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Not setting an overarching goal for the whole Mastermind

I work with each client before they start Masterminding and together we work on their strategy for the year and set a big audacious goal for the end of our Mastermind time together. Then each session we’re working on the steps that’ll take them towards that as well as all the things that come up in business since we last met. So we go both macro and micro at the same time.

This pincer movement allows you to keep on track on the big stuff at the same time as not having the clients head explode about the week-to-week deadlines we all have running a business.                              

SOLUTION: THINK LONG TERM

Not getting permission to push your clients a little on their goals

To get great results for your clients – you need to be able to push them a little when they’re coasting a little with their goals. Some clients are motivated by the consequences of not achieving (away-from people) for them pain a picture of what will happen if they don’t do something (you’ll be living in a paper bag at the end of the pier if you don’t file your taxes). Others respond to the rosy glow of the result (towards people) – most of us are a mix of both with a leaning towards one or the other.

In my groups I do this lightly by making a game of ‘are you carrot or stick?’ First I ask quietly in a one-to-one call (see #5 below). Then it’s important to ask again in front of the group. This gives you permission to push back later if needed. As the client’s already agreed it’s ok to look deeper and perhaps even very gently push as needed.

Obviously this must be done with great respect and very politely – but do it, your clients are counting on you. They’ve bought in to accountability from you – that means helping them through slumps. This is what they’re really paying for – help on the tough tasks. Letting goals slide, does them a disservice.

 SOLUTION: CHALLENGE YOUR CLIENTS

Making introverts speak first

This is so important there is a massive difference in the way introverts and extroverts process information. Introverts usually like to review ideas completely before speaking, while extroverts generally like to clarify and refine as they speak. I always let my clients know the order they’ll speak in, usually stacking introverts near the end so they have time to run their ideas round in their head before they speak. Likewise, don’t make extroverts wait too long or often they’ll forget what they were going to say.

                                                                                                                             SOLUTION: CONSIDER PROCESSING METHODS

Always using the same order for feedback

Having just said that I usually let introverts go last… don’t make the order rigid. Mix it up. I usually change the order of people in spotlight to the order for giving feedback. Somehow having to pay attention to speaker order for this round of input keeps it fresh.

Sometimes this is because people can riff off each others comments in different ways and new information comes out – sometimes it’s as simple as people speak at different speeds and energy and that changes the flow of information. Either way, it’s important – don’t let things become stagnant in your groups.                                                                         

SOLUTION: AVOID THE RUT

Not asking your clients how they like their feedback

This is one of the first things I ask clients in their Mastermind consult call after they join a group. We go deep and look at learning styles, how they process information generally and also, and most importantly how they like to get feedback. Are they more carrot or stick? It’s a silly joke… but the answer is so important.

As I mentioned in #2 above – being able to push back on a clients answers is how you’ll help them grow and achieve their goals. You need the information to do that… so ask!                                                             

SOLUTION: COACH DEEPER

Not being really discerning about who joins your groups

Be selective – I usually find 30% are not a good fit for my masterminds – so we either go to one-to-one work, or I suggest other groups or coaches who are a better fit for what they’re keen to achieve.  In my groups it’s all about the mix of people – that’s what makes the groups so strong and long lasting.

Sometimes a client is ace but the perfect group mix isn’t quite there yet, so they go on the wait list. I’ve found clients appreciate this careful curation. No-one wants to be in a hastily thrown together group.

                                                                      SOLUTION: SIFT CAREFULLY

Not nipping problems in the bud

This is hard  – but as a coach, you’re there to ensure brilliant service and a great experience for your entire group. So, if an issue raises its head – perhaps time keeping or overstepping the mark on feedback – take the bull by the horns and deal with it quickly. That doesn’t mean necessarily doing so in front of the group. But a discrete ‘could I have a quick word after the call?’ will nip most things in the bud.

Be brave – your clients are paying you to run a great group, don’t ignore the early warning signs that things aren’t quite on track.

                                                                                                                              SOLUTION: ACT QUICKLY

Letting one person take all the time or not keeping to time

This is also hard but there really is no way round this – time keeping is the single hardest thing to run well in a group. And it’s also the quickest way to irk an entire group. Make sure everyone is kept to time, that no-one hogs the mic so others feel short changed on time and be utterly sure the sessions don’t over run.

This is tough to do at first, and it’s why I go into much more detail in Mastermind training program on this. But with practise you can make sure you never run more than 5 minutes over. It’s vital, your clients won’t complain about getting extra coaching – but it’ll annoy them. So don’t do it.                                                                                       

SOLUTION: TIGHT TIMEKEEPING

Not listing goals and not checking in on them next time

As groups get comfortable with each other they often let goals slip – as you do with friends who you know have a lot on.  But, do remember that these are your clients and they’re paying you to achieve more. Tracking goals is vital for this. Do it gently, but check in on how things are going.         

                                                                                   SOLUTION: FOLLOW THROUGH

Not looking back on how much has been achieved

At the end of each Mastermind cycle, I add a bonus session to review how much they’ve achieved. Your groups will be filled with amazing masterminders and I’m genuinely thrilled to see their success. Tell them this – praise them, allow them to remember how brilliant hey are and how much they’ve achieved. It can be hard to praise yourself – but there’s a basic need to prepare ourselves for success and that means celebrating the little things.

Entrepreneurs tend to always measure what didn’t work (I could have got more subscribers, earned more, done more). It’s an easy trap to fall into, so remind them how much they got done. And leave them on a high about their entire Mastermind experience, rather than worried how much there is still to do.

  SOLUTION: BIG UP THE WINS

Not setting an overarching goal for the whole Mastermind

I work with each client before they start Masterminding and together we work on their strategy for the year and set a big audacious goal for the end of our Mastermind time together. Then each session we’re working on the steps that’ll take them towards that as well as all the things that come up in business since we last met. So we go both macro and micro at the same time.

This pincer movement allows you to keep on track on the big stuff at the same time as not having the clients head explode about the week-to-week deadlines we all have running a business.

SOLUTION: THINK LONG TERM

Not getting permission to push your clients a little on their goals

To get great results for your clients – you need to be able to push them a little when they’re coasting a little with their goals. Some clients are motivated by the consequences of not achieving (away-from people) for them pain a picture of what will happen if they don’t do something (you’ll be living in a paper bag at the end of the pier if you don’t file your taxes). Others respond to the rosy glow of the result (towards people) – most of us are a mix of both with a leaning towards one or the other.

In my groups I do this lightly by making a game of ‘are you carrot or stick?’ First I ask quietly in a one-to-one call (see #5 below). Then it’s important to ask again in front of the group. This gives you permission to push back later if needed. As the client’s already agreed it’s ok to look deeper and perhaps even very gently push as needed.

Obviously this must be done with great respect and very politely – but do it, your clients are counting on you. They’ve bought in to accountability from you – that means helping them through slumps. This is what they’re really paying for – help on the tough tasks. Letting goals slide, does them a disservice.

 SOLUTION: CHALLENGE YOUR CLIENTS

Making introverts speak first

This is so important there is a massive difference in the way introverts and extroverts process information. Introverts usually like to review ideas completely before speaking, while extroverts generally like to clarify and refine as they speak. I always let my clients know the order they’ll speak in, usually stacking introverts near the end so they have time to run their ideas round in their head before they speak. Likewise, don’t make extroverts wait too long or often they’ll forget what they were going to say.

SOLUTION: CONSIDER PROCESSING METHODS

Always using the same order for feedback

Having just said that I usually let introverts go last… don’t make the order rigid. Mix it up. I usually change the order of people in spotlight to the order for giving feedback. Somehow having to pay attention to speaker order for this round of input keeps it fresh.

Sometimes this is because people can riff off each others comments in different ways and new information comes out – sometimes it’s as simple as people speak at different speeds and energy and that changes the flow of information. Either way, it’s important – don’t let things become stagnant in your groups.

SOLUTION: AVOID THE RUT

Not asking your clients how they like their feedback

This is one of the first things I ask clients in their Mastermind consult call after they join a group. We go deep and look at learning styles, how they process information generally and also, and most importantly how they like to get feedback. Are they more carrot or stick? It’s a silly joke… but the answer is so important.

As I mentioned in #2 above – being able to push back on a clients answers is how you’ll help them grow and achieve their goals. You need the information to do that… so ask!   

SOLUTION: COACH DEEPER

Not being really discerning about who joins your groups

Be selective – I usually find 30% are not a good fit for my masterminds – so we either go to one-to-one work, or I suggest other groups or coaches who are a better fit for what they’re keen to achieve.  In my groups it’s all about the mix of people – that’s what makes the groups so strong and long lasting.

Sometimes a client is ace but the perfect group mix isn’t quite there yet, so they go on the wait list. I’ve found clients appreciate this careful curation. No-one wants to be in a hastily thrown together group.

SOLUTION: SIFT CAREFULLY

Not nipping problems in the bud

This is hard  – but as a coach, you’re there to ensure brilliant service and a great experience for your entire group. So, if an issue raises its head – perhaps time keeping or overstepping the mark on feedback – take the bull by the horns and deal with it quickly. That doesn’t mean necessarily doing so in front of the group. But a discrete ‘could I have a quick word after the call?’ will nip most things in the bud.

Be brave – your clients are paying you to run a great group, don’t ignore the early warning signs that things aren’t quite on track.

SOLUTION: ACT QUICKLY

Letting one person take all the time or not keeping to time

This is also hard but there really is no way round this – time keeping is the single hardest thing to run well in a group. And it’s also the quickest way to irk an entire group. Make sure everyone is kept to time, that no-one hogs the mic so others feel short changed on time and be utterly sure the sessions don’t over run.

This is tough to do at first, and it’s why I go into much more detail in Mastermind training program on this. But with practise you can make sure you never run more than 5 minutes over. It’s vital, your clients won’t complain about getting extra coaching – but it’ll annoy them. So don’t do it.

 SOLUTION: TIGHT TIMEKEEPING

Not listing goals and not checking in on them next time

As groups get comfortable with each other they often let goals slip – as you do with friends who you know have a lot on.  But, do remember that these are your clients and they’re paying you to achieve more. Tracking goals is vital for this. Do it gently, but check in on how things are going.

SOLUTION: FOLLOW THROUGH

Not looking back on how much has been achieved

At the end of each Mastermind cycle, I add a bonus session to review how much they’ve achieved. Your groups will be filled with amazing masterminders and I’m genuinely thrilled to see their success. Tell them this – praise them, allow them to remember how brilliant hey are and how much they’ve achieved. It can be hard to praise yourself – but there’s a basic need to prepare ourselves for success and that means celebrating the little things.

Entrepreneurs tend to always measure what didn’t work (I could have got more subscribers, earned more, done more). It’s an easy trap to fall into, so remind them how much they got done. And leave them on a high about their entire Mastermind experience, rather than worried how much there is still to do.

  SOLUTION: BIG UP THE WINS

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Obviously I’m only scratching the surface here on how adding Masterminds will add value to your business. I’ve got a heap more information I’d like to share – so follow the link below and come along to my next free Q&A session.

They’re run Office Hours style, so you can ask all your questions direct to me. I run them every other month (and the months inbetween there’s a free MasterClass).  Get on the list for both MasterClass and the Q&A calls here.

FREE training: click here to join the next Q&A call

Obviously I’m only scratching the surface here on how adding Masterminds will add value to your business. I’ve got a heap more information I’d like to share – so follow the link below and come along to my next free Q&A session.

They’re run Office Hours style, so you can ask all your questions direct to me. I run them every other month (and the months in-between there’s a free MasterClass).

Get on the list for both MasterClass and the Q&A calls here.

FREE training: click here to join the next Q&A call

Glad you asked! The principle is very simple: at their core Masterminds are just small teams that meet regularly, share their wisdom with each other and set goals for each person to be done by the next meeting. Really successful groups are usually run by a coach who facilitates and coaches to ensure great results.

So a Mastermind is just a meeting?

Well yes, but in the same way that one-to-one coaching is just a conversation. There’s deep power in having a group hold you accountable, give support and meet over a long period. That longevity of support puts them in a different league to most coaching or training. When led effectively by a skilled facilitator and coach, they’re utterly transformative.

I’ve found Masterminds I’m in give me the fast track to business growth, deep friendships and more support than I ever thought possible. Running Masterminds, I see the same thing over and over with clients. Plus I earn tens of thousands of dollars a month through my Mastermind program. Even someone brand new to Mastermind can put together a small group of just 6 people can bring in an additional $3000 a month quickly.

Glad you asked! The principle is very simple: at their core Masterminds are just small teams that meet regularly, share their wisdom with each other and set goals for each person to be done by the next meeting. Really successful groups are usually run by a coach who facilitates and coaches to ensure great results.

So a Mastermind is just a meeting?

Well yes, but in the same way that one-to-one coaching is just a conversation. There’s deep power in having a group hold you accountable, give support and meet over a long period. That longevity of support puts them in a different league to most coaching or training. When led effectively by a skilled facilitator and coach, they’re utterly transformative.

I’ve found Masterminds I’m in give me the fast track to business growth, deep friendships and more support than I ever thought possible. Running Masterminds, I see the same thing over and over with clients. Plus I earn tens of thousands of dollars a month through my Mastermind program. Even someone brand new to Mastermind can put together a small group of just 6 people can bring in an additional $3000 a month quickly.