The Importance of Time

Guest Contributor: Michael Lipp
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I've been writing about being in two, very different Mastermind groups - one is very well structured - so I'll write about the other.

We have all connected on a very spiritual level. We love talking to one another. But we are feeling a need for structure.

A major difference between the groups is that one has 7 members and the other has 4. With 7 members, there is no alternative; we have to have a structure or the group would be incoherent - And if we didn't have established time constraints, one or more people would always be shut out. But with only 4 people, we can ramble.

I never thought of myself as time-disciplined, so two of us got together and proposed this: We would have a strict, time managed agenda for 1/2 hour, then we'd schmooze for the next 20 to 25 minutes. Then we would close with expressions of gratitude and appreciation and a completion prayer or quote.

The structured 1/2 hour would start with something to create the space (up to whoever is this week's facilitator - we would rotate facilitator and time keeper.) Every segment after is well-timed. Each person would have a turn, first completing their promised commitment from the last session, then bringing forth what they want coaching on. Then each of the other three will give their coaching without any interaction. And finally, the requestor says what his commitment will be, though he can take as much of the coaching as he wants.

We've just proposed this though we suspect the other two will agree to it - perhaps with some quibbling about the duration of the time slots. I'll let you know as we learn and proceed.