The Mastermind and the Art of Listening

Guest Contributor: Janet Napora
Janet's Posts - Janet's Blog


You have your mastermind, like minded members working towards similar goals. Plans are put in place and input from different people is encouraged. Even when a group of people have similar goals, opinions can always differ. We all have different perspectives. We've all had different experiences which shape our thought process.

Frequently we look at things from our own perspective. We are by nature a sum of our parts, our own experiences and lessons learned. Sometimes we try to look at things from someone else's perspective but still manage to color our thinking with our own experiences.

Often times we do this sub-consciously. It isn't that we're unable to understand or are trying to be difficult. Sometimes we just can't help it, especially if it's something we're passionate about. So how does this affect the Mastermind? It can create disharmony or sometimes chaos. Disharmony and chaos are best dealt with before it starts.

Every Mastermind should have some kind of structure or guidelines. Handling disagreements should be dealt with from the beginning. No matter how proficient the Mastermind group, not all situations may be resolved easily. Have a system to handle these delicate situations before it has a chance to permeate the group with negative energy.

We've all heard the saying "walk a mile in someone else's shoes". The problem is we sometimes have difficult imagining what "that" must have been like ("that" can be any experience you haven't gone through). That experience could be business related or personal. Both kinds of experiences shape who we are.

Ultimately the best situation would be for everyone to listen not only with their head but also with their hearts. Some people do this more easily than others. If you're in a Mastermind group you're already one step ahead.

Is Your Mastermind a Good Fit?

Guest Contributor: Janet Napora
Janet's Posts - Janet's Blog


Mastermind groups are away to learn and grow, a positive like minded group of people with similar goals. A support system built on helping each other. Many people are willing to do what is necessary to move forward in their personal and business lives. A mastermind group teaches the skills to achieve whatever goals you put in place.

Often times we need to come out of our comfort zones to do this. Some people may be shy or do not have complete faith in their abilities. Part of the responsibility of the mastermind is developing personal growth. We all need to realize we are in complete control of our lives and where we end up is up to us.

Ultimately we are responsible for our day. We craft a plan to achieve both our short term and long term goals. However the plan we start out with is rarely the plan we end up with. Temporary failure, refining our plan is an ongoing process when working towards the end result. The goal of a mastermind should be to support you and give you positive feedback.

Finding a mastermind that's a good fit for you is important. Although coming out of our comfort may be necessary it should not compromise your core values. Feeling nervous or uncomfortable with something new is not unusual. As you keep performing the new task it does become more comfortable just by the sheer repetition of doing it.

If a task feels uncomfortable is it because you're not used to doing it or does it conflict with your values and standard of ethics? This is something only you can decide. Examine your mastermind and ask yourself if they have your best interest in mind. Can you see yourself developing long term relationships with the other members of the group? Are they truly a group of positive like minded people?