---
name: mastermind-group
description: "Designs mastermind group structures with member selection, meeting formats, hot seat protocols, and accountability systems."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Mastermind Group

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Design a mastermind group structure with clear meeting formats and protocols
- Create member selection criteria and application processes
- Build hot seat frameworks and accountability systems for peer groups
- Launch a paid or free mastermind as a product or community offering

**DO NOT** use this skill for coaching programs, mentorship programs, or online courses. This is for peer-driven mastermind groups where members learn from each other, not from a single instructor.

---

## Core Principle

A MASTERMIND IS NOT A GROUP COACHING CALL — IT IS A PEER ADVISORY BOARD WHERE EVERY MEMBER BOTH GIVES AND RECEIVES, AND THE FACILITATOR'S JOB IS TO HOLD THE STRUCTURE, NOT TEACH THE CONTENT.

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Group purpose** | "What is the focus? (business growth, specific skill, industry, revenue level)" | Business growth for solopreneurs |
| **Group size** | "How many members?" | 6-8 members |
| **Meeting cadence** | "How often will the group meet?" | Bi-weekly, 90 minutes |
| **Duration** | "How long does the commitment last?" | 6 months |
| **Paid or free** | "Will members pay to participate?" | Paid ($200-500/month) |
| **Facilitated or peer-led** | "Will you facilitate, or will members rotate?" | Facilitator-led |

**GATE: Confirm the brief before proceeding.**

---

## Phase 2: Design

### Member Selection

```
## Ideal Member Profile
- Revenue range: [$X to $Y — members should be within 2x of each other]
- Business stage: [Early, growth, scaling]
- Industry: [Same, adjacent, or mixed — define which]
- Commitment: [Available for all meetings, willing to do homework]
- Attitude: [Gives as much as they take, open to feedback]

## Application Questions
1. What is your current business and revenue?
2. What is your biggest business challenge right now?
3. What do you bring to a group? (expertise, connections, perspective)
4. Can you commit to [cadence] for [duration]?
5. Have you been in a mastermind before? What did you like or dislike?
```

### Meeting Format

```
## Standard Meeting Agenda (90 minutes)

**Opening Round (10 min)**
Each member shares: one win, one number, one word for how they are feeling

**Hot Seats (60 min)**
2-3 members per meeting, 20 minutes each:
- Member presents their challenge (5 min)
- Group asks clarifying questions (3 min)
- Group gives advice and ideas (10 min)
- Member states their commitment/next step (2 min)

**Accountability Review (10 min)**
Review commitments from the last meeting — did each member follow through?

**Closing Round (10 min)**
Each member states one takeaway and one action item for the next two weeks
```

### Hot Seat Protocol

```
## Hot Seat Rules
1. The hot seat member speaks first — no interruptions during their 5-minute setup
2. Questions before advice — understand the problem before solving it
3. Be direct but respectful — sugarcoating helps no one
4. Offer frameworks, not just opinions — "Have you tried X approach?" beats "I think you should..."
5. The hot seat member decides what advice to take — no pressure to implement everything
6. Confidentiality is absolute — what is shared in the hot seat stays in the group
```

**GATE: Present the design for approval.**

---

## Phase 3: Build

### Deliverables

1. **Member welcome packet** — expectations, schedule, communication guidelines, hot seat prep template
2. **Meeting facilitation guide** — minute-by-minute agenda, transition scripts, time management tips
3. **Hot seat preparation form** — template members fill out before their hot seat
4. **Accountability tracker** — shared document tracking commitments and follow-through
5. **Group agreement** — confidentiality, attendance, participation standards

### Hot Seat Prep Form

```
## Hot Seat Preparation

**Your challenge in one sentence:**
**Background context (3-4 sentences):**
**What you have already tried:**
**What kind of help you want:** (Brainstorming / Feedback / Accountability / Connections)
**Ideal outcome from this hot seat:**
```

### Group Agreement

```
## Mastermind Group Agreement

By joining this group, I commit to:
- Attending [X]% of scheduled meetings (minimum [Y] of [Z])
- Arriving on time and staying for the full session
- Preparing for my hot seat using the prep form
- Keeping all group discussions confidential
- Giving honest, constructive feedback to fellow members
- Following through on my stated commitments
- Communicating in advance if I must miss a meeting

Violation of confidentiality or repeated no-shows will result in removal from the group.
```

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### 1. Launch Sequence

```
## Mastermind Launch Plan
**Week -4:** Open applications, promote to your audience
**Week -2:** Review applications, select members, send invitations
**Week -1:** Onboarding call — introductions, expectations, schedule distribution
**Week 1:** First official meeting — light hot seats, focus on relationship building
**Month 1-2:** Build rhythm with regular meetings
**Month 3:** Mid-point check-in — is the group working? Adjust format if needed
**Month 6:** Close the cohort — celebrate wins, collect feedback, offer renewal
```

### 2. Facilitation Tips

- Start on time even if someone is late — respect the people who showed up
- Keep strict time on hot seats — use a visible timer
- Redirect tangents with: "That is a great topic for your hot seat next time"
- Call on quiet members: "Sarah, what is your take on this?"
- End every meeting with stated commitments — accountability is the product

### 3. Health Metrics

```
## Track Monthly
- Attendance rate (target: 85%+)
- Hot seat utilization (are all members using their turns?)
- Commitment follow-through rate (target: 70%+)
- Member satisfaction (anonymous monthly pulse check)
- Renewal intent (ask at month 4)
```

---

## Example 1: Revenue-Focused Solopreneur Mastermind

```
Members: 6 solopreneurs earning $5K-$15K/month
Cadence: Bi-weekly, 90 minutes on Zoom
Price: $300/month, 6-month commitment
Format: 2 hot seats per meeting, rotating schedule
Focus: Revenue growth, offer optimization, systems
```

## Example 2: Free Community Mastermind

```
Members: 8 members from an online community
Cadence: Monthly, 2 hours
Price: Free (community benefit)
Format: 3 hot seats per meeting, peer-facilitated (rotating leader)
Focus: General business challenges, peer support
```

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Too many members** — above 10, the group becomes an audience, not a mastermind. Keep it intimate.
- **No hot seat structure** — without a protocol, hot seats become rambling conversations. Use the prep form and timer.
- **Revenue mismatch** — a member earning $2K/month has different challenges than one earning $50K/month. Keep members within 2-3x of each other.
- **No accountability tracking** — if commitments are not revisited, members stop making them. Review every meeting.
- **Facilitator doing all the advising** — the group should advise. The facilitator manages time, energy, and structure.
- **No confidentiality agreement** — members will not share real challenges if they fear their business details will spread.

---

## Recovery

- **Not enough applicants:** Lower the barrier to entry or offer a free trial meeting. One great meeting sells the group better than any marketing.
- **One member dominates:** Use the timer and redirect. If it continues, have a private conversation about participation norms.
- **Group energy drops after month 2:** Introduce a new element — guest expert, off-site meeting, or goal sprint challenge.
- **Member wants to leave early:** Allow graceful exits with 30-day notice. Do not force commitment — a disengaged member drags the group down.
- **User has never facilitated:** Provide the facilitation guide with word-for-word scripts for the first 3 meetings until they find their rhythm.
