an enthusiastic, motivated team player
Participate in your call. Give input to the other team members when possible. Be truthful and respectful.
Build an agenda and stick to it
Your group can determine some basic rules of your meeting format. It is helpful to assign a moderator for each call. Be aware that storytelling can derail an agenda. This happens when a group member goes into a long story in order to make a point. Remember that concise is effective — you can gently guide a storyteller back on track by pointing out your time limitations.
Don’t ask too much offline or give homework assignments
Tempting though it may be, your mastermind sessions should primarily be confined to the actual meeting time set aside for the mastermind session. The whole point in masterminding is to create that third, exponentially more powerful mind.
Avoid asking individual members to tackle a problem, or give feedback, without the entire group’s involvement.
Masterminding can be a rewarding, enjoyable experience and should be a part of your entrepreneur toolbox.
Napoleon Hill, in his book Think & Grow Rich, discusses the mastermind and the mastermind process in detail. For your own free digital book download of Think & Grow Rich, subscribe by email on the left side of our site. It’s our gift to you!
Theresa Bradley-Banta, co-creator of www.bigfishtopdogs.com, is a musician, award winning graphic artist, mentor, coach, blogger, and owner of multiple businesses. You can follow her on twitter @bigfishtopdogs.
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Joining a mastermind group will provide business support, resources and accountability to promote a business. It is a great way of achieving business objectives with a great deal of strategies. I highly appreciate your time taken on sharing such valuable & supportive information on mastermind groups. Thank you very much!