What Is A Mastermind Alliance Anyway?

Recently, I’ve been discussing the topic of #Mastermind Alliances with several fundraisers who are forming or want to form one.  What exactly is such an Alliance? 

The term “Mastermind Alliance” was introduced into the popular lexicon in 1937 by Napoleon Hill who published the self-development classic, Think and Grow Rich which was the progenitor of the category.  In that book, Hill described a Mastermind Alliance as “the coordination of knowledge and effort, in the spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose”.  This post offers an outline for the formation and operation of a productive Mastermind Alliance.

The first step in establishing such a group is for the leader (or co-leaders) to adopt a purpose, intention, or “stake” for the alliance, choosing individual members whose education, experience and influence are such as to make them invaluable in supporting the purpose.  For example, development leaders in non-profits often establish and facilitate councils to help guide fundraising efforts.  In my own past, I established a group of business executives that met as a roundtable to advance the mission of a business school from which they had graduated.  Whenever doing so, it is essential to consider each candidate for membership in the light of his or her ability, personality, and willingness to help and cooperate with other members of the group in the spirit of harmony.

Once members have been identified and recruited, the next step is to establish a definite date and time for the members of the alliance to meet.  The meeting can be conducted in-person, or via telephone/video call.  Depending on the purpose and context, the group can meet as frequently as necessary.  What I have found works best is a pace of weekly (or every other week) meetings for about an hour.    The environment should be one where everyone has an opportunity to connect, and where each member may speak freely with confidentiality, and without fear of judgment or reprisal from the others.

Once the group is established, it is incumbent upon the leader (or co-leaders) of the alliance to ensure that action is forwarded and learning deepened in support of fulfillment of the group’s purpose.   The leader or co-leaders should come to each meeting with a topic or topics that support the group’s purpose while keeping everyone aligned to the stake or intention.   The major strength of such an alliance consists in the blending and contribution all its members. From that blending comes creativity, inspiration, encouragement, support, and action.

One final note.  There are no hard and fast rules as to the number of individuals recommended for an alliance. The number should be guided by the nature and magnitude of the intended purpose.   In general, it is best to have as few members as possible in order to accomplish the purpose while maintaining an atmosphere harmony and collaboration.  Groups of 4, 6, 8, 12, and up to 24 all work well.  For example, right now, I am in the process of forming a Mastermind Alliance of about a dozen to two dozen leaders from the non-profit and corporate sectors to cross pollinate best practices from those sectors while growing our leadership competency by reading and discussing The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership.  Feel free to contact me if you’d like to learn more.