Developing Your Personal ‘Board of Directors’ Through a Mastermind Group

The new year is just around the corner, and you may be looking to make some changes. If you want to take your life and your leadership to the next level, you need to surround yourself with people who will support you in your growth.

That is a key message for Aaron Walker, founder of the Iron Sharpens Iron mastermind group.

During a devastating time in Walker’s personal life, radio show host Dave Ramsey invited Walker to be a part of his mastermind group. “I needed people around me to help me,” said Walker.

But it was not just a matter of getting help in a tough time. Walker attributes much of his success—including founding more than a dozen companies over a four-decade career—to being surrounded by Ramsey and other impressive entrepreneurs. “The vast majority of success I’ve had in life is a direct result of the interactions with members in a mastermind group,” claimed Walker.

For many, the term “mastermind” is not familiar. In short, it is a peer advisory group. He likens it to a personal board of directors.

According to Walker, masterminds require deep relational trust. These groups become most valuable when “people let that veil down, that façade, and then you really get to see who’s there … until I’ve spent some time with you, you really shouldn’t listen to much advice that I have to offer.”

To hear more about masterminds and how to find people who will challenge you and support your efforts to improve your life, listen to the full interview with Aaron Walker on the Life as Leadership Podcast with Josh Friedeman. Walker shares more about how he got involved with Ramsey and other impressive people, how you can get involved in a mastermind and some of the resources he has developed to help you start your own.

Want another great way to improve your leadership? Check out the FREE Leadership Action List for a year’s worth of weekly action steps you can take to become a better leader. {eoa}

Josh Friedeman is a leadership coach with a mission to help leaders live and lead well. He is in the process of completing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Regent University and hosts the Life as Leadership podcast on the Charisma Podcast Network. Connect with Josh via email: [email protected].