The Female Mastermind: Developing a Professional Women’s Network

Contributed by Tanya Hall (Austin, Texas)

Achieving a successful career depends just as much on your network as it does on your skills, knowledge, and experience. Though any professional connection you make is important, nothing impacts your career or has as much influence on your success as a group of likeminded women vested in each other’s success. Referred to as a “mastermind group,” these women work together to help each other identify strengths and weaknesses, sets goals and hold each other accountable to them, and share resources and valuable personal experiences.

There are many reasons why it’s important to align yourself with other professional women. First of all, professional women share a common and unique perspective on what success looks like and how to achieve it. They understand the challenges specific to professional women—especially for those who are also mothers—and can share advice on how to balance family and work without sacrificing your ambitions. Also, by holding each other accountable, the group increases the likelihood of each individual achieving her goals and finding success.

I asked one of my clients, author and organization consultant Lorie Marrero, a few questions about the benefits of a mastermind group. She said, “I get to be in a supportive but challenging group of peers of my choosing and am accountable to them for my goals and results.” In fact, the group helped her write her first book by making her accountable for regularly producing material. Because of her success, she recently made a commitment to the group to write a second book.

When I asked her what the key to a successful mastermind group was, Marrero responded with a few important considerations: Start by “identifying the right people to join you.” Potential members should think similarly to you, “but not so similarly that they won’t have a valuable perspective to share.” She also recommended selecting people who are willing to put into the group as much as they take out of it and emphasized the importance of making sure that potential members are honestly and wholeheartedly committed to the group.

Marerro also suggested that one establish “some ground rules about how to run your group, such as how much time a person gets to talk.” She added that she believed “that smaller groups are best for efficiency’s sake.” So, keep your group to just a handful of people.

Forming your own mastermind group isn’t difficult. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you move forward.

Start by identifying likeminded women in your existing network. If you’re having trouble locating women in your network (or even if you’re not) you can always ask for referrals. Also, go to networking events for professional women’s groups—you never know whom you’re going to meet!

Next, state very clearly that you are interested in forming a mastermind group. It doesn’t take a great deal of time to participate, but it is a commitment. Make sure everyone is truly on board.

Figure out how you will connect and how often. Will you meet for coffee once a week, interact daily on an online forum, or have formal monthly meetings? There is no best way, just do what works for your group. Remember, you can connect and ask for help in between formal gatherings as well.

Be sure to focus on identifying each member’s goals and challenges so you can continually help each other reach strategic benchmarks. Set guidelines for tracking the group’s progress and for holding each member personally accountable for the steps she needs to take to reach her goals.

Above all, recognize the value each woman has to offer. Her unique perspective and experience was hard earned. Not only can your group provide you with camaraderie and support, it can also help you find new opportunities, identify deadweight and inefficiencies, and achieve things you never thought possible before. Don’t wait. Start reaching out to potential members for your mastermind group today!

Tanya Hall is Business Development Manager at Greenleaf Book Group, a publisher and distributor to independent authors and small presses.