Help me study for my Psychology class. I’m stuck and don’t understand.

Based on your Mastermind group and the Learning Resources you read in Week 9, discuss how you used coaching techniques and methods to support your Mastermind group members.

The research behind business coaching shows that it can be effective, enhance productivity, and has positive effects on self-regulation and job performance (Schermuly, 2018). Important aspects of coaching, goals and feedback, can help clients reach a higher level of development in their career (Giberson & Miklos, 2012). Coaching helps people come to their own conclusions and the coach can use strategic techniques, such as Socratic questioning, to help facilitate clients coming to their own answers, engendering empowerment and ownership over their destiny. Where coaching can become detrimental is when it makes the client more dependent on the coach, thus fostering a reliance on an external source to help them make decisions (Schermuly, 2018).

In working with my group, I wanted to understand the others’ situations thoroughly by asking specific and probing questions about the situation. This allows the person to articulate exactly what is going on. It also allows me to understand if there are emotions tied to the situation or issue that could be interfering with the person’s ability to move forward or gain clarity. Additionally, after hearing a summary of the issue, it was important to me to help the other person narrow it down to an actionable goal. Specific goal-setting enhances the mastermind experience and leads to positive outcomes for the person that include increased confidence and additional insights into a personal or professional dilemma that can be resolved with ongoing support (Ornstein & Baum, 2012). Narrowing down the problem to tangible steps that can be achieved within a timeframe is crucial to the success of the team member. Also, sharing about a personal or professional issue can help the member not feel so alone. Sharing similar scenarios and bringing unique experiences to the table can foster a new perspective that the person can use to tackle the problem. Even though each of us in the group is an accomplished professional and has been in this academic program for some time now, we each have an individual experience that the others can benefit from hearing and experiencing in a new way. I wanted to make sure the group members felt heard and respected and that the suggestions given were ones they felt they could do within the allotted time. Also, by offering to help them by reviewing documents or through accountability, it helps them feel supported and hopefully motivated to work on their goal.

What goal did you present? What types of probing questions were asked of you? How did the team support/assist you?

The goal I presented was wanting to transition well out of a current job position and finalize an updated version of my resume. Related to transitioning out of my current job at a local college, there is a current atmosphere of passive-aggressive behaviors on my supervisor’s part. My goal is to focus on staying in my integrity over the next few weeks, being present, focused, and leaving things finished for the next person while simultaneously focusing on preparing for my next role by having my resume up to date. My group was able to support me by validating my situation and acknowledging that it was a difficult position to be in. They asked questions regarding how I wanted to proceed and a timeline for doing so. They generated the idea of sending a copy of my current resume to them for a peer review.

What were the results of your Mastermind?

Each member of our group was able to come up with a professional goal they wanted to achieve over the next week. We made the goals specific with a deadline. The group committed to review each other’s proposals related to their goals. The group reported back on their progress after receiving feedback and noted what was most helpful and where they wanted to go next with their goal. The benefits of a Mastermind group include getting a boost in energy towards a goal and gaining a new perspective on an issue or situation from others who are not directly involved (Gaining Traction, 2015). Participating in this group gave me the added accountability with a deadline that I needed to achieve a goal I had been thinking about, but not actively pursuing. I was able to use the opportunity for accountability to take the additional steps needed to make it a reality. Also, knowing I would be reporting back to the group helped me stay focused during the week on those goals and increased my productivity and enhanced my mindset shift.

Were you able to accomplish the goal you shared with your group? How will you continue to hold each other accountable?

I was able to accomplish both goals I shared with my group. The more tangible goal of updating the resume was easier to accomplish. Once I received their feedback, I finalized it and it is ready to be utilized in moving onto the next phase of my career. It is something I had been working on over the last several months, but being a part of the group gave me the extra momentum and deadline I needed to see it through. Regarding the other goal of wanting to finish well in my current position, it remains ongoing since I have several weeks left. However, having to report to the group helps me stay focused daily on my intention to stay present in my role and stay in my integrity, despite the behavior of my supervisor. Ornstein and Baum (2012) describe a Mastermind group as being a “catalyst” for growth and an opportunity to receive input from supportive colleagues that are like-minded but can offer a different perspective. I feel I was able to gain energy from the meeting of the group to put into motion some things I had been thinking about but not taking strategic action on. To continue to hold each other accountable, the group will stay in touch as we decide what works best for us through this journey. Knowing we can reach out to supportive colleagues who are on a similar journey is invaluable and increases motivation and confidence.

References

Gaining Traction. (2015). What is a mastermind group? [Video file]

Giberson, T., & Miklos, S. (2012). Coaching. TIP: The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 49(3), 53-56.

Ornstein, H., & Baum, N. (2012). A mystical evening with the bright future of our profession. Podiatry Management, 31(2), 185.

Schermuly, C. C. (2018). Client dropout from business coaching. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 70(3), 250–267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cpb0000112