Talent Management through Mastermind Groups in the Medical Environment
The concept of having a Mastermind Group in a healthcare setting may sound far fetched and out of place, but to the contrary, a Mastermind Group can be held in any setting with two or more people participating. A healthcare organization that is continuously seeking excellence will find that utilizing a mastermind framework is an ideal way to engage, motivate, and grow colleagues personally and professionally. To grasp this concept, we must understand the meaning of Mastermind Group or MMG.
The Origin of the Mastermind Group
The concept of the “Mastermind Alliance” was formally introduced by Napoleon Hill in 1937, in his timeless classic, Think and Grow Rich. Masterminds groups have been traced back to the beginning of time. Many inventors like Thomas Edison and Benjamin Franklin belonged to a MMG. As did writers like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Hugo Dyson.
The Power of Minds Together
Napoleon Hill claims that when two minds come together they create “a third, invisible intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind, the master mind. The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony.” In his book, Master Key to Riches, he says “Every mind needs friendly contact with other minds, for food of expansion and growth.” Creating an environment that supports growth was seen as crucial to Hill. One powerful way to do this in healthcare setting is the Medical MMG.
Who Should Be In The Mastermind Group
Masterminds can benefit healthcare employees, patients, leaders, providers in many tangible ways to improve their job satisfaction and improve the overall success of the organization. Facilitating Mastermind Groups with healthcare colleagues, middle management, senior leadership, with medical, specialist, dental, and behavioral health providers on topics that allows them to develop on a personally as well as professionally level has resulted in many tangible benefits to the individual and the organization.
Mastermind Around Specific Topics
Personal Strengths
For example a Mastermind group may be held with front line staff on “Discovering personal strengths”. The results of the MMG could be employees that begin to understand themselves better and the many possible attributes or strengths they may possess that are not being utilized in their life. Discovering this will allow personal development and a feeling of being valued as an individual by the organization. Discovering strengths among colleagues may assist the organization in how to position an employee in the organization or give them new or different responsibilities suited to their inherited strengths. Being able to demonstrate competencies as a nurse is based upon their formal education and continuous educational training to keep them current. This of course is very important, but a MMG that highlights their unique DNA strengths is a great asset to leadership and management. It provides an opportunity to tap into the best of the individual.
Leadership Skills
A MMG on leadership and how to enhance leadership skills to lead more effectively would be beneficial to middle and senior leadership. In healthcare organizations, direct care staff may also have leadership training to develop their leadership skills as caregivers. Team building is a wonderful MMG that could engage cross sections of colleagues from different areas of care to be used to better execute the patient-centric care model. MMGs have proven to break down silos between healthcare colleagues and departments. MMGs most often bring out common ground between healthcare colleagues regardless of title, position, job description. All participants are equally valued and have the opportunity to grow and expand their being. This creates a leadership environment. Combine that with studying leadership within the MMG setting and see the leadership capacity drastically expand at every level within your organization!
No One Teaches in a Mastermind Group
Masterminds are lead by a facilitator not teachers. The MMG is about sharing and reflecting on a topic. It is not about competing but more about contemplating and personal reflection. What a person takes away from a MMG is depended on their engagement and what they desire. MMG’s purpose is to stretch our traditional thinking and cultivate new awareness around topics. Resulting in personal development that will benefit individuals in their private and professional life. Mastermind groups offer a combination of brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen business and personal skills. A mastermind group helps mastermind group members achieve success in their personal and professional lives. In many MMGs participants challenge each other to set important goals, and more importantly, to accomplish them.
How Could You Use the Power of a Mastermind Group?
The MMG group requires commitment, confidentiality, willingness to be creative and brainstorm ideas, develop much-needed solutions, and support each other with total honesty, respect, and compassion. MMG members act as catalyst for growth, challenging advocates and supportive colleagues. Think about what you need more of. What you need less of. What problems you need to solve. A Mastermind could be the difference maker in giving you and your whole organization what you need most!
