is a mastermind group for you?
Have you heard of mastermind groups? They’ve become an increasingly popular topic of conversation recently, and more and more people are members of mastermind groups or looking to join one.
What Are They?
The term mastermind group was coined by Napoleon Hill in his 1925 work The Law of Success to describe peer-to-peer mentoring circles. Beyond that, in its loosest definition, a mastermind group is simply a group of people with a shared goal or focus who meet regularly for a variety of reasons. Usually, those reasons boil down to wanting accountability, seeking to help others by giving advice and tips to solve business issues, and building a network.
One of the most valuable aspects of a mastermind is members helping each other solve problems. Oftentimes these groups are the only places where we feel comfortable bringing up certain issues in more depth, and with a variety of members, you’ll get different perspectives on how to approach challenges. It’s important to remember that everyone is equal in a mastermind group.
Mastermind groups tend to be filled with people in the same profession or who share a serious goal or focus. For example, all the groups I’ve joined have been for publishing professionals or editors like me; however, you can also find other things in common with people to form groups with. As a freelancer and business owner, I would consider joining mastermind groups made up of other freelancers and business owners, not just editors, because I’d expect to encounter similar work issues or experiences. We could learn from each other on a range of topics, from finding work to paying taxes.
You can essentially form a mastermind group around any topic or theme, as long as everyone is committed. It doesn’t have to be work related, either. For example, a group could focus on fitness if that’s what’s most important to its members. In the end, the qualifications for joining are up to the members themselves.
Keep in mind that mastermind groups aren’t just social or networking circles, though that is a part of them. One of their most valuable aspects is providing a safe place where members can bring issues related to the group’s focus and get advice and insight from others with relevant experience.
How Are They Structured?
These seem to be the most frequently used and useful ingredients for a successful Mastermind group:
Ideally, the group consists of three to seven individuals who get to know one another over time. It should be a place where you feel comfortable bringing up personal concerns related to the group’s focus and receiving in-depth feedback and encouragement. For example, in my case, these would be editing-related issues, whether that be worrying about finding clients or dealing with impostor syndrome. And even if no one has particular expertise on the specific issue brought up, members can still share experiences to help each other work through their concerns.
I’ve found that it’s best to have at least four members, because not everyone will be able to make every meeting, and sometimes people leave the group unexpectedly. You may find that your group has suddenly fallen apart if you started with too few members and someone can no longer participate. On the other hand, I’ve found that more than six or seven people are too many for a one-hour meeting, since there usually isn’t enough time for everyone to speak their turn. So, four to seven is my best estimate for a one-hour meeting, but feel free to decide for yourself.
Having a dedicated space to meet and discuss issues is particularly helpful. There are different platforms you can use if you’re going the virtual route. One option is the Discord app. The nice thing about Discord (or other apps, like Slack) is that you can easily send messages to individual members or the whole group outside of normal meeting times. Since these peers may become your closest and most trusted associates, work or otherwise, they often end up being the ones you want input from when a thorny issue comes up between meetings.
Another benefit of Discord is that it’s currently free and includes a video meeting feature. I know having another app on your phone or program on your computer isn’t ideal for many people, but it’s nice to have a dedicated space for discussions rather than having to filter through emails. Of course, you can just meet at a scheduled time on Zoom, but having a centralized hub for ongoing connection can be especially helpful.
Choosing a group structure is important. These can vary widely. A format might be as casual as simply setting a place and time to meet with other business owners, writers, or editors for an hour to touch base and discuss issues. Or it might be more formal, with an agenda. Possible agenda items can include:
one member bringing a concern or topic for everyone to weigh in on
goal setting for the next meeting
check-ins from the last meeting’s goals
presentation from an expert on a topic related to the group
Including check-ins and goal setting adds a layer of accountability to the meetings. When you share your goals with others regularly, you’re more likely to accomplish those goals. Pearson’s Law, a concept often attributed to Karl Pearson, confirms this: When performance is measured, it improves; when it’s measured and reported back, it improves greatly. Several studies support this.
Some groups like to include member presentations on a rotating basis so that each person can share expertise on a specific topic relevant to their work. This helps participants become comfortable presenting, which can be useful practice for members who want to speak at larger meetings or conferences. It also educates members.
A standard schedule is to meet once a month, either in person or online, though you can set the group up to meet more or less often. Meetings with presentations or speakers tend to run longer than an hour or may only occur every few sessions. But essentially, the structure, frequency, number of members, and other details are up to you and the group. At its core, the point is to help everyone professionally, build connections with others in your field, encourage accountability, and create opportunities to network. Remember that everyone in the group is equal and should participate about the same amount.
Though many groups forgo this practice, I suggest having someone take notes at each meeting. That way, members can look back and see what suggestions or feedback was given on a particular topic. This actually helps us achieve our goals even better, as Pearson’s Law suggests. Roles such as note-taker, moderator, and “hot seat” (the person who brings up that meeting’s issue) can rotate from one meeting to the next.
Benefits
The networking aspect comes down to this: the longer you’re in one group, the better you’ll get to know the others and their specialties. Over time, that makes it more likely you’ll trust one another, see each other as experts, and eventually refer clients. If you join or create a group with this in mind, I suggest letting relationships grow organically rather than immediately asking if anyone has work they can throw their way. That’s a surefire way to turn people off from the start.
How Do I Find a Mastermind Group?
You can join an established mastermind group, which is not unusual at all as people tend to leave or move to other groups as schedules change. There may be groups with space that would welcome a new member. To find one, you can visit the places mentioned in the next section on how to start a group, as well as any online forums that match your focus. For example, editor or writer groups on Facebook. You can also reach out directly to contacts on Instagram or LinkedIn, or to people in Discord or Slack groups you already belong to (like the Editors Tea Club!). Part of where you look depends on the group’s focus. A fitness-oriented mastermind, for instance, will have different gathering spots than one focused on editing.
HOw Do I Start a Mastermind Group?
If you’re a member of any professional organizations, you can put out a call on the organization’s email list or other group discussion forums to see if anyone’s interested in forming a group. Be prepared to field questions and begin making decisions on what, where, when, and how. It’s a good idea to have some of these answers in mind beforehand if you’re the one starting a group:
How often do you want to meet?
How many members should be included?
What day and time should you meet?
What kind of format should you use?
If you’re the organizer, keep in mind that you’ll want members who are committed to regularly attending and helping each other. If there’s no real commitment, the group can easily fall apart. While there’s no surefire way to determine serious commitment—and people do leave mastermind groups from time to time—you can set attendance and participation expectations. It may also be worthwhile to ask prospective members some questions before they join.
Leaving a Mastermind Group?
If you’re just starting out, I suggest attending a few meetings before throwing in the towel to make sure it’s not just anxiety from meeting new people or being in a new environment. But it’s really up to you. If you feel the group isn’t a good match, for whatever reason, don’t hesitate to send a message thanking everyone for letting you join and explaining that it doesn’t seem to be the group for you. You can also be more vague—simply saying you need to leave without giving a reason why (though I still recommend thanking the group to avoid burning bridges). If sending a message to the whole group feels too uncomfortable, notify the person who invited you or whoever you feel closest to, and they can let the others know.
And don’t stress about it. Members come and go. We are all busy, and sometimes schedules no longer mesh. Or maybe you’re simply ready for a different group. Whatever the reason, don’t feel bad about leaving. That’s just part of the process. If it was a good experience, try to stay in touch with some members. It’s nice to have professional contacts and friends, and these people can help you—or you can help them—down the line in many ways. Not all mastermind groups are short-lived, though. Some end up with a core set of members who click and stay together for years, becoming very close
Encouragement
I have found mastermind groups to be invaluable both personally and professionally. I’ve gotten to know other publishing professionals well enough to feel comfortable bringing up any issues with them. As a freelancer who often works alone, being part of a group has brought back the feeling of having great colleagues to bounce ideas off. I’ve also received support, referrals, and in-depth knowledge of the business that I’m not sure I would have gained elsewhere. Just as importantly, these groups have made me more confident in my own knowledge and experience. It’s difficult to capture everything mastermind groups have done for me, but I strongly suggest everyone try them out. You may be surprised at how helpful they can be.
One last note: there’s no rule that says you can only belong to one mastermind group at a time. In fact, it can sometimes be valuable to be part of two very different groups, whether they differ in members, topics, personalities, experience, or structure. For example, one group might consist of small business leaders, while another could be made up of editors or writers. Does a mastermind group sound like something you’d be interested in? If so, now’s the time to find or create one!
Ceylan Ozguner is a copy editor and proofreader from the US. She works on fiction and nonfiction (sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, and mind-body-spirit topics). She lives in Ohio with her partner and, when not editing, she loves to read, go on walks, and take the occasional road trip.
