You’ve decided to join a mastermind group.
Hurray and happy dance.
However, you can’t just join any old group that you happen to stumble upon. You wouldn’t just a
You are going to be sharing the intimate details or your business with a group of potential strangers – You better do your due diligence before you dive in.
Here are 6 tips to find a group that’s right for you.
1 | In-Person or Virtual
How does the group meet?
Both have their benefits but you have to determine which one is best for you. Obviously nothing beats getting people together in a room to brainstorm ideas, to get candid over a cup of coffee and for a good ol’ hug after a particular vulnerable session.
However if your commitments make it tricky to spend up to 2 hours each week in a meeting (commuting, parking and so forth) then a virtual one might work better for you.
Virtual these days means more than faceless conference call where people are muting themselves so they can send emails and do other task. Today we have in person virtual meetings where the technology is stable, reliable, recordable, and pretty amazing in terms of it’s capabilities (you can even break off into small groups). And although you’re not in the same room – you still get the benefit of face to face.
2 | Longevity
How long has the group been in existence?
Are you looking to join an existing group? Existing groups can be beneficial if there is a friendly and structured environment that has been successful.
Perhaps they’re looking to infuse the group with a fresh perspective or they want to spice up the group with new energy, industry experience or differing point in their progress. It’s good to know why they’re opening up to new members.
You may want to ask them:
- How long have they been coming together?
- Why is there an open spot?
- Is there high turnover and if so, why?
Don’t just talk to the organizer of the group. Make sure you ask some of the participants what their experience has been like. You may find that something is broken and everyone is slowly looking to leave. Better to know now before you join.
3 | Frequency
How often do they meet?
I find this incredibly important because if you join a group that meets only once a month or once a quarter how useful will it be for keeping you accountable to your goals and to be a resource in times of need.
I believe that nothing beats weekly calls/meetings. This consistency builds in better accountability and each person is kept fully up on everyone’s businesses. It also adds a level of commitment to the group as a whole, to one another and to the success of each member.
4 | Structure
Is there a structure to each meeting?
Does the mastermind group have a structure to each and every call? Is there a hot seat where an individual has time to share a challenge or obstacle and for the group to brainstorm ideas and share resources?
There is the standard mastermind structure:
- First few minutes each person shares their ‘wins’ from the previous week
- Hot seat (sometimes 2) where a person dives deeps into an issue and then opens the group up to ask questions, explore and brainstorm. (usually bulk of call)
- Last few minutes each person shares action items for the week.
Some groups have guest speakers join on occasion or do an open topic day. Regardless of what the structure might be, it’s good to know ahead of time if there is one and what it typically looks like.
No structure might be a red flag.
5 | Facilitator (or Leader)
Is there a group facilitator? What’s their role?
A facilitated mastermind group is very different than groups that are sometimes created by a coach.
If the facilitator brings the group together to teach, consult or coach then that’s group coaching and very different from a peer mastermind groups. Read more about that here.
If there is a facilitator it’s important to understand his/her role.
Typically it’s to lead the group from an administrative prospective, ask clarifying questions, engage the group, reengage those who haven’t contributed, handle conflicts or issues and to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Facilitated groups are usually a paid experience for a specific period of time (like our Savvy Circles) and might include some bonus resources or other perks. The focus is on the group accomplishing their goals and not a prescribed agenda by the facilitator.
Talk with the facilitator before signing up to see if it’s a good fit.
Some mastermind groups might elect someone who fills the role as leader primarily for administrative reasons. This might rotate from time to time if the group has been running strong for years. It’s good to know how the leadership works within any group your considering.
6 | Expectations
What do you they expect of you?
Are there any unseen expectations as a participant? Some groups are formed as an active way to provide referrals. That isn’t a mastermind – that’s simply a networking group.
Other groups might be veiled group coaching situations that are tied to a specific training, workshop or program. Some people might be asked to go through a workshop or training before they’re able to join the ‘mastermind’ group. That’s fine as long as you understand what that entails, whether there is any cost and ultimately how the mastermind – once you’re in – runs and operations.
My best advice is to ask lots of questions, talk to as many people as possible, and to understand the perimeters and expectations. Just like any relationship it’s good to know what you’re getting yourself into.
People throw around the word “mastermind” pretty loosely these days so it’s good to be thoughtful when you’re searching for a group. There are many wonderful organizations and groups out there once you start your search.
Ultimately go with your gut. It’s never wrong.
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