Secrets to a successful Mastermind Group meeting format

Guest Contributor: Reg Gupton
Reg's Posts - Reg's Blog


Once you have decided to create a Mastermind Group, you need a plan for how to conduct your meetings to gain the full power of the synergy of like minds.

The format of my Group meeting has evolved over time. We started with no plan and struggled for some time as you might expect. We didn't know how to use the intellectual power we each believed was in the room. There was no structure. Lots of talking and banter. No solutions.

We put the power of the Group to work to solve the question "what is the best structure our sessions?" We brainstormed, tested and found the plan outlined below works very, very well and has for many years.

The meeting begins with 2-3 minutes per person during which each reports on successes they have had since the last meeting. It gives us a chance to be acknowledged and encouraged as we make progress toward our stated goals.

Then we negotiate for time in the rest of the meeting. Each person brings a challenge if they have one. We simply divide of the remaining meeting time among the members with a question. Not all participants will have things to talk about at each meeting. Some questions have more urgency than others. We learned that we can work with different priorities.

The member with the question moves to the front of the room and writes down their question on a flipchart. We often spend a few minutes making sure that we are focused on the "correct" question. It is surprising how many times we assist by refining/reframing the question. Often the member lacks insight into the nature of their true problem.

It is critical that the question is succinct and properly worded. If we frame the question incorrectly, we will not provide the help that is requested.

Once the question is framed, it is written on the top of a flipchart page. Then the member numbers down the left side from 1 to 21.

We then begin brainstorming, offering solutions to the problem as stated or actions to be taken. The member with the questions only job at this point is to act as a scribe and write the solutions offered. We continue brainstorming until we have completed the full list of 21 solutions.

As you might expect the first dozen or so are too easy. When it gets difficult the creativity really begins. The best solutions generally happen after solution #16 or so. When the contributing members have to really think and dig, the breakthroughs occur.

The person at the board then chooses 2-4 items to complete or work on over the next several days or weeks.

Use this structure for your meetings and watch the productivity soar. I guarantee it.