Masterminds for Autistic People Need to Be Different!
Traditionally, Mastermind sessions put a person in "the hot seat" where they get peppered with critiques, tough questions and variations on their ideas intended to challenge their ideas and help them move forward.
We'll have none of that in the Autistic Business Network. Frankly, some participants in typical sessions sometimes seemed unnecessarily rough on the person in the "hot seat." And I've seen people focusing more on showing how smart they are, rather than clearly focusing on the needs of the person seeking advice.
So we're changing things up. First. we're trading in the name of "hot seat" and we're going to call it the "support seat." Anyone seeking assistance from others can ask to be in the support seat. Ideally, we'll have one, two or three people in each session who would like some input from others in the group.
Here's what else will make our Masterminds different:
- We will have a standardized agenda, which should help reduce anxiety for all of us.
- Participants voluntarily ask for input and no one is pressured to give input.
- Cameras are optional for all of us.
- Chat is welcome along with spoken comments.
- Anyone can turn on live captions as needed.
- Brief check-ins are optional, with no pressure to make long speeches.
- The person seeking specifies the input they want, and determine when they have enough input (within time constraints).
- Clarifying questions help improve collective understanding. Yes-and additive thinking helps foster positive energy.
- We will end on time to help us all manage our cognitive load.
Standard Agenda (60 Minutes)
- Opening: Agenda and operating agreement — 4 minutes
- Check-in round — 6 minutes
- Main work — 42 minutes
- Step 1 — Person in support seat frames the topic they want help with.
- Step 2 — Participants ask clarifying questions
- Step 3 — Participants offer “yes-and” ideas
- Step 4 — Participants provide feedback (if requested)
- Step 5 — Person in support seat recaps their takeaways from the session
- Closing round -- 8 minutes
Pre-Set Operating Agreements
- We respect each other's privacy and keep information shared in our sessions confidential.
- We ask clarifying questions before offering anything else.
- We use "yes-and: thinking so we build on ideas, not critique.
- We offer opinions and feedback only when explicitly requested by the person who is in the support seat.
- Pass is always an option for any prompt, any round, any moment.
- We do not interrupt; the facilitator manages turn-taking.
- We start and end on time.
We look forward to active and fun engagement in our Mastermind sessions!