In every life, transition and transformation are inevitable. So, too, with your membership in your mastermind group.

I was interviewed on Friday for a podcast and the host asked me this question, “When is it time to think about leaving your mastermind group?” Some mastermind group members stay for 10 years or more. Others leave earlier.

Sometimes you have hit a brick wall when it comes to your own motivation level and by avoiding the meetings, you avoid the inner work. This is not a reason to leave the group — it’s a reason to stay and do the work that will release you! ANY of the list below can simply be a mask for you avoiding the changes you need to make, so if you see a reason below that fits you, first ask, “What am I avoiding?” just to be sure.

Whether you are a member of a group (and want to know if it’s time to leave it) or you are a mastermind group facilitator (and wondering why people leave your group)…

Here are the top 16 reasons why people leave a mastermind group:

1. You are not excited about going to meetings…or worse, you dread going.
2. You can’t trust some of the members of the group or the facilitator.
3. You can’t be completely authentic in the group and you can’t share what’s really going on in your life.
4. Your brainstorming needs are not being met in the group (either the conversation doesn’t go deeply enough or you don’t get in the Hot Seat often enough).
5. Your goals have changed and this group is no longer the right group for you.
6. You find that the group is not holding you accountable (they’re letting you slide).
7. You don’t want to participate in discussions when someone else is in the Hot Seat.
8. Things are going well and you have nothing more to mastermind about this month.
9. You don’t want to be in the Hot Seat because you don’t want to deal with your current problems or you are embarrassed to talk about them.
10. You don’t need to be in the Hot Seat because your most urgent problems and goals are outside the scope of the group.
11. You resist making goals or setting action plans.
12. You have achieved your goals and don’t feel you need the same level of support that you needed earlier in your life/business.
13. You have achieved success and have outgrown the group; you want to be in a group but at a higher level.
14. You simply want a break from masterminding.
15. You’re moving out of the area and it’s an in-person mastermind group in the town you are leaving.
16. The time and money you invest in the group is not yielding the results you want.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a break from your mastermind group or having members want to leave your mastermind group. Once you know that being part of a mastermind group no longer suits your needs, first talk with the facilitator privately, then talk to the group about it. Exit gracefully instead of just disappearing.

And for those of you who are facilitators of mastermind groups, pay attention to some of the warning signs — and then speak with your member about their role in the group.

Want to learn how to start a mastermind group? Click here to get my free video tutorial on how to create a mastermind group of your own.