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Is a Master Mind Group on Your Horizon?
by Adele Sommers
When you think
of a Master Mind group, what comes to mind? A secret
society, a social club, or a potent example of high-powered
networking? Any of these could be true, but the third
choice is probably the closest. Popularized by Napoleon
Hill, the author of the 1937 classic "Think and
Grow Rich," the centuries-old practice of creating
Master Mind alliances has become intrinsically linked
to business achievement. Its hallmarks include candid
but harmonious exchanges of ideas and viewpoints that
help guide members through uncharted waters.
 Hill’s
extensive interviews with over 500 entrepreneurial,
political, and philosophical giants of his day revealed
that powerhouses like Dale Carnegie, Henry Ford, Franklin
D. Roosevelt, and many others made their fortunes through
tapping the wisdom of "brain trusts," otherwise
known as Master Mind groups. This article offers several
important keys to starting or joining a group of your
own.
Characteristics
of Master Mind Groups
Unlike friends
or colleagues who meet periodically for lunch to shoot
the breeze and casually compare notes, Master Mind encounters
involve a structured protocol and a deeply
shared value system. Members have complementary
or similar interests and goals, and ideally bring forth
a strong aura of diversity in their backgrounds and
viewpoints. A Master Mind group may contain three to
seven people, or even more.
My research revealed
that many Master Mind groups aim to continue into perpetuity,
so they seek members interested in a long-term commitment
to the higher purpose of the group. It may take months
— or even years — for all of the members to
become completely comfortable with one another. Therefore,
people looking for a quick fix idea or a few pieces
of advice usually aren’t good candidates.
 Shared
values of Master Mind members include harmony, unequivocal
integrity, trustworthiness, confidentiality, and a belief
that individual success can be guided by the wisdom
that emerges when people put their heads together for
mutual gain. To this end, some Master Mind groups derive
their charters from guidelines offered by spiritual
organizations.
Purposes for
meeting can include providing mutual support and
encouragement for each person’s specific set of
business or philosophical goals, brainstorming, offering
a group sounding board, exchanging feedback on product
samples or draft marketing materials, resource sharing,
networking, and solving business challenges. Although
socializing also may be part of the agenda, the reasons
for meeting typically do not include resolving personal
crises or substituting as counseling or therapy.
Meeting frequency
and duration varies from one to four hours or so,
depending on the number of participants and how often
their meetings occur. Meetings may be face-to-face,
telephonic, or using another electronic method. Some
groups assemble weekly; others converge on a biweekly,
monthly, bimonthly, or even quarterly basis.
Meeting rules
stress confidentiality and the use of an established
protocol. Meeting facilitation techniques keep topics
and times on track. A note-taker can increase the individual
accountability and make it possible to share the outcome
with a member who wasn’t present.
What Does It
Take to Be a Good Master Mind Member?
Characteristics of conscientious members
generally include:
- The ability to act as a partner
and coach to the others — not merely give advice
- A balanced and whole outlook on
life; each person should see himself or herself as
a full and complete person
- The capacity and desire to make
the long-term commitment the team requires
- A set of values compatible with
the value system the members have identified
- The capability of being open-minded
and receptive to suggestions and ideas
- The ability to take responsibility
for one’s own decisions and actions
- A desire to contribute equally
to the group’s good by making regular deposits
to the collective "relationship bank"
Other
Flavors of Support Networks
If starting or
committing to a Master Mind group currently seems a
bit out of reach, consider whether another type of support
network would suit your needs:
R&D Teams.
Research and development teams can operate inside or
outside of an organizational structure. They act as
a think tank, providing feedback and strategic input
for designing, developing, testing, and refining something.
Unlike Master Mind groups, however, members may not
interact directly with one another; they might provide
comments or critiques to a particular team leader or
author periodically, for example. Thus, their contributions
are uneven and based on their personal interests.
Special-purpose
exploration groups. These are people who meet to
investigate their mutual interests and opportunities
to cooperate or collaborate. They may or may not continue
their interactions after the initial exploration has
run its course.
 Study
groups. Many individuals congregate specifically
to contemplate a particular teaching or philosophy.
Mentoring and
coaching. People seeking a particular vein of guidance
might meet occasionally or regularly with a teacher,
mentor, or coach.
Project support
partners. Creating a buddy system with a friend
or colleague to exchange project or business advice
can help maintain the momentum for both.
In conclusion,
developing the perfect Master Mind or other support
network can take a bit of work. Parties who mirror your
values and are qualified to meet your particular needs
aren’t always easy to find. Once you identify them,
however, they can enrich your life immeasurably. Why
not make this the year to expand your support network
in new and dynamic ways?
Copyright 2006 Adele Sommers
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Did
you have a pleasant new year? Mine was refreshingly
quiet and reflective. 
