For the next three months, I’m facilitating a mastermind group hosted by SageCircle for the Association for Analyst Relations Partnership. Each week, one person is in the ‘hot seat’, and the whole group focuses most of its time on discussing one of that person’s key objectives.
For many people, it’s their first time getting deep feedback from expert peers in another organizational setting. So, I’m sharing these tips to give a better sense of the hot seat experience, and how to make the most of it.
Let me break it down for you:
- What Is the Hot Seat?
- The hot seat is where a member of the mastermind group gets to be in the spotlight.
- During this session, the group dedicates the majority of their time and attention to the person in the hot seat.
- It’s an opportunity for the individual to share their specific problems, challenges, or issues they are currently facing.
- Harnessing Collective Wisdom:
- When you’re in the hot seat, the group taps into their collective wisdom, experience, and knowledge to help you.
- Members offer advice, suggestions, recommendations, resources, or specific assistance based on their expertise.
- How It Works:
- The facilitator selects a member to be in the spotlight for a set amount of time (e.g., 20 minutes).
- The person in the hot seat discusses a specific goal, a current challenge, and the desired outcome or clarity they seek.
- The rest of the group actively participates by providing insights and solutions.
- Are You Ready for the Hot Seat?
- To benefit fully from the hot seat, consider the following:
- Comfort: You should feel comfortable with the group, as you’ll be sharing personal information.
- Openness: Be prepared for constructive feedback and a little tough love.
- Significance: The problem you bring to the hot seat should be important enough to you that you genuinely want it solved.
- To benefit fully from the hot seat, consider the following:
- Maximizing Your Hot Seat Experience:
- Secure Your Spot: Ask the group if you can be the person in the hot seat for the next session.
- Preparation: Write down the specific topic or questions you want to discuss.
- Focus Areas:
- What’s Working (Keep): Consider strategies or services that are currently effective.
- What’s Not Working (Stop): Identify roadblocks or challenges.
- What You Want to Achieve (Start): Seek help in areas where you need support.
Remember, the hot seat is one of the most valuable aspects of being in a mastermind group, so embrace it fully to reap the maximum benefits!
