Mastermind group guidelines and rules are important because they create boundaries for what we believe and how we behave as individuals in the collective. Your guidelines will be unique to your group based on its purpose, vision, and mission, but here are some questions to consider as you create your non-negotiable guidelines:

New Members

• How are new members invited?
• What is our criteria for members?
• How do we select new members?
• Is there an application and/or interview process?
• What is our new member orientation process?
• How often do we consider new members?
• Do we actively recruit?

In Group Interaction

• How personal is too personal?
• How do we deal with Takers (members who take more than they give)?
• Can we actively generate leads and promote our products among each other?

Inactive Members & Attendance

• How often do we meet and for how long?
• What is the consequence for missing a meeting or being late?
• How many missed meetings lead to dismissal?
• What is the protocol for someone who misses several meetings? Is it an immediate dismissal or is there a process that gives them a chance for them to rectify the situation?
• What else would cause the dismissal of an existing member?
• What is our cell phone and email policy during meetings

Privacy Policy

• What does our non-compete and non-disclosure agreement declare?
• Can we share who is in the group with us in conversations beyond recruiting?
• What can be shared from the meeting with people who are non-members (e.g. employees, spouses, coaches)
• Are we sticking to a “What happens in the mastermind stays in the mastermind” mentality?

Major Decisions

• How many members do we have?
• How do we determine when and where we meet?
• How are decisions that affect the entire group made?
• Is this a democracy? Do we vote?

Fees & Financials

• What is our fee? How do we determine fee changes?
• What is that money used for?
• Are financials provided to the group?

It may be easiest for you as the initiator to determine the answers to these questions and as you invite founding members, watch and listen carefully for any guideline or rule that isn’t resonating with the group.