Coaching Business Builder: Getting Clear on Where You Want to Focus

This week's post is a Coaching Business Builder post, geared for coaches who are growing their own business, or are considering starting their own business down the road. Later this week my business turns ten. Over the last month, as I have been approaching this milestone I have been very reflective on the past ten years, what's worked, what hasn't and what's next.

Research continues to show that some of the most successful entrepreneurs are those that take risks and aren't afraid to try things out, even in the face of failure or things that don't work so well. On a practical note, I think one of the biggest benefits to trying things out is getting clear on where you want to focus.

Here's a quick activity to try out:
On a plain piece of paper draw a large circle. Over the span of one to two minutes, write down everything that comes to mind about what you want to focus on. Your words might include:

• clients, 
• types of work, 
• themes or topic areas you want to work around
• what else?

 At the two minute mark, shift your attention to what's outside of the circle. Here, write down what you DO NOT want to focus on. Again, consider items like type of work you would say no to, themes/topics you do not want to work around. Give yourself two minutes to do this.

At the end of two minutes, keeping in mind what you have said no to, return back to the inner circle and add any other focus areas you do want to put attention around. Once you have captured all of these, grab a pen/pencil of another color and circle those you want to put immediate attention around. You may also want to get a second color and circle those in the medium term (whatever your medium term is), and a third color for those in the long term.

Returning back to your immediate attention areas, prioritize them. What do you want to focus on first? What are the next steps take? AND most importantly, WHY is this important/exciting/energizing for you?

I would invite you to also adapt this activity in the work that you do with clients. It's also a great activity to do with groups of business owners.

Enjoy!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized

Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
(416)996-8326

Advanced Group Coaching Practicum starts Friday April 4 at 12 noon ET

Are you a coach looking for more hands-on practice with group coaching in a virtual environment? Join me later this week on Friday April 4th at 12 noon ET by phone as we start the Advanced Group Coaching Practicum. The program is approved for 8 CCEs with the ICF including 7.25 hours of core competencies.

The program includes 6 x 75 minute group calls, 5 individual 15 minute 1-1 calls with me, along with weekly module notes full of more ideas, templates, and resources to support you in your work, along with audio and video tips.

We take a deeper dive around group coaching topics including:

- Core skills and techniques in group coaching

- Tricky issues in group coaching

- Engagement, systems and support for group coaching

- Virtual programming best practices (webinars, teleseminars/teleclasses, group coaching by phone)

- Co-Facilitation and Co-Leadership

- Advanced Issues in Marketing Group Coaching

- Advanced Design Issues in Group Coaching

Each coach will have at least one opportunity to lead a 25 minute group coaching session as part of our class, and will receive written and verbal feedback on their skills. This will give you an opportunity to see different styles and approaches for group coaching at play. We will also hold our calls in different virtual environments so you get to experience them for yourself - bridgelines, skype, Google Hangouts etc.

Calls will be held on: Fridays from 12-1:15 pm Eastern on April 4, 11, 25 (bonus call with the larger alumni community), May 2, 9, 16 and 23.

Cost: $450 US or $450 CDN (plus HST)

Here's what past participants have said about the program:

"I highly recommend the Advanced Group Practicum with Jennifer. It provided me with tools and insights to be able to develop and implement my own group coaching program. The materials and content over delivered so the value enormous. The practicum was awesome and it gave me a safe space to try a group coaching and to receive feedback.  I would do it again!”

Cindy Hooker, CPCC, ACC,Gold Dog Consulting,www.golddogconsulting.com

 "The Advanced Group Coaching class created an environment where I finally gained the courage to try it out! I was fully supported by the wonderful leadership of Jennifer Britton, equipped with great planning tools, a safe space to explore new technology, freedom for creativity, wonderful collaborative learning, and a very positive environment to grow ~ a true gift! Truly life changing for me :)"

- Coach Michelle Mullins

I hope that you will join us! Three spots are still open.

With best wishes,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized

Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
(416)996-8326
Upcoming programs include:
Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio - March 31 - June 30 (Mondays 10 - 11 am Eastern). Group calls March 31, April 7, 14, 28, May 12, June 2 and 30.
Group Coaching Essentials - Tuesdays 12 - 1:15 pm Eastern/New York: April 15, 22, 29, May 13 and 20 (6.75 CCEs with the ICF)
 

Effective Group Coaching March Video: Virtual Program Tips

When I first started delivering virtual group programs nine years ago many people queried initially what value they could get by not being face to face. Today with the advent of skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, many have embraced virtual programming. With winters like this one which have stymied a lot of travel across North America for the last few months, I am pleased that virtual programming has been my mainstay in the winter months.

This month's Effective Group Coaching Video is on Virtual Program tips which you may find useful if you are running, or thinking of incorporating webinars, teleclasses, virtual retreats or other programs. It's a short four-and-a-half minute video which I hope you will enjoy! You can view it here.

Questions to Consider:
What are your next steps in making virtual programming a reality in your business? 
How could it shift your work landscape?
What would your clients enjoy (webinars, teleclasses...)?
What changes do you want to make next winter?

As always, I welcome your feedback and comments - please feel free to do so below.

Have a great week.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-8326

Group and Team Coaching Intensive - April 5-6

Registration for the April 5-6 Group and Team Coaching Intensive is closing this week. The two day program will be held the weekend of April 5-6 in downtown Toronto. The program is approved for 15 CCEs with the ICF (including 13 hrs of core competencies).

Over the course of the two days we'll be exploring:
* What group and team coaching are, and
* Core skills and approaches
* How groups and teams develop
* How do coaching, training and facilitation differ and how are these foundational skill sets for coaches working with groups and teams
* Activities and resoruces for your work
* Marketing - promotion, pricing, positioning
* Structuring and Designing Programs
* Virtual Learning
plus many other topics related to group and team coaching

Over the weekend you will also have ample opportunity for practice and feedback on your skills.

Registration is closing this week for the program. In addition to the two days of learning you'll receive:
* The Group Coaching Intensive manual (90 pgs of content)
*  A copy of one of my books - either Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) or From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
* Alight lunch both days
* A group follow-up call on month after the program.

A few spaces still are open, and registration closes this week. You can learn more about the program and register at http://www.groupcoachingintensive.com.

I look forward to having you join us! If you can't make the April 5-6 dates in Toronto, join me this summer in beautiful Huntsville, Muskoka on  July 10-11, 2014.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized
(416)996-8326
Upcoming programs include:
Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio - March 31 - June 30 (Mondays 10 - 11 am Eastern). Group calls March 31, April 7, 14, 28, May 12, June 2 and 30.
Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (8 CCES) starts Fridays 12 - 1:15 pm ET on April 4, 11, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23. Take a deeper dive around group coaching topics, practice and receive feedback on your group coaching skills.

The Accordion - A Metaphor For Group Coaching Program Design

The Accordion - A Metaphor for Group Coaching Program Design

Copyright 2014, Jennifer Britton. All Rights Reserved

Last week I was in New York City speaking with the New York Coaches Lab. It was a wonderful evening
session where coaches learned more about about group coaching and they got to experience some of my favorite group coaching processes as well. Thanks for having me! I am looking forward to getting out to more in person speaking engagements in the coming months, now that spring is around the corner!

One of the design principles I was sharing with the group is the principle of the accordion which I write about further in From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2014). As coaches one of our philosophies is that we want the conversations to be shaped by the focus and priorities of the client. In a group coaching context, there may be multiple focus areas anchored into a weekly theme.

For example, if you are working with a group of new leaders, a weekly group coaching session may focus on strengths of as a leader.  Part of your pre-program design work will involve  considering the possible activities you could undertake with them. Perhaps there is some pre-work to complete the VIA Strengths profile, or undertake the StrengthsFinder. In the session itself you could work with either one of these in many ways - through dialogue, individual reflection, or something more experiential. Some of this will be shaped by your own approaches as a coach, a lot of it by what your group members prefer.

It is useful in the design phase to keep in mind an accordion, and what can be expanded if the group is moving quickly, and what can be condensed or let go of, if the group is enjoying another activity or conversation.

As you consider upcoming work with groups or teams, how can the accordion support you? What might you let go of if the group is enjoying one conversation or activity? What could you add in if time is not moving quickly?

Have a great start to the week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized
(416)996-8326

Upcoming programs include:
Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio - March 31 - June 30 (Mondays 10 - 11 am Eastern). Group calls March 31, April 7, 14, 28, May 12, June 2 and 30.
Group Coaching Essentials (6.75 CCes) by phone: Thursdays 10:15 - 11:45 am ET: March 20, April 3, 10, 17 and May 1.
Group and Team Coaching Intensive (15 CCEs) - Two days in person Toronto April 5-6 (5 spots open) or Huntsville, Muskoka July 10-11. More info on the intensive at http://www.groupcoachingintensive.com.

Group and Team Coaching Intensive - Venue Finalized

I am pleased to announce that we've got a great location for the April 5-6 Group and Team Coaching

Intensive. This two day in-person group and team coaching program will be held in Downtown Toronto at the Center for Social Innovation (Spadina location) easily accessible by public transit (and with public parking nearby).

For those coming in from out of town, there is a wide variety of hotels nearby, and you can catch an airport express bus right from the airport to downtown.

The Group and Team Coaching Intensive is a hands-on two day training program for coaches who want to run their own group and team coaching programs. We cover the nuts and bolts and more! You will also get ample practice in small group facilitation and get feedback on your skills.

You'll receive a copy of one of my books (Group Coaching Essentials OR From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, a 90 page manual chock full with content, templates and ideas for your programs, and a light lunch on both days.

Come and get ready to roll up your sleeves and be in great dialogue and learning throughout the weekend with other exceptional coaches!

An early bird rate is on until March 15th. More info and registration at http://www.groupcoachingintensive.com. One and two installment options are also available.

Hope to see you in Toronto this spring!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Esssentials.com
(416)996-8326

Team Coaching versus Team Building

Last month my newsletter article was on the difference between team coaching and team building. It is a question I get from prospective clients and coaches alike, and thought that it would be useful to share with you:

Team Building versus Team Coaching - What's the Difference?
Originally published in the Group and Team Coaching Nuggets Newsletter, February 2014
Copyright Jennifer Britton, 2014.

One of the questions I frequently get asked is what is the difference between team coaching versus team building? Having been involved in team development processes for more than two decades I know that both types of programs can look and feel quite similar on the surface. Where we do start to notice differences is in where the emphasis is being placed.

In the 2009 ICF Global Coaching Client Survey, coaching clients indicated that they saw several differentiators between coaching and other modalities. Our focus as coaches on goal setting and on-going accountability are key definers of our work. In the team coaching context this translates to ongoing conversation points rather than a one-off intervention. As coaches our starting point with teams is in goal setting, and having the team spend time identifying and acting on what's important for them. 

Another important difference I see inour work as team coaches, which may not have the same emphasis in team building, is our focus around creating opportunities for teams to expand their AWARENESS and take ACTION towards their commitments . As team coaches, we will be in conversation with teams over time, inquiring about the actions they have taken and the impact it has had both on the RESULTS of the team and their RELATIONSHIPS.

As team coaches we may be working with a team to:

- Develop a team charter, a set of behavioral norms to which they all agree to, no matter what

- Enhance relationships within the team

- Understand what each individual brings to the team, collectively and individually

- Exploring the strengths, values and vision of the team

- Goal Setting and Action planning

- Create ongoing accountability around their commitments and goals

(Adapted from Britton, 2013, pp. 137-138)

As team coaches we bring tremendous value to teams we work with including:

·         Creating and prioritizing  the space for the team to pause and reflect

·         A non-judgmental sounding board/space for dialogue

·          Mirroring  back to the team what is going on

·         On-going accountability

(Adapted from pp 146-147, Britton, 2013)

Many of you have heard me speak about the Group Program Continuum. Practically we may also see ourselves on a continuum with respect to team coaching and team building as well. 

Questions to consider:

What do you see as the value we bring to teams?  

What feedback  have you received about the value and impact?

What do you see as differences between team building and team coaching?

What are your clients looking for? 

With best wishes,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-8326
  Join us for an upcoming program -  Group Coaching Essentials (starts Thursday March 20th at 10:15 am Eastern/New York) - 6.75 CCEs Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes (starting Mondays 10-11 am Eastern on March 31 - running to June 30)

Group and Team Coaching Intensive (15 CCEs) - Two days of in-person group and team coaching training in Toronto, CANADA - weekend of April 5-6 (8:30 - 4:30 each day). More info here.