Mastermind Circles Program - Feedback and Launch of Round 2
Over the years you continue to tell us that the greatest value you get from being part of the IABC community is the opportunity to network and further your professional development, in particular, through peer-to-peer learning and the sharing of experiences. As a direct result of this feedback, earlier this year, we launched the IABC NSW Member Mastermind Circles pilot program, peer-to-peer coaching groups made up of members with similar experiences and roles within the profession.
The pilot program wrapped up last month. To help us refine the program in preparation for a wider rollout and ensure it brings meaningful value to IABC members, we asked participants for their feedback on what worked well and how things can be improved.
We are thrilled that 93% rated the program good (13%), very good (33%) or excellent (47%) and 80% said they would like to continue beyond the pilot period!
As this is a peer-to-peer coaching program it’s reassuring that 100% of respondents agreed they were accurately allocated to a Circle of their peers. Members of the IABC NSW Board each joined a Circle to help get it up and running, facilitate the first session and subsequently participate in the program in the same way as other members. Whilst we understand the need for structure and support, we’ve been conscious from the beginning that for this initiative to be sustainable, it needs to be self-sufficient and not solely reliant on the Board to drive. We tried to strike the right balance in terms of governing the Circles and 87% feel we’ve managed to achieve that.
As with any meeting, the success of a Mastermind Circle can often come down to the delicate balance between the number of people within the group and the timing of each session. Our aim was for 4-6 members per group to meet once a month for one hour. The feedback confirmed our thinking, with nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents telling us the number of members per Circle was optimum, and 93% agreeing that duration and frequency was appropriate. Another good indicator that we have the Circle size:time ratio right was the 87% who felt everyone in their Circle had an equal opportunity to share their experiences, ask questions, volunteer a topic or to act as facilitator.
The feedback also confirmed what we had experienced ourselves: it can be hard to coordinate the diaries of busy communication professionals...especially during a pandemic and changing regulations! This is something we’ll be looking into as we embark on the next phase of the program. We’ll also be providing more clarity around what to expect from the Board member, the facilitator and Circle participants, along with some ideas on how to choose a topic and ensure the sessions are structured and robust.
Perhaps most encouragingly was 84% said they would recommend the Mastermind Circles program to other IABC NSW members! So, to help you decide if the program is right for you, we asked our pilot participants to describe - in their own words - the value they have found in the Mastermind Circles. Here’s a snapshot of what they had to say:
Meet other professionals who are in different industries and different roles to you but share the same passion. You benefit from hearing different perspectives about opportunities, challenges and trends.
I joined the Circle to share pain points and to listen and learn from other people's experience. We have a diverse group and we all contribute in different, but useful ways.
Network building, knowledge sharing, learning fresh ideas and perspectives.
Good for networking. Good for learning from peers.
Mastermind Circles are a great way to broaden your network, share ideas and test your strategic communication approaches with a group of experienced peers.
The Mastermind Circles are an opportunity to be reminded how we are all grappling with similar challenges, and doing our best to deal with them. No one has this all worked out. It's also an opportunity to get suggestions from others who have perhaps dealt with an issue previously.
I have left each session feeling inspired and with a new idea in toe.
Finally! An opportunity to have deep conversations with others who have similar levels of experience and similar challenges to me.
This is a rare opportunity to discuss the challenges we have with peers in an unstructured way and learn from each others' experiences.
Calling for Expressions of Interest
If you are interested in joining - or continuing with - the Mastermind Circles program, then please complete the expression of interest form by COB Sunday 31st October. Our aim is to collate all submissions, allocate you to a Circle and introduce you to your Circle members by the end of November.
The Mastermind Circles program is a FREE (member only) program designed to enrich your IABC NSW member experience by giving you more of what you’ve told us you value most: peer-to-peer networking and learning.
You’ll find more information on the program, how the Circles work, and a list of FAQs on the Mastermind page of our website. If you have any questions, you can contact Catherine Hollyman, VP Member Experience, here or on LinkedIn.