Things to Consider Before Joining a Mastermind

In this week's blog of Aligned & Ambitious, I am going to be sharing what to look for when you're thinking about joining a mastermind. There is always a correct time when you should or shouldn't start looking for one. I am going to show you when the perfect time is and what to ask yourself when you do start shopping for a mastermind. 

But before we dive on in, let me introduce myself. My name is Taylor Slango and I’m the host of Aligned & Ambitious Radio and a business coach who helps women make major bank through their online businesses. 

So if you’re an ambitious millennial, wanting to get more out of life and learn how to combat those who doubt you along the way, stick around. This blog post is for you!

And today, we are going to talk about everything you need to know before joining and finding a mastermind. So keep reading for even more details!

Identifying what a mastermind is.

A lot of people have different definitions when it comes to a mastermind. When I think of a mastermind I think of a meeting of the minds and bringing together multiple different people from different spaces with different experiences and creating a container where it's not just about the coach. In my mastermind, the community aspect is so profound because it's not just the “Taylor show”, it's about everyone's unique gift coming out and teaching one another. A mastermind is such a collaborative experience and it's really sacred to me. My favorite part of a mastermind is bringing all the minds together and being able to network like a community and build amazing relationships. All of my best friends, I have met through a mastermind or certain group programs. That is such an amazing thing that comes out of a mastermind. I've even met so many incredible women in my industry that I've been able to collaborate with and grow relationships with. A mastermind is a great structured container for anyone who is just looking to network and grow or even someone who is at a higher level looking to interact with new people and programs. 

A mastermind is a sacred commitment. I know that sounds so serious but it's the truth. When I'm enrolling my masterminds, I want you here because you want to be here. It is such a big energetic exchange and a profound relationship that I pour so much into. A mastermind is supposed to be a good fit because it's a place where you can vibe with people who are going to vibe back.

How to know you're ready to join a mastermind.

There are masterminds at so many different levels depending on where you are in your business. The one piece of advice I have to give you is to make sure that you have the capacity to actually show up for a mastermind. The thing about a mastermind that a lot of people don't fully understand is that you are agreeing to be in a spot where there are a lot of different energies. When you are in that close of communication with all these different people, you have to make sure that you can show up in the community and not just show up when you need something. You have to be there for everyone else in the mastermind, not just yourself. You have to support the other people in the container to be an engaging member. Remember, not everyone has the capacity to engage. There's nothing wrong with not being able to engage, I just think it's a huge piece to consider before joining a mastermind. Ask yourself if you have the space to show up and be present in a group like this. The bottom line is when it comes to deciding if you should join a mastermind, do it when you have space too!

Questions to ask yourself before joining a mastermind.

The first question to ask yourself when shopping for a mastermind is what are you looking for? What are your goals? What type of lifestyle are you trying to achieve? When you ask yourself these questions, you can start to look for a mentor who embodies that lifestyle you want. It’s not about the monetary life they show on social media, but it's about what their real-life looks like. The second question to ask yourself is what are your current hurdles? What is the thing you are struggling with or missing? There are all different masterminds that cater to different things. Some may be broader and some may have a certain niche, but it's about what you want. Get clear on what you're looking for so you don't just join a mastermind to join one. Join a mastermind because you know and feel empowered that it's going to help you get out of whatever season you're in right now.

The third question to ask yourself is what are your goals for the next six to twelve months? What do you want to accomplish walking away from this mastermind? Once you determine those goals, it's time to start shopping. Don't bypass any of these questions. Sit down with yourself and think about what your actual needs and desires are. Be sure that with whatever mastermind you choose, it is aligned with your values head to toe.

Questions to ask the mentor before joining.

You shouldn't be afraid to go human to human and ask your mentor what their beliefs are and what they value. Get to know them, that is the whole point of the mastermind. Some questions you want to ask them are things like “what are your values?”, “tell me what’s important to you”, “Can you tell me a little bit more about how you teach people?”. When you ask questions, you'll feel like you're going into the decision fully supported from the ground up. The second thing to pay attention to is what do you know about their current relationships with their clients? See if they have long term relationships, see if they have raving clients, and see what their client experience is like. 

Don't be scared to talk to whoever you need to whether it's the mentor or their past clients. Collect the information you need to make your final decision about joining the mastermind. It is a serious matter that you're getting yourself into so you have to know. Don't be afraid! You're committing to being in a pool of different energies and a longer form program so be sure it's the correct fit for you.

Pay attention to the structure of the program and not the vanity metrics.

You have to pay attention to the structure of the mastermind and what you need. If you're someone who needs more hands on higher touch coaching, you may need some element of one on one support rather than group support. Maybe you're looking for something that has a smaller group of women that offers monthly one on one private calls. Look at each structure so that it's able to support your needs. That is one of the last things that I look for when I'm shopping around for a mastermind. It’s really more about the coach's energy and what they embody and value. With structure, comes the person's coaching style; Really think about this. If you've never worked with them before, ask them to explain their coaching style so you can understand it and see if it's something that will fit you. It’s important to understand the mentor you're working with from the inside out. Getting to know them is one of the biggest things!  

As you can see, there is a lot to pay attention to when mastermind shopping. But there are also a few things I want you guys to be aware of that you shouldn't be paying attention to and that is the number of followers the coach has. This is not important at all. You shouldn't want to work with someone just because they have a blue checkmark. Ask yourself what you want and don't put so much weight on those social media metrics. Don't just join a mastermind because someone has a lot of street cred, instead really get to know them, get to know their heart, and get to know their mission because that's where the connection stems from.

Things to Consider Before Joining a Mastermind: Main Takeaways

I hope reading more about masterminds and what to look for when joining one has helped you with your decision. I wanted to give you some things to reflect on and think about but at the end of the day, intuition always wins and your gut is going to tell you what's the best fit for you. I can't wait to see you all grow and find your circle online. Remember to put yourself out there and meet new people because a business is built on relationships and a mastermind is the breeding ground for building intentional relationships.

Thank you so Much for Reading…

Thanks for reading! If you liked what you learned, connect with me on social too at Facebook, Instagram, or start working with me!