# Mastermind Group > Designs mastermind group structures with member selection, meeting formats, hot seat protocols, and accountability systems. - Skill: `reaperinvest/mastermind-group` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/mastermind-group` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/mastermind-group/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/mastermind-group --- # 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.