Pre Session Considerations - Coaching and/or Training

Steve Roesler over at All Things Workplace has two wonderful recent posts:

Trainers: Six Questions to Ask Before the Session and

Seven Elements of Effective Coaching

Combined the two are really key reminders and considerations for coaches moving into the group, and/or team coaching environments.

Thanks Steve for the reminders!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Phone:(416) 996-8326

Executive Coaching and Nonprofits

A large part of my early career as a manager was in the non-profit sector, and as such I continue to be interested in, and work to support a number of non-profit clients.

Many coaches wonder about the impact of the economy on executive coaching. Here's an interesting article first published in CharityVillage.com's weekly newlsetter on Executive Coaching: Another Tool in the Toolbox in Nonprofits, written by Elisa Burnbaum. There are some good examples of how coaching is being used in non-profits, as well as underscoring the win-win nature of coaching for organization and client.

Another recent book has come out has come out from Wiley on Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Managers and Leaders : Developing People to Achieve Your Mission from Judith Wilson and Michelle Gislason. I have not read it myself but looks like a great resource for nonprofit managers and leaders.

What other books have you recently read about coaching that you've enjoyed? I will be updating my Amazon booklist shortly so stay tuned.

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll free: 1-866-217-1960
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

12 Tips for Engaging Your Virtual Audience

Keeping Your Clients Engaged Virtually is a key consideration when leading phone, or web based programs. Without the visual cues of the face to face world, it's difficult to know what participants are "up to" throughout the process.

As more and more trainers, coaches and speakers move to the virtual environment, as well as professionals leading meetings in their virtual environment, it's important to give thought about the envrionment you are creatin virtually. Here are 12 quick tips to keep your virtual audience more engaged.

12 Key Ways to engage participants in the virtual world:
- Start your call with a check –in so everyone is heard
- Take a pause every 7-10 minutes and see how everyone is doing
- Vary your approach in delivery – ask questions, provide a mini-lecture/teach piece
- Ask participants questions
- Complete short exercises by phone (i.e. Mindmapping, vision question, drawing)
- Note who is contributing and who is not
- Check in regularly with how the pulse of the group is going
- Start on time and end on time. Creating an environment where you see that your time is valued, helps to keep people on track
- Provide a clear direction of where you are going
- Create ground rules at start
- Encourage everyone to be off mute and engaged throughout the call
- Look at different roles group members can take (time keeper, scribe etc)


What additional tips or approaches do you have for keeping people engaged during phone based, or web-based, calls?

Have a great start to the week!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CHRP
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Phone: (416) 996-TEAM (8326)
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

CSTD/IFTDO Conference Wrap Up

I had a great time last week attending, and speaking at the IFTDO/CSTD Annual Conference. Thanks to all who turned out for my presentation on Group Coaching: A Method to Support Organizational Performance. There were about 80 coaches and learning professionals who attended the session I co-facilated with co-faciltiator, Maureen Clarke of the Blueprint Group. We had a lot of fun and hope that you did too.

It was wonderful reconnecting in person with colleagues from the learning profession across North America, while renewing my thirst for knowledge. Some of my favorite sessions were facilitiated by:

Christie Sterns of Training Makes Cents
Harold Stolovitch of who talked about research and performance improvement
Jane Bozarth who spoke on Instructional Design for the Real World
as well as some of the really innovative training via technology that is coming out of UHN from Heather Pollex and Anya Wood.

When was the last time you participated in some professional development? I look forward to meeting up with a number of you in December in Orlando for the 2009 ICF Conference. I will be presenting a session on Group Coaching: Essential Habits and Innovative Approaches on Saturday Decmeber 5th in the afternoon as part of the program. I hope that you will join me if you are attending!

Have a terrrific week - more to follow on tidbits and bytes gleaned last week.

Warmly
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPT
Group Coaching Essentials
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{com}

The date of the next, and last, Group Coaching Essentials program for 2009 has been shifted to start one week later on Monday November 9th at 12noon (ET). If you are wanting to create and launch your own group coacing work in the new year, now is a great ime to get started. Several spaces still remain in November's lunchtime session. Contact me for more details or click here. Session dates and times are: Mondays 12 - 1:15 pm (ET): Monday November 9, 16, 30, December 7 plus early January

7 Reasons to Co-Facilitate Group Coaching

Many coaches ask if co-facilitation is recommended when working with groups and teams. Throughout the years I have enjoyed great co-facilitation experiences, and for the most part today, whenever I undertake in-person work with large groups, co-facilitation is a must. Even with smaller groups, in more intensive interactions, such as team coaching, co-faciliation is my preference.

Here are seven reasons why co-facilitation makes great sense:

1. When working with larger groups, it makes it much easier to keep an eye on the group process;
2. The diverse styles many co-facilitators bring, allow for connections with different participants. Not everyone resonates, and connects, the same way with each facilitator;
3. Two heads are often better than one in terms of creativity and new idea generation;
4. Even if group process is running smoothly, it is useful for the "other facilitator" to keep an eye on logistical details (i.e. meals, materials, set up) if they are not leading an exercise;
5. It's easier to take note of outcomes and accountabilities, when you are not leading the discussion;
6. The energy created amongst co-facilitators can help you ride through the peaks and valleys of energy throughout the day;
7. It can be a lot more fun as you hopefully have created a partnership that you can lean into.

What are your reasons why you like to co-facilitate?

A bonus chapter of my book, Effective Group Coaching, is all about Co-facilitation and will be chock full of more tips and questions to consider when co-facilitating. Stay tuned for more details, and take note to circle back in January when the book is launched.

Have a great week and do check out earlier posts I've written about co-facilitation and what to consider.

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CPT
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Email info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com
Phone: (416) 996-TEAM (8326)

This month's Group Coaching Essentials program starts Tuesday October 13th at 7pm (Eastern). Join me and gain valuable tips, tools, resources and exercises for your own group coaching work. There are still 3 spaces available. The program is also accredited for 6.25 CCEs (Continuing Coach Education Units) by the ICF for those ACCs, PCCs, and MCCs needing to recertify (including 4.25 hours of Core Competencies). Give me a call at (416) 996-8326 if you are ready to add group coaching to your offerings and want to get started right away!

Join Me in Toronto on October 21st

I hope that you may join me here in Toronto on October 21st at 2 pm, when I will be presenting
Group Coaching: A Method to Support Organizational Performance at this year's CSTD/IFTIDO Annual Conference.

I will be co-presenting with colleague, Maureen Clarke. In addition to a very interactive session where you will be getting to explore how you can use group coaching to support your organizational performance, I will also be sharing some insights from how group coaching is impacting organizations across North America. Maureen will also be sharing some of her own research around how group coaching has impacted organizations.

Many of you will know that I was busy this summer writing Effective Group Coaching which will be published by Pfeiffer-Wiley in January 2010. I will be sharing some of the insights gathered from my research during my presentation next month. I hope that you can join me!

For more information on this year's CSTD/IFTDO conference, please visit http://www.cstd.ca. More information will be coming soon about pre-launch book information. Stay tuned!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CPT
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com
Phone: (416) 996-TEAM (8326)

New Start Dates: Group Coaching Essentials: October and November

I'm pleased to announce that we've just added three new start dates for the Group Coaching Essentials program this fall.

Choose from one of the three new sessions that will be starting soon:

Fridays from 12 - 1:15 pm (ET): October 2, 9, 16, 23 plus 5th call (3 spaces still available)

Tuesdays 7-8:30 pm (ET): October 13, 27, Nov 3 and 10 plus 5th call (5 spaces open)

Mondays 12 - 1:15 pm (ET): November 2, 9, 16 and 30 plus 5th call (Just added)

This program is designed for coaches who are looking to design, market and implement their own group coaching programs, and are looking for tools, resources and exercises to support their work.

Program size is limited as this is a hands-on, interactive program. The program is also accredited for 6.25 hours of Continuing Coach Education Units by the ICF, ideal for those needing to recertify their ACC, PCC or MCC.

Click here for more information about the program or to register.

Questions? Please drop me an email or give me a call.

I hope that you will join us this fall!

Warm regards,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CPT

Group Coaching Essentials

Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com