Group participants are carefully selected from across the world. The groups are online-only and group members are matched based on industry, company size, Relevant IT maturity, IT leadership focus and many other criteria to ensure maximum learning for all.
The groups, each with between six and ten active participants, meet online every fortnight for up to two hours. Sessions are extremely organised with special attention focused on the two or three leaders who have been selected for the 'hot seat'. These ‘hot seats’ are rotated to ensure everyone is offered an opportunity to get input from their peers. Members who cannot attend a meeting can catch up on proceedings by reviewing a recording of the session afterwards.
Members are also given access to a private online network, dedicated to the larger community of business technology leaders. Here they can exchange view points as well as get access to an even greater pool of knowledge, tools and templates.
Mathias Tölken, COO of Xuviate, says running successful Mastermind Groups for business and IT leaders is notoriously difficult as individual circumstances vary so greatly between small and medium organisations. Tölken says the benefits of being accepted into a Mastermind Group include impartial advice and brainstorming, accountability, motivation, sharing ideas and emotional support and energy.
"Sometimes one is just too close to the problem and could benefit greatly from the insights and expertise of others. When it comes to accountability, having a group where everybody expects you to deliver on what you commit to do is a very powerful incentive to see things through," he adds.
Tölken says interacting regularly with other successful people and hearing how well they have been doing puts a lot of pressure (of the good sort) to just take that extra step. "Sharing ideas, even if you are not talking about your own situation; hearing what problems others encounter and what solutions they apply is a very effective way to get your own creative juices going."
"As group members gain trust in each other, it becomes easier to extend the relationships into your day-to-day work life and get fast decision-support or even support with specific tools and templates that you may need to do your job," he concludes.
For more information contact Xuviate on (083) 263-9680/1, email moc.etaivux@ofni or visit the website.
