Group Coaching: Ins and Outs

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

A: Approaches in Group Coaching - The A-Z of Group Coaching

As we approach our 19^th anniversary business celebrations what better time to start our 26-blog post

series, “The A-Z of Group Coaching Essentials.”

Having written the first book on Group Coaching, “Effective Group Coaching” in 2009, this series highlights the best practices Jennifer Britton (Founder and CEO of Potentials Realized) has both written and taught in Group CoachingEssentials (5-week course with 8.75 CCEs with ICF) for the last 19 years.

Let’s jump in.

Regardless if you are a new or seasoned group coach, reviewing various approaches when working with groups brings fresh, new ways of engaging your groups to support participants in realizing their goals; and you fulfilling the program goals and promises. It’s finally spring (YAY!!!!), and what better time for you (regardless if you are a new or seasoned group coach) to revisit approaches and bring fresh, new ways of engaging your groups in support of participants realizing their goals; and you fulfilling on the program goals and promises.

In her book “From One to Many: Best Practices for Team andGroup Coaching” (celebrating ten years of publication this year), Jennifer shares that regardless of the type of group/team coaching you offer: teleclass, group coaching, webinar, or retreat- there are different approaches to facilitating a group conversation.

Understanding that different groups will have different needs, it’s essential and valuable to be ready and adaptable to use various approaches to fulfill program and participant goals.

Some of the common approaches used in group coaching include:

Laser coaching
Fieldwork: pre-work/post-work
Individual reflection
Peer coaching
Body-centered coaching, somatic coaching, or using geography

The following are questions for you to consider based on the group you are working with and trying to decide on the approach to incorporate:

What are the fundamental needs and focus areas of this group?
What supports the group in setting better goals?
What supports the group in deepening awareness around issues of importance to them (individually or collectively)
What supports the group to take action towards their identified goals?
What is the role of accountability and commitment within this group?
What does the group value in terms of approaches? Is it individual reflection, Small group conversation? Laser coaching? Conversation with a partner? Other?

For further resources on this topic, check out the books referenced in this blog post. In addition, consider joining us in an upcoming ICF-CCE approved Group Coaching training program where we explore this topic more deeply.

Enjoy!

Jennifer and Evana

Group Coaching Essentials

Our award-winning ICF-CCE approved training programs have been taken by thousands of coaches since 2006. Join us for coursework leading you to the new ACTC (Advanced Credential in Team Coaching) or complete our 70 or 125 hour Certificates in Team or Group Coaching.

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What is your unique style as a coach? Take 2-minutes to complete the Group and Team Coaching Superpower Quiz. You can find it at https://bit.ly/gtcoachingsuperpower. Share your style using the comments below and/or follow along on Instagram at our CoachingBizBuilder site.

Join us for an upcoming program including:

Coaching Diverse Teams and Groups using the Work Styles - Tuesdays 645 - 8 am ET starting March 21 (14 CCEs) - Widen your toolkit for working with diverse styles in teams and groups in this 6 week program based on the Hybrid Work Styles. WE also explore Coaching for Creativity and Innovation. This is course 5 in the 70 hour Certificate in Team Coaching Program.

Group Coaching Essentials - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET starting March 31 running to late April- 8.75 CCEs

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum - 10 CCEs - Fridays 1230 - 145 pm ET: March 24 (6 weeks) with Jennifer or later in January Mondays 12 - 130pm ET with Evana starting January 30th

Team Coaching Essentials (14 CCEs) - Being asked to coach teams? Equip yourself with the foundations of this quickly evolving field. This program is grounded in our From One to Many methodology PLUS what works right now in today's evolving workspace. 6 week program on Mondays 12 - 130 pm ET starting early May with Kathy

ACTIVATE your Group and Team Coaching Superpowers (14 CCEs) - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET starting March 24 with Jennifer (6 weeks) - January 13, 20, 27, February 3, 10, 17 - Course 4 in the pathway (catch up on call #1 with the recording)

Coaching Supervision Group (Small group format) - Thursdays 12 - 130 pm ET first week of the month each month (to June 2023) OR book a call to explore individual coaching supervision.

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

State of the Union 3.0 with Team and Group Coaching

In December an article I had written for choice magazine was featured in their latest quarterly publication - Team and Group Coaching in an Evolving World. This article, "State of the Union 3.0 -

Team and Group Coaching" was the third time I had written a feature article for choice in the last 5 or 6 years.

Download the article here.

In the article, I covered six core influences on team and group coaching at this moment in time (late 2022 and early 2023), including:

1. Paradigm Shifts

2. Systems Approaches

3. The need for belonging

4. Trust, safety and connection

5. Teaming

6. Adaptive and emerging models

Several of these I explore further in my latest writing - Reconnecting Workspaces, especially chapters 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 and the 21 chapter myths and paradigms.

I shared more about these six influences on team and group coaching in our December 2022 19th annual Year End Holiday party.

Tune in here and check out the first 30 minutes of the call:

I then enjoyed sitting down with Garry Schlieffer to talk further about this on his Beyond the Page Podcast. The episode should be coming out soon and I will share it when it is ready.

What are you seeing as some of the new influences on your work as a group and team coach?

Certainly the new ACTC from ICF - Advanced Credential in Team Coaching - will jettison us forward within this part of our profession. If you haven't caught the recent calls I've hosted on the ACTC and how we are supporting coaches through our new Team Coaching Certificates, check out my December call on the new ACTC:

What are you doing to learn more and scale more conversations with teams and groups? Curious about what it can look like for you? Set up a call.

Enjoy!

Jennifer

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What is your unique style as a coach? Take 2-minutes to complete the NEW Group and Team Coaching Superpower Quiz. You can find it at https://bit.ly/gtcoachingsuperpower. Share your style using the comments below and/or follow along on Instagram at our CoachingBizBuilder site.

Join us for an upcoming program including:

Coaching Diverse Teams and Groups using the Work Styles - Wednesdays 230 - 345pm ET (14 CCEs): January 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 2, 2023 (14 CCEs) - Widen your toolkit for working with diverse styles in teams and groups in this 6 week program based on the Hybrid Work Styles. WE also explore Coaching for Creativity and Innovation. This is course 5 in the 70 hour Certificate in Team Coaching Program.

Group Coaching Essentials -Mondays 130-245pm ET starting January 30th OR Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET starting February 17 running to late March - 8.75 CCEs

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum - 10 CCEs - Fridays 1230 - 145 pm ET: January 13 - mid-Feb (6 weeks) with Jennifer or later in January Mondays 12 - 130pm ET with Evana starting January 30th

ACTIVATE your Group and Team Coaching Superpowers (14 CCEs) - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET starting January 9th with Jennifer (6 weeks) - January 13, 20, 27, February 3, 10, 17 - Course 4 in the pathway (catch up on call #1 with the recording)

Coaching Supervision Group (Small group format) - Thursdays 12 - 130 pm ET first week of the month each month (to June 2023) OR book a call to explore individual coaching supervision.

The Coaching Biz Growth Lab is an annual group which meets bi-weekly throughout the year, focusing on your coaching business development. WE meet the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month throughout 2023 for group calls, plus 12 special monthly events like Get it Done Days, month end planning and design sprints. Cost per month is only $250 US/month. Click here to learn more and register

Check out our full schedule for January programs which begin the week of January 9th at GroupCoachingEssentials.ca.

Join us for the new Certificate in Team Coaching - 70 and 125 hour pathways.

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Group Coaching Core Essentials #18 - Ask for Feedback

This year here at the Group Coaching Ins and Outs blog we've shared 18 core Group Coaching

foundational tips in honor of our 18th Anniversary Celebrations here at Potentials Realized. It's hard to believe some days that it's been 18 years supporting coaches with their group and team programming, as well as delivering our own work with groups and teams. Our final in this year's 18 for 18 series - #18 is Ask for Feedback.

Here's what Evana who leads the Group Coaching Essentials program shares about Asking For Feedback

Ask for Feedback

Feedback is an invaluable element to include in your programs. Feedback supports group coaches to improve their programs and leadership as group coaches continuously. Whether you are a new or seasoned coach (or group coach), receiving feedback is a best practice that should be solicited and taken into consideration. Potentials Realized has been offering Group Coaching Essentials for sixteen years, and we still request feedback via a program evaluation after each program finishes.

What are your participants saying about the program, your material, and their met and unmet needs? This information is essential in terms of marketing and future program development.

Principle: Request feedback throughout the program and especially at the end of the program with an evaluation form, supporting you to learn if you delivered on your promise concerning integrating the four coaching elements.

Action: Receiving feedback directly from your participants will give you first-hand information to know what’s effective and what can be reviewed and modified to support you in delivering an even better program in the future.

Consider including questions on the following themes in your feedback form:

Questions about the program
Questions about logistics
Questions about your coaching/facilitation
Questions on laser coaching (if included)
Relating to the four core elements (Goal-setting, Accountability, Awareness, and Action
Likelihood of Recommending program and Testimonials (with permission to use name or initials with profession) for marketing purposes

In addition, consider including the following:

Open-ended questions
Scale questions (1-5 Poor to Excellent) questions to assess satisfaction level with a series of options
Opportunity to stay connected (newsletter)

Ultimately, a great group coaching program is a coach who is willing to ask for feedback and adapt to participant needs and suggestions.

What feedback loops do you want to incorporate into your programming this year?

Best wishes,

Jennifer and Evana

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Join us for an upcoming program including:

Group Coaching Essentials - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET: January 13, 20, 27, February 4 and 11 (with Evana) - 8.75 CCEs

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum - 10 CCEs - Fridays 1230 - 145 pm ET: January 13 - mid-Feb (6 weeks) with Jennifer or later in January with Evana

Mentor Coaching Group - 10 hours Fridays 9-10 am ET: January 13 - April 13th with Jennifer or Mondays 1230 - 130 pm ET running January 9 - April 9. 4 spots open in each group. (For ACC renewal or PCC)

ACTIVATE your Group and Team Coaching Superpowers (14 CCEs) - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET starting January 9th with Jennifer (6 weeks)

Coaching Supervision Group (Small group format) - Thursdays 12 - 130 pm ET January 12 with additional calls first week of the month (Jan to May) OR book a call to explore individual coaching supervision.

The Coaching Biz Growth Lab is an annual group which meets bi-weekly throughout the year, focusing on your coaching business development. WE kick off December 31st with a special bonus call, and will be meeting bi-weekly throughout 2023 for group calls, plus 12 special monthly events like Get it Done Days, month end planning and design sprints. Cost per month is only $250 US/month. Click here to learn more and register- 5 spots still open

Check out our full schedule for January programs which begin the week of January 9th at GroupCoachingEssentials.ca.

Join us for the new Certificate in Team Coaching - 70 and 125 hour pathways.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

2023 Vision Creation Session - Day 10 of the 12 Days of Celebrations

Welcome back to Day 10 of our 12 Days of Celebrations. Day 10 is one of my favorites - a link to the 2023 Vision Creation Session I held last month. This is an annual activity I host each November, and it's always amazing to hear how it supports coaches and other professionals in creating their vision for the new year.

Given that we are a few days away from the official start to 2023, I hope you will find 30 minutes today to grab a pen and follow along with these reflective prompts I share in the 2023 Vision session.

Here's the video:

Looking for support to make your 2023 Vision a reality? Join us throughout 2023 for the Coaching Biz Growth Lab, a bi-weekly coaching group that meets on Fridays between 11:35 - 12:20pm ET for focused conversation on your business. Each month we also meet for a special IMPLEMENTATION event - whether it's a four hour Get it Done Afternoon, OR a Design Sprint, or a monthly/quarterly reflection session - the program is geared to get you into Daily STEPS and CONSISTENT action, critical in a business context which is always changing.

There's a year end special rate on the CGBL until December 30th - save $500 US on the annual rate of $2997 US OR join us for $250 US a month. Click here to learn more and register.

Let's make 2023 your best year ever!

Jennifer

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Join us for an upcoming program including:

Group Coaching Essentials - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET: January 13, 20, 27, February 4 and 11 (with Evana) - 8.75 CCEs

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum - 10 CCEs - Fridays 1230 - 145 pm ET: January 13 - mid-Feb (6 weeks) with Jennifer or later in January with Evana

ACTIVATE your Group and Team Coaching Superpowers (14 CCEs) - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET starting January 9th with Jennifer (6 weeks)

Check out our full schedule for January programs which begin the week of January 9th at GroupCoachingEssentials.ca.

Join us for the new Certificate in Team Coaching - 70 and 125 hour pathways.

Friday, December 23, 2022

Holiday Party Replay - Team and Group Coaching - Day 9 - 12 Days of Celebrations

Welcome back to the 12 days of celebrations! As part of Day 9 of the 12 Days of Celebrations I am VERY pleased to share with you a reply to our Holiday Party. Now in it's 19th year, it's an annual tradition I look forward to.

This year we covered a range of topic areas including:

* 6 influences on team and group coaching this past year - taken from my most recent article for choice magazine, "State of the Union, 3.0" - See it in choice Volume 20, Edition 4

* What are your group and team coaching superpowers? Based on the Superpower quiz - take it now if you haven't already - it only takes 2 minutes and you'll get a cool report as well!

* Exploring the Experiential Process - What? So What? Now What? - as you go to reflect on the year, and set goals for the new year

* Coaching Supervision for coaches - whether you are a team coach, group coach or individual coach, we can all benefit from the reflective pause supervision offers.

* The new ICF Advanced Credential in Team Coaching (ACTC) and how our program pathways towards the 6 and 10 course Certificate in Team Coaching will support you in the journey.

The party ran for 3 hours and I hope you will enjoy it!

I'll be back next week with Days 10 - 12 as the Celebrations continue. What's been your favorite to far?

As we batten down the hatches here for the weekend holiday blizzard, have a good one!

With best wishes,

Jennifer

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WHAT is your unique style as a coach? Take 2-minutes to complete the NEW Group and Team Coaching Superpower Quiz. You can find it at https://bit.ly/gtcoachingsuperpower. Share your style using the comments below and/or follow along on Instagram at our CoachingBizBuilder site.

Join us for an upcoming program including:

Group Coaching Essentials - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET: January 13, 20, 27, February 4 and 11 (with Evana) - 8.75 CCEs

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum - 10 CCEs - Fridays 1230 - 145 pm ET: January 13 - mid-Feb (6 weeks) with Jennifer

Team Coaching Supervision (Small group format) - Thursdays 12 - 130 pm ET January 12 with additional calls first week of the month (Jan to May) OR book a call to explore individual coaching supervision.

Check out our full schedule for January programs which begin the week of January 9th at GroupCoachingEssentials.ca.

Monday, December 19, 2022

Marketing Downloads for Coaches - 12 Days of Celebrations - Day 8

I know that marketing is something that coaches often find distasteful

yet it's an essential part of business success. This is one of the many topics we explore at the Coaching Biz Growth Lab, a fun annual group which meets bi-weekly throughout the year. We explore all things marketing and business development as it relates to building a coaching business, whether you are working with clients 1-1, group or team.

Given the number of coaches who are focusing on marketing and planning at this time of year, I thought it would be valuable to share a couple of marketing resources for you:

#1 - Marketing One Pager - Use this quick worksheet (originally from the 21 for 21 Sprints) to explore the ins and outs of one of your offers for 2023. You might use it to think about a new program, a book, an offer Download it over at the CGBL information page.

#2 - 101 Marketing Ideas for Group and Team Programs - Stuck on how to get the word out? Use this to spur on some "Daily Steps + Consistent Action to generate MOMENTUM" (note the tagline from Coaching Business Builder (pick up digital copy of this resource for 2023 - Purchase and Download today for $29 US)

You'll also find the 101 Marketing Ideas over at the CGBL Information page.

We kick off the new year together on December 31st for a special CGBL 2023 kick off call - hope you will consider joining us. The discounted rate ends this Friday December 23rd for annual support rate of $2497 US or 12 installments of $250 US (what else can you get for that amount every month with today's shrinkflation). I hope you will consider joining us to focus on your business development during 2023. Check out the 2023 CGBL schedule OR Register now.

My top 5 tips for marketing for 2023:

#1 - Make a list of what you want to do to get the word out. Brainstorm. Think big.

#2 - Leverage your strengths. As we discuss in Group Coaching Essentials, leveraging your strengths is key. Not sure about this? Take the TEam and Group Coaching Superpower Quiz - it will give you some ideas of your natural "go to" as a coach. It only takes 2 minutes - https://bit.ly/gtcoachingsuperpower.

#3 - Think about what your clients WANT and PREFER. What are they looking for? What is going to support them? Where are they congregating?

#4 - Get out and have conversations. Whether we are virtual or physical, getting out for a conversation is critical for business success. What speaking you doing? What 1-1s are you hosting? Book a call with me or my team to talk about what kind of conversations you might have.

#5 - Create a plan. Whether you use the content pages or quarterly planners in Coaching Business Builder, or your own, create a plan. Make it visible. Make it consistent.

Enjoy the journey and be sure to check out the downloads -- there are some at the side of the CGBL program page, and some at the bottom. Hope you use them!

Jennifer

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Join us for an upcoming program including:

Group Coaching Essentials - Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET: January 13, 20, 27, February 4 and 11 (with Evana) - 8.75 CCEs

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum - 10 CCEs - Fridays 1230 - 145 pm ET: January 13 - mid-Feb (6 weeks) with Jennifer

Year End Business Planning Retreat - Wednesday December 21 - 1230 - 430 pm ET with Jennifer (4 spots open)

Check out our full schedule for January programs which begin the week of January 9th at GroupCoachingEssentials.ca.

SAVE THE DATE For our 19th Annual Holiday Party - 10 - 1 pm ET on Tuesday December 20th (virtual on zoom)! Everyone is invited to join us