Thursday, February 26, 2009

New Truths about Customers/Clients

There continues to be alot of buzz in the coaching industry about the impact of these economic changes. Some coaches are finding their business dropping dramatically, others surging, and many are repositioning and adding addtional offerings such as team and group coaching. What's happening with your business?

There was a great article in today's Profit Magazine Online entitled "7 New Truths About Your Customer". You can access it here.

The article states:
"Accenture suggests three keys to respond to this: know your customers, by conducting customer-segmentation analysis to reveal their preferences and predict their behaviour; reach your customers, by interacting with them through channels such as blogs, social media and company discussion boards; and tailor your service to deliver a compelling customer experience based on what you’ve learned by knowing and reaching your customers."

For those of you who have taken either my Group Coaching Essentials program, or the 90 Day Biz Success program, you will know that I am very passionate about challenging coaches to look at the business side of the work they do. It is the former Business Faculty lecturer in me! Knowing your customer (or client) and leveraging technology to build your platform and spread the word about what you have to offer is continues to be a key success strategy.

I hope that you will click on over to the article and see what juicy nuggets you can harvest for your own business.

Have a great day!

Warmly
Jenn

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Registration just opened this morning for the next 90 Day BizSuccess Program which will start on Tuesday April 7th at 10:30 am (ET). Ready to take your business to the next level with a 3 month focus, some new tools and support?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Considering Co-Facilitation?

It's interesting that one of the themes I am being asked a lot about this winter is around co-facilitation approaches for team and group coaching.

For those of you looking for some tips on how to approach co-facilitation, I want to invite you to take a look back at some of the posts I've written in the past on the topic of co-facilitation here.

Is co-facilitation always essential - No. But co-facilitation brings a number of benefits, especially if:
  • Your group of team size is large
  • You want to be able to provide altnerative perspectives and voices as facilitators
  • You want to ensure that the faciilitation team brings a mix of expertise (prehaps industry experience and/or subject matter experience in addition to facilitation experience)
  • You want to provide a variety of styles/approaches

From my experience, one of the most important ingredients to successful co-faciliation work is taking the time upfront (i.e. before you design your work, and before you are in front of a group or team!) to design your own relationship. Many of the posts from 2008 around co-facilitation address this very issue.

What have been the success factors which have led to great co-facilitation work on your part? What are your co-facilitation questions? As always, please feel free to comment below!

Warmly

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC

Group Coaching Essentials

Mobile: (416) 996-TEAM (8326)

Friday, February 13, 2009

Group Coaching Essentials starts Tuesday at 12 noon (ET)

Looking to launch your own group coaching program this spring?

Just a quick reminder that the next Group Coaching Essentials program starts Tuesday Feb 18th at 12noon (ET)by phone. We'll be meeting on Tuesdays from 12-1:15 pm(EST) on Feb 17, 24, March 10 and 17, as well as for a fifth call in May (5th call to be scheduled at a date convenient to the group).

If you are looking to develop your own group coaching program this spring and summer and are not looking to reinvent the wheel . If you want a supportive environment to boost your momentum, and add onto your toolkit in terms of resources, templates and exercises for group coaching, I hope that you will consider joining me next week.

The program covers:
* The Foundation of Group Coaching – What is Group Coaching, Best Practices of Group Coaching, and Adult Learning Principles
* The Nuts and Bolts of Developing Group Coaching – Making Your Program Development Fun and Effective: Technical issues, Techniques and Templates for Developing and Running Your Program
* Marketing Group Coaching – Knowing Your Audience, General Marketing Principles and Materials
* Filling Up Your Toolbox – Exercises and Other Resources for Group Coaching

Included in your program registration are:
* 5 x 75 minute teleclasses;
* The 85 page Group Coaching Essentials manual;
* * Pre and post course 1-1s with me;
* Lazer 1-1 sessions from me as needed throughout the program (at no extra cost - value $400).

Cost: $275US or Canadian.

The Group Coaching Essentials program is a very interactive, intimate teleseminar program. Program size is limited to ensure maximum attention. Most coaches complete the program with at least one, and sometimes two, new group coaching designs and marketing ideas.

You can register online, email me at info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com, or give me a call at (416) 996-TEAM (8326) to register.

I look forward to having you join me!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials

Can't make this month's date? The April program is starting to fill quickly. April's session will be held on Monday's from 7-8:15 pm (ET) on April 6, 20, 27 and May 4 (plus a 5th call in June).

Thursday, February 05, 2009

CoachCards Resurrected

I just read Andrea J. Lee's newsletter's and she's annnounced the return of a blast from the past. Many of you may remember the fantastic free ecards formerly known as CoachCards. When I was starting out as a coach I remember loving the fact that I was able to select from these beautiful ecards and send them out to my clients. My clients loved them too.

CoachCards has been resurrected and can now be found at ThomasCards.com in honor of Thomas J. Leonard of Coachville.

Click on over -- the cards are free and a great way to reach out quickly to your clients, colleagues and others!

Enjoy!

Jenn

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials
(416) 996-TEAM (8326)
info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Expand Your Reach: Tips for Group (and Team) Coaching

The recording from the February 3 2009 Expand Your Reach: Tips for Group (and Team) Coaching call is now available. You will be able to listen to it for the rest of February 2009 by dialing into:

Playback Dial-in Number: 1-218-339-2651 (Midwest)
Playback Access Code: 241201

Callers are responsible for their own long distance charges to connect with the bridgeline. Length: 45 minutes

Do enjoy listening!

Warmly
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCCC
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Phone: (416) 996-8326

Thanks for lunch!

Just a quick post to thank those coaches who joined me today for the ICF-GTA Practice Talks call, where I presented on Expand Your Reach: Tips for Group and Team Coaching. We not only had coaches from Toronto but also the US. It was great to have you on the line. Note the ICF GTA Practice Talks are held the first Tuesday of each Month from 12-12:45 pm (ET). Mark it down! I'll be presenting again on May 5th on Building Your Platform - Using Blogs, Social Media and More!

The recording for our lunch call today is not yet ready (and might be a victim of mercury in retrograde), so I'll invite you to listen to my December call - 9 Tips for Great 2009 Programs. You can listen to the first part of it here, if you haven't listened to it yet.

Some of the key topics we spoke about today were:
What is group coaching?
How does it differ from 1-1 coaching? From workshops?
What forms does group coaching take?
How do you fill your programs?
Tips and tools for your own program design

Wanting more information on group coaching or want to launch your own program? Please consider joining me for this month's Group Coaching Essentials program starting on FEB 17th (Tuesdays from 12 - 1:15 pm ET, Feb 17, 24, March 10, 17 and a call in April). Click here for more info and to register. Space is limited to 6-8 coaches.

Warmly
Jenn

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CHRP
Potentials Realized
Phone: (416) 996-TEAM
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

Monday, February 02, 2009

February Programs: Group Coaching, Business Growth, Exercises


If you are looking to enhance your business success this month, or looking to expand your work into the area of group coaching or team work, I hope that you will consider joining me for one of our February programs.


This month's program line-up includes:

Group Coaching Essentials - Tuesdays from 12 - 1:15 pm (ET)/9-10:15 am (PT)

Starts Tuesday February 17th. Calls held on Feb 17, 24, March 10, 17 plus a 5th call in April 09(date set by group).

This program is designed for coaches who want to expand their work to the group coaching environment. The program is a resource-rich, interactive program focusing in on the design, marketing and implementation of your own group coaching program. Packed with tips, tools and templates to make your process easier, this program includes 5 calls, 1-1 lazer sessions with JEnnifer, and an 80 page manual. Space is limited to 6-8 coaches as it is a hands-on, interactive proram. Click here for more information or to register.


Engaging Exercises for Teams and Groups: Friday February 20th from 9-10:30 am (ET)

This 1.5 hour teleseminar focuses in on exercises you can use during your next workshop, retreat, team or group coaching program. Participants also receive an electronic copy of the Engaging Exercises for Teams and Groups Manual. Cost: $59 US.

For more information or to register, click here.


Group Program Design Virtual Intensive: Saturday Feb 21 and 28 (1-4 pm ET) both days

When was the last time you carved out 6 hours to focus on your group program design work? Join me for a six hour Virtual Intensive where we will move from program idea to skeleton. the focus of this program is on getting into action! For more information, click here. Cost: $125 US


90 Day BizSuccess program: Tuesdays from 4-5 pm ET starting February 24, 2009

Designed for service based business owners (coaches, consultants and trainers) this program provides you with 90 days (3 months) of focus, support, accountability and tools for your business success success.


Some of the topics we cover include:
* Creating a Powerful Vision and RoadMap for Your Business
* Busting through Limiting Beliefs about your business
* Essential Business Systems (budgets, marketing plans etc)
* Leveraging Your Time and Network
* Social Networking 101: Twitter, Blogging, Facebook - Make it work for you!

This 3 month group coaching program for business owners includes 2 group calls per month, a 15 minute lazer coaching session each month, the rich BizSuccess manual bursting with resources and systems for your business, as well as 3x a week Biz Tips delivered to your inbox. Cost: $347 US for the 3 month program. Click here to register.

Group Call Dates: February 24, March 10, 24, April 7, 21, May 5th and 19th. Final Call on May 26th, 09.


Questions, want more info or want to register offline? Please give me a call at (416) 996-8326 or drop me an email.


I look forward to having you join me.


Warmly

Jennifer


Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC

Group Coaching Essentials

Potentials Realized