5 Reasons Why Forming a Mastermind Group is Good Career Move

By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Getting ahead in your career can sometimes seem like a challenging journey. There are few of us that don’t hit bumps or roadblocks. When this happens, it can be difficult to maintain perspective. Having a trusted group of colleagues with similar career goals/interests/challenges who work together to help each other can be invaluable. In business circles, this is sometimes referred to as a Mastermind Group. The concept of the Mastermind Group was formally introduced by Napoleon Hill in the early 1900’s. In his timeless classic, “Think And Grow Rich” he wrote about the Mastermind principle as: “The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony.”

This is a group that meets regularly (at least monthly) outside a work setting and may include colleagues that live locally or even in other geographically in other parts of the country. The beauty of these Mastermind Groups is that participants raise the bar by challenging each other to create and implement goals, brainstorm ideas, and support each other with total honesty, respect and compassion. It is like having your own personal advisory board. Here are five great reasons to form your own Mastermind Group:

Mastermind Group Members serve as accountability partners – in high functioning Mastermind groups, members challenge each other to set powerful goals, give input to a plan and then provide the follow-up to make sure it is achieved. All of us need accountability partners to keep us on track.
Mastermind Group Members help us to keep perspective – when we encounter career challenges, it can sometimes be difficult to keep perspective. In a group with a high level of commitment and confidentiality, members can play the devils advocate with our evaluation of situation, our response and/or see pitfalls that we may not see.
Mastermind Groups can provide synergy for our ideas – the ability to brainstorm new ideas in a safe place can be invaluable. With a mastermind group, you have the benefit of group experience and perspectives that you may not have considered.
Mastermind Groups can serve as your resiliency muscle when times get tough – a strong support network who knows you well is key to maintaining resiliency when confronted with serious challenges.
Mastermind Groups allow you to have a network outside your own organization – many leaders today work for large health systems and have few professional colleagues outside these organizations. Yet to gain perspective and move your career to the next level, you need to have a wider network especially if you encounter challenges that force you to leave an organization.

The ideal Mastermind Group has members who have similar career interests and experience. Because of the group nature, a commitment is required. Members should be highly-motivated people who are willing to ask for — and give — help and support, and are willing to show up for every meeting. To my knowledge, the concept of Mastermind Groups is not widespread in healthcare and nursing but why not. There are tremendous benefits to growing as a group and forming close bonds.

Read to Lead

Burns, S. (October 21, 2013 blog). 7 Reasons to Join a Mastermind Group.

Savara, S. (Lifehack Blog Undated) How to Start and Run a Mastermind Group