Master Minding Team Work

Guest Contributor: Debbie Lousberg
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In one of my Master Mind groups recently, we had to make some decisions about the future of our group because the logistics and format were not working for the majority of us any longer. We were each courageous enough to bring our concerns to the table and at the same time, open to hearing others' ideas for resolution. Rather than feeling as if we were each alone with this problem, we brought it up for group discussion, heard others voice the same concerns, and then found the perfect compromise. In this case, we've gone from meeting bi-weekly and rotating to each others' homes at lunch time to meeting monthly at one person's home for dinner with email contact in between to remind each other we're holding their goals and intentions in mind and supporting them from afar.

It was such a great example of effective team dynamics, it made me think of the conventional work teams and issues that prevent effectiveness and positive outcomes many times. What if all work teams could be this effective? What needs to change?

For one thing, individual agendas. Realize that a group should come together for one purpose, that of accomplishing a goal, or in the case of Master Minds, to share and support each other. Secondly, honesty and the ability to hear other opinions is crucial. There's nothing beneficial about holding back opinions or harboring resentments just because we're afraid to bring something up. That's where trust and openness toward other team members comes in. If we make efforts to know people better, approach our work with an attitude of camaraderie and enthusiasm, team mates pick up on this and join in the fun and we move together as a unit in accomplishing our goal.

So here we were, a small group of people of the same mind, able to work out our issues in a way that was agreeable to everyone. We experienced the importance of being honest with each other while compromising for the betterment of the whole. We trusted each other and found a workable solution and everyone was pleased with the outcome.

Take lessons you experience in your Master Mind groups to work with you. Apply some of the same kindness, compassion, consideration and teamwork there. See how your work life changes for the better!