Understanding Mastermind Group Rules
What Exactly are “Mastermind Group Rules”?
Mastermind groups run best and are easier to moderate when there are guidelines. Guidelines are a set of expectations and processes that guide the meetings and the members to interact productively. There are two types of guidelines: 1) behaviors everyone can expect from each other and 2) the specifics of how the group will run. This article focuses on the behaviors of a group. Guidelines for how to run a group are addressed in a separate article
Why create guidelines?
Guidelines create the culture of your group. If you are not explicit with creating guidelines your group will create them on their own by default and they may not be what you want. Guidelines are necessary to running a high-functioning group. Guidelines make up the culture of your group. Lack of intentional culture will create dysfunctional groups that ultimately will lead to turnover.
The benefits of guidelines?
The benefits of having guidelines, or what we are going to refer to as rules of behaviors, impact both you as the leader of the group and those participating. Key benefits are:
Leading the group is easier to facilitate
The members know what is expected resulting in less time spent coaching them as undesired behavior occurs.
It is less stressful for you and them when you have been proactive on what is expected of them as members since you can reference back to the behavior agreed to.
Adding the right fit member to the group has a higher success rate when having guidelines to reference in the selection process. If a prospect does not want to commit to the guidelines, then you know they will not be a good member.
The group participation is elevated so you moderate at a higher level making it more enjoyable for you and your personal development. It will feel like a team in sync.
The member experience is heightened
They understand what ideal behavior looks like and can practice modeling it making the meeting more effective and efficient.
They become better members supporting each other by modeling the behaviors.
A higher level of trust is created knowing what is expected.
There is a sense of ownership and deeper connection because of norms established.
Alleviates stress for the member from trying to figure out how to act in a meeting.
Your members will receive a higher return on their investment of time in the meeting since you’ll be able to conduct a more meaningful agenda.
When is the Best Time to Create Mastermind Group Rules?
There are two critical times when it's important to create guidelines for your group: with a new group and with a group that has been operating for some time.
With a new group, begin the definition of guidelines by including them in the process by starting with a clean slate of expectations and what good behaviors look like. This is the ideal time and a necessary step to illustrating the formality of the experience they are about to embark on. Your group will appear more professional and as though it operates with intention with the experience of the member top of mind.
With an existing group that has been meeting, the ideal time is when they have adopted less than desired behaviors. These behaviors can look like:
Arriving late, leaving early, or absent frequently
Interrupting conversations
Not being fully present and engaged
Lack of listening with intent and understanding
Offering ideas or solutions too early in the process
Not adhering to the process, you have already laid out
Not preparing for the meeting
Not following through on a commitment made to others in the group
It can also be a good time when you are trying to nudge the group to a higher level of operating as a mastermind group. It may be time to shake things up a little to keep them on their toes so they are not complacent.
What Are Examples of Guidelines?
There are soft guidelines and hard guidelines. The soft guidelines are characteristics and hard guidelines follow more of a rule structure. You need both to run a successful meeting and both are essential for the other to work properly.
Hard guidelines take the form of tangible action that can be easily seen and experienced. For example:
Be on time for meetings
Attend 80% of all meetings in a year
Respond to other peer inquiries in a timely fashion
Don’t tell but offer experiences and perspectives
Keep commitments
Let the leader know in advance if you need to be absent or are running late
Keep all discussions and documents confidential and everyone signs a non-disclosure document
Prepare an annual presentation or any other reporting commitment
Share financials (this may be optional for your groups)
My favorite illustration of soft guidelines is from People Fuel by Dr. John Townsend who wrote there are 8 characteristics (guidelines) necessary to have for a high functioning mastermind group. Note the difference in soft versus hard guidelines is soft guidelines are values that are illustrated by behaviors. We use these in all our groups to gauge the emotional intelligence, EQ, of the group. The goal is to get the group to embrace and master these guidelines
8 Characteristics of a High Functioning Group
Shared essential values
a. Not everyone should believe or think exactly like you
b. Give and take mentality
c. Share important values like integrity, confidentiality
Engagement and growth on some structured level
a. Are you trying to move forward and progress in some way; grow
b. Committed to doing self-improvement behaviors
c. Challenge each other in a positive way
d. Apply learnings
Stand “for” you
a. Even if you make a bad decision or mess up, the group will be honest with you
b. Your peers will pick you up and want you to win
c. Not judging of mistakes; seek to understand
Truthfulness
a. Be honest, no rubber-stamping
b. Don’t stand by and let things happen, speak up
Mutuality
a. Sharing of successes and failures both
b. Share learnings
c. No secret pockets
Chemistry
a. You like each other, genuinely
Availability
a. Monthly interaction to stay connected
b. Have and make time for each other
Vulnerability. Transformation happens here
a. Unpack weaknesses, failures, insecurities both ways
b. Mutual, two-way
c. Acknowledge shortcomings
How do I Implement Mastermind Group Guidelines?
The process for implementing guidelines for new groups is different than with existing groups. This is because new groups have a clean slate to start and proactively create buy-in and positive behavior initially. Existing groups are about reinforcing good values and behaviors and addressing the poor ones that have emerged.
For new groups with founding members
Two key aspects of implementing successfully are to have your thoughts outlined on what you know is essential for a successful experience and second, ask your founding members to participate and add their insights. This will create ownership and excitement bonding your members to the group and your process.
In the first meeting or at the group’s first gathering, ask the founding group members to brainstorm and talk about what would be important to them to expect from each other and themselves. After discussion and agreement, create a document or visual of the guidelines for reference at each meeting. They will become a charter for the group and the beginning of creating the culture you desire.
For existing groups with or without a defined set of guidelines
Ask the group what they think their group norms are. What are normal behaviors showing up regularly? What behaviors do they like, not like, want to change, and want to add? Have them brainstorm what behaviors they need personally from their peers and you to have the best experience possible for themselves. Then brainstorm what behaviors they believe they need to improve upon to make the experience better for their peers.
An advanced exercise for groups already with guidelines
At some point, existing groups that have been together over time should revisit and evaluate their guidelines. Some guidelines become out of date for where the group is operating and others need to be added. This is most true with the hard guidelines mentioned above. Particularly enlightening is to evaluate how well they are performing with the soft guidelines.
An advanced exercise is to take the guidelines created by the group and the 8 Characteristics of a High Functioning Group above and ask every member to quietly reflect and rank how well the group as a whole is doing in each and then rank how they personally are doing in each. Two rankings emerge to then discuss openly. Publicly identify what ones need improved upon or changed as a whole. Then have each member choose the soft area they are committed to improving. Usually, most members choose #8, vulnerability.
The last step is to always memorialize by creating an updated document for reference. Consider having everyone sign it as their commitment to each other and themselves.
Are the Rules for an Online Mastermind Group the Same?
Rules for virtual, online, mastermind groups in concept are not different. There are both soft and hard guidelines as discussed already but there will be a few nuances in hard guidelines. For example, a virtual norm might have the following:
Raise your hand when you want to speak
If we need to move on, a white flag will be waived
Stay focused and present on screen, do not do email
Video is to be on at all times unless for small moments of time
Your role as a group leader will be so much easier and the experience of your members much more positive by having both these soft and hard guidelines to live by. Additionally, you will appear professional to your members and send a message that you value their time and ensure they will receive value by participating in your well-run group
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