Systems Check Questions for Coaching Programs as You Get Back to Fall

With Labor Day just behind us, many coaches are "getting back to business". As I just wrote earlier

Getting Back to Business

today in my monthly Group Coaching newsletter, taking time to do a systems check around your business is key at this time of year.


In my latest publication, The Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner, I explore five different areas coaches will want to develop systems around in for their business. If you've picked up a copy of this analog planner and workbook at Amazon or the new CoachingBusinessBuilder.com website, check out pages 70-76.

Five of the key areas you will want to take stock around this fall are your systems related to:

1. Sales and marketing
2. Product and program services
3. Registration and client onboarding supports
4. Financial systems
5. Communication

In this month's newsletter I zoom into #3 - Registration and Client Onboarding support a little bit more. You can read the newsletter online here.

For this blog post, I thought it would be useful to explore a different area - Product and Program Services, which is more the focus of this blog. As you step into the month of September here are a number of questions for you to consider:

• What is the current mix of your coaching business? 
• In addition to individual coaching, what are the different products and services you offer?
• What is working?
• What feedback have you received? When did you last review it?
• What is in development?
• What do your clients say they want more of? Less of?
• What's not working as you have planned?
• What steps are you committed to undertaking, this month? By year end?
• Who can help you with this?

Product and program development projects often evolve into as much time as we want to give them. As an author I know how wonderful it would be, and how much I'd love to just carve out vast stretches of time to just write. Practically my business and client needs usually come first, requiring me to work around the margins of larger projects for my writing work. I've learned to find a rhythm of making this work for me, and the business, refining it with each project. I've also come to realize that the dynamic tension of practice and reflective writing is an important part of the writing I do.

As a former program manager and developer, and in the last 15 years of my business, the varying steps of the program design process have become more engrained in all aspects - from pre-program tasks, to design, delivery, evaluation and sustainability.

Key here is getting into action, and learning through the action and feedback each step creates. What feedback are you getting from your efforts?

For more on the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner, check out the new site, including the related blog where you'll find more resources to support you in growing your coaching business.

Later this week, on Thursday September 6th from 11 - 11:30 am ET, I'll be hosting my fourth Virtual Book Club call related to the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner. You are invited to drop in for this complimentary 30 minute call as I explore Habits and Mindsets for Back to Work and Back to Fall. The call will be held in zoom room 270-302-0415. Hope you can join us!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials - All things group coaching
Effective Virtual Conversations.com - All things virtual
Coaching Business Builder.com- All things business related (for coaches)  
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 Fall programs are starting in the next couple of weeks including:

The Group Coaching Essentials program - my flagship 5 week virtual program which provides tips, tools and ideas for group (and team) coaching. Coaches are invited to apply their learning weekly around their own projects. The September group will be held on zoom on Fridays from 1015 - 11:30

am ET with calls held on September 7, 14, 21, 28 and October 5, 2018. 8.75 CCEs. This program is related to my 2010 book - Effective Group Coaching.

The Virtual Facilitation Essentials is geared for professionals who want to sharpen and build on their virtual facilitation skills to host more engaging and effective virtual sessions - coaching groups, webinars, even conference calls! 5 weeks, now approved for 8.5 CCEs. This program is related to my 2017 book - Effective Virtual Conversations. Group calls will start Friday September 14th from 11:45 - 1 pm ET with calls September 14, 21, 28, October 5 and 12, 2018.

Mentor Coaching Groups for ACC/PCC - Two groups will start this month - 10 hours meeting the ICF requirments for ACC/PCC. Geared to support coaches in sharpening their skills and deepening their underastanding of the ICF competencies.
Group A - Fridays 9 - 10 am ET: September 14 - December 14 (meeting 2nd and 4th weeks of month)
Group B - Tuesdays 4 - 5 pm ET September 18 - mid-December with group calls being held September 18, 25, October 1, 15, December 18 plus 2 other calls.

The Coaching Biz Growth Lab - Meets on Fridays from 3 - 4 pm ET the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month this coaching group focuses on supporting coaches around their business development. Join us monthly or for the quarter. More info and registration here.