MasterMind Power V: Failure of the MasterMind

(Reading time: 6 – 9 minutes)

Here in Part V of the MasterMind Power series, we get some reasons for why MasterMind groups fail.

Often MasterMind groups are formed in the heat of the moment, usually by newly inspired attendees of a course. The momentum is riding high, the intentions are pure, the desire is strong. The newly formed group disperses to their hometowns, the meeting format of choice by teleconference. Sadly, most such efforts end up in the disappointment file of failure. I have thrown in my hat to many such a MasterMind. I now resist the temptation. The reasons these are doomed to failure are varied, but the most common ones are:

1. No structure.
2. No leadership.
3. No commitment.
4. Out of sight, out of mind.

Let’s examine each reason for failure.

No structure

It seems obvious.  The course or event had a theme, a topic, a goal to stretch for.  The presenter did an awesome job of painting the current situation as that of being mired in abject misery, a lackluster performance or of being held hostage to perpetual mediocrity.  You the attendee pick the one that applies to you – you know exactly where in that current situation is your place in the sun.

It does not have to be that way.  There is a solution – that’s why you came – to better yourself.  Slowly you are taken by the hand and led through a series of steps until you are face to face with a vision of what your life can be like.  You do not leave empty handed.  You are given a nice new set of tools to help you on your road to success. Over the day or three or more, friendships have been struck.  At closing hour hands reach out across the floor and in unanimity pledge to be there for each other in their quest for greatness.  Quickly emails are exchanged with a buy-in for a weekly connection by teleconference.   An adhoc mastermind has been formed.

It is doomed to failure.

Why?  No structure.

While the event created an atmosphere of commonality the reality is that the fundamental structural foundation  is weak.  It hasn’t been fleshed out.  Here are some questions to ask if you find yourself an eager wannabe participant in a mastermind:

 
• What do you know about your new partners?  What strengths does each member bring?  What are the personality types?  For  optimum results you need a mix – the visionary, the detail oriented, the supportive and the analytical.  They will each add value in their unique way.

  

• Has the goal for success  – and it’s always all about success, whether it is to lose weight, become a better human being or become a millionaire  – been defined?  If so is everyone on pace?  As an example, if the goal of half the group is to become a millionaire but the other half are already there and have their sites on becoming a deca millionaire frustration will soon set in for both camps.

 

• What is the objective.  This is a bit different from the goal.  Maybe the goal is to just complete the workbook that every  attendee received.  The objective might be to use this exercise as a litmus test.  Is this a cohesive enough group to stay together for the next step, and then another.

 

• Has the leader been appointed or nominated?  Often in such situations someone stands out and the group arbitrarily appoints that person as the leader.  A nomination suggests that there has been some discussion as to what the group is looking for in a leader and a member has been nominated because s/he appears to fit that criteria.

 

• What has been established as the next step?  I now look for the leader to have taken lots of notes with an announcement of what the next step is going to be.

No Leadership

In my experience what appears to be visible and obvious leadership is not always so.  It is often the charismatic individual that emerges as the leader.  This may be good – or not.  People that naturally attract followers have either honed solid leadership skills, roll up their sleeves and go to work; or, they bask in the light of attention but are unwilling to put in the work that is required of them to make things happen.

No commitment

This perhaps is the biggest reason that masterminds struck in the spur of the moment fail.  The intentions are almost always firm.  It’s easy to get carried away.  Little thought is given to commitment, to the time required and where would that time come from?   A mastermind group is not a one way street –as much as it is about receiving it is also about giving.  In what way are you willing and able to support your fellow members?  If research is required are you willing to go outside of your sphere of comfort or expertise and take the time to get the information?

Another issue is, as I pointed above that intentions are almost always firm.  The operative word being “almost”.  There are people who agree to all sorts of things without any intention of ever carrying through.  They tend to be those who don’t want to be left out of anything so agree to everything going on the premise that they will try out whatever it is that they agreed to and if it suits them, they will continue, if not, well no big deal.

Out of sight, out of mind

This is the deal breaker. It is amazing how quickly the flame of desire ignited at the event is cooled by the minutia and humdrum of daily living.  The minute you walk through your front door it’s as if time has stood still and suddenly the event is pushed into a rich but dormant memory bank.  The family. The job.  The business.  They all take precedence and the mastermind now lives in the distant past.  It’s hard to revive a dormant memory when other pressing matters are ever present and on your doorstep.  The commitment, the zeal, the passion are gone, just like that!

Summary

A mastermind group is a relationship and like any other relationship it takes work.  To form a successful mastermind group takes some thought and planning and the right people to get it off the ground.  No two masterminds are alike, there are no rigid rules just guidelines, but the power of a third mind created by the collective effort and energy of several is hard to beat.

Read the other 4 articles in Valentina’s MasterMind Power series.

Valentina Bellicova builds on her years of experience in Corporate America to succeed as a professional speaker, author and internet marketer. At age 15, she pitched her first article, obtaining a weekly column for the Daily Mainichi Newspaper in Tokyo. Visit Valentina: Blog Income Life.