Career Coach: Create a Powerful Mastermind Group

 

No doubt you’ve heard the saying, “Two heads are better than one.” Today I’m going to share a practical way to put that idea into action.

The concept of a “Mastermind” group has been around for a long time but was popularized by author Napoleon Hill in the early 1900’s. Hill wrote that a Mastermind group is, “The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony.”

You can tap into the power of a mastermind group for mutual support, ideas, inspiration, feedback and accountability. You have endless options for how to “meet” with your group (face to face, over the phone, Skype or Google + sessions, etc.).

Want to start your own Mastermind group? Here are some tips:

•Keep it small: Aim for two to six people.
•Choose your focus: Career, health, writing a book, job search, etc.
•Be consistent: Meet at the same time.
•Keep your eye on the prize: Stay on track and make it a “No Complaining” Zone (It’s okay to “vent” every now and then, but stay focused on solutions and progress.)
•Reflect regularly: set aside time each week for each person to identify:
       -Successes and “wins” from the prior week.
       -Challenges/frustrations you want to address.
(Example: After one person shares for ten minutes, the group responds for ten minutes, then moves on to the next person.)

You have enough to get started! Get your group together, and you’ll wonder why you haven’t been involved in a master mind group all along.

— Alan Allard, Career Coach