Mastermind Alliance – MKMMA Experience Week Twenty

In the Master Key Experience this week, we are being encouraged to form a mastermind alliance. This is something I have trained in over the years and have led many of them. My experience of what works is in this blog.

Napoleon Hill coined the concept of the mastermind alliance in his classic book Think and Grow Rich. He believed that a group of like-minded, achievement-oriented individuals could dramatically leverage each other’s success.

Mastermind alliances do work best when structured, but they must also be flexible and responsive to the needs of the group. What matters is what is effective in creating consistent and powerful results for the members.

The group meets, in person or virtually, to discuss progress, obstacles, requests for input or support, and commitments. The process follows a set agenda, is recorded for future reference, and is facilitated. The meeting duties are shared equally by all participants.

Consistency will support your mastermind alliance. For example, picking a constant date/day and time for your meeting makes it easier to remember

Each group has its own ‘flavor’. The style and focus of the group may vary.

There are three roles within a mastermind alliance. The roles rotate every meeting so that every person in the group fills every role at least once in the process of the time the group is together – and no one person monopolizes any role more than twice in a row.

Facilitator: This person is responsible for ensuring that the meeting stays on track and on time. They make sure that everyone is heard, that no-one dominates the meeting, and that the structure is followed. Additionally, they act as the host or hostess for the meeting ensuring that everyone is welcomed and comfortable. As the leader for this meeting, they are responsible for helping everyone create value by following the process and participating.

Timer: This person is responsible for keeping track of time so that the meeting stays on track. They advise people when they have 30 – 60 seconds left and need to wrap up. They also ensure that the meeting begins and ends on time. The timer needs a stopwatch or a cell phone timer with seconds on it.

Recording Secretary: This person keeps notes of the meeting using the agenda as a guide. They do not need to capture everything that everyone says – they do need to capture the following:

Times – Start and end time for each segment of the meeting

Attendance – Note everyone in attendance at the meeting and who is filling which roles

Commitments – Any commitments made including by whom, to whom, with any relevant details about the commitment and deadlines

Important issues – Any discussion that may need to be referred to later should be recorded in point form.

Hot Seats – Capture the initial goal and request for support plus all brainstorming, action plans, and commitments made during the hot seat.

Everyone is responsible, for group leadership, and for being a strong and collaborative team member. That means being willing to communicate honestly, accountably, and clearly. To listen with respect. To choose to “show-up” and be fully present to everyone there and to the process. Confidentiality is a must.

Each mastermind alliance begins and ends with a dedication. Also, there are declarations that are spoken aloud at the beginning of each meeting. The titles are I Release, I Believe, I Choose, I Am Grateful, I Commit, I Respect, and I Ask. (Feel free to ask for the full version).

Then the facilitator asks if there are any wins (good things that have happened in the last week). Next the time is divided up by the number of attendees for the hot seats, allowing for five minutes at the end to wrap up. During the hot seat time, each in turn discusses their progress, obstacles, requests for input or support, and commitments.

My experience over the years has proven to me the structured mastermind alliances are the ones that give the participants the richest rewards and the greatest friendships. Contact me for more info if you are interested in learning mastermind principles.

To your success.

Charlene