The Success Alliance Blog

Think being a mastermind group member is easy? Just ask member Chris Everson.

“I thought that all I had to do was offer advice and sit back and relax. I almost got fired from my group!”

There’s a heightened sense of responsibility that comes from being a mastermind group member. Mastermind groups succeed or fail based on everyone’s two-way involvement: both in asking for help and giving help. If you don’t have balance in those two areas, you’re not an asset to the group.

Here are some tips to being a super mastermind group member:

•  Tell your group members what you need from the group that day. Do you just need to be heard or do you need them to brainstorm 30 new ideas with you? Do you need to be held accountable for getting things done or do you need a pat on the back for your successes?
• Don’t hog the limelight. Even if you’re in the Hot Seat, a mastermind group is about everyone getting a chance to share and connect. Try to speak in short paragraphs: get to the crux of the comment or question as quickly as possible, but don’t leave out any crucial information that will affect the conversation.
• Write your Prep Form the day before the meeting so that you’ve thought through the big questions in advance. Don’t prepare for the meeting 10 minutes before it starts and expect amazing results.
• Ask questions. If something doesn’t make sense, if a comment from a mastermind group member doesn’t align with their stated goals and values, if you feel there’s more under the surface: ask about it.
• Listen and take notes. Whether you are in the Hot Seat or someone else is, listening carefully in a focused way to what’s being said (and what’s not being said) will give you 100 times more information than just staring off into space. Taking notes helps you keep focused on the discussion at hand, and gives you a place to jot down your own ideas until it’s your turn to speak — you know how easy it is to have a brilliant idea just fly out of your head the moment you’re trying to remember it!
• Learn how to give constructive feedback. Never attack the person — attack the idea. Be robust in your thinking; don’t let people skate by with flimsy ideas or poorly thought-out action plans. Challenge each other to fulfill their potential and create success in their business and personal lives.

Yes, the success of a mastermind group depends on the quality of the mastermind group facilitator. But more importantly the success of your group depends on your willingness to devote yourself to your own success and the success of others.

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