Last month at our mastermind group meeting, as we were going around the table sharing our status updates, one of our members, who was the last one to report, abruptly announced that this would be her last meeting. We were all shocked. Not only because she held on till the last minute to tell us, but also because she was the one who started this mastermind group over two years ago. Most of the eight of us did not know each other back then, and she was the one who had the most experience in our industry. So, in a sense, she was the "mother hen" who took us under her wings, when she gathered us in her home for our first mastermind meeting. We had since changed our meeting location to a conference room and then to another person's office, but the eight of us stuck together and became good friends.

She told us that she is "the kind of person who starts groups" and that she has stayed in this particular group much longer than she normally does. She is going through some personal transition as well as going back to school for a different certification. Our facilitator and I managed to express our gratitude for her contribution to our mastermind group, and wish her all our best. The rest of the group sat there in silence - I think everyone was in shock.

Personally, I didn't see this coming. However, now that I have time to reflect on the last couple of months, there were some signs. At times, she seemed a bit disengaged, impatient or agitated during the meeting, saying things that were out of character for her. Perhaps she was going through something in her life, and perhaps she was no longer interested in being part of the mastermind. I guess we would never know, unless she tells us someday.

It saddens me to see her go, but, as a group, we must go on. At this month's meeting, we went on as if nothing happened, but I couldn't help but feel that the group has changed somehow. Like I said, we have been meeting monthly for over two years, and we have become good friends, which is absolutely wonderful. However, I've been feeling lately that our mastermind group has become more social, and less business-oriented over the last few months. Even though I do enjoy seeing my friends every month, I'm starting to feel that we are not reaping the full benefits of having a mastermind group. I know I want more out of a mastermind group, and I wonder if other members feel the same.

It's time to have a heart-to-heart with my mastermind group, to see if we can recharge and refocus our vision, goals and commitment to the group. As I believe that there's a blessing and/or lesson in every situation we encounter. Losing our "mother hen" might be just what we needed as a group to grow.

Labels: coaching, commitment, focus, getting support, mastermind