Sunday, November 29, 2009

Join me Saturday at 2 pm at ICF Orlando Coference

Heading to Orlando this week for the ICF Conference? If so, I hope that you will join me for my breakout session on Saturday afternoon entitled: Group Coaching: Innovative Approaches and Essential Habits. It's going to be a very interactive session, designed to get you thinking about the role that group coaching can play in your work. You will also leave the session with some key tips for designing your own group coaching program.

Looking forward to seeing you in Orlando!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Phone: (416)996-8326

Friday, November 27, 2009

Upcoming December Programs: Group Coaching, Business Planning

I love the month of December - it's such a wonderful time of year to spend with family. I also always like to build in time to reflect on the year as it was,and get focused on the year ahead.

This year it seems like coaches are continuing to work hard, and are eager to create some time to focus in on making their program, and business, realities real for 2010.

This month I'm running three programs which I hope you will consider joining me for:

Group Coaching Essentials: 6.25 CCES: -- Accelerated Group by request
Starts December 11, 2009 (at 10:30 am ET)

Are you a coach wanting to design and run your own group coaching program? This program provides tips, tools and other resources to support coaches in designing, marketing and implmenting their own group coaching program.

This month, I'm offering an accelerated program for coaches who have decided that they want to start a group in January. Join me for this accelerated program with sessions on:
Session #1 - Friday Dec 11 (10:30 - 11:45 am ET)
Session #2 - Tuesday December 15 (10:30 - 11:45 ET)
Session #3 - Friday DEcember 18 (10:30 - 11:45 ET)
Session#4 - Tuesday December 22 (10:30 - 11:45 ET)
Session #5 - Friday January 8 (10:30 - 11:45 ET)

New session dates will also start in January (Tuesday mornings starting January 5th and evenings starting January 19th). Cost: $275 US.

Click here to register and reserver your spot for any of our upcoming Group Coaching Essentials programs.

Group Program Virtual Intensive
Wednesday December 9 and 16, 2009 (7-10 pm ET)

Are you looking to create some focused time to design your next group program? Have all the tools but haven't got around to doing it? Join me for this intensive 6 hour virtual retreat, where each hour has a different structured focus to move you swiftly forward with your programs. Past participants have used the program to: design core content, draft participant manuals, develop marketing text, create and act on checklists. The program includes the 6 hour virtual retreat (over two evenings) and an electronic manual complete with exercises for you to follow. Click here for more info and to register. Cost: $125 US.

2010 BizSuccess Virtual Business Planning Retreat
Friday December 11 and 18 (1-4 pm ET both days)
Are you a business owner - coach, trainer or consultant - that hasn't yet carved out the time to take a strategic look back at the year, and set some goals and a plan for 2010? It's not too late. Join me and a small group of other business owners as we move through a six hour structured process to focus in your business. This program involvesa series of short group calls and structured exercises undertaken offline at your office/home over the two afternoons. Registrants will get a retreat manual to follow along, full of exercises to boost your business planning. Cost: $150 US. Click here for more information and to register.

Questions, or wish to register offline? Please give me a call at (416) 996-TEAM (8326), or leave me a toll free voice mail at 1-866-217-1960.

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials

Monday, November 16, 2009

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

Friday, November 06, 2009

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

Monday, November 02, 2009

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