Group Coaching Day 12 of 12 - 7 Considerations for Coaches

On our 12th day of the 12 days of the holidays, I wanted to share with you what I have seen as 7 Essential items and Considerations for Coaches, which I hope you will reflect upon and integrate as you move into the New Year:

1. Being clear on what you want to focus on and create in your work. In today's world there is a lot of noise about what coaches should focus on and do. Where do you want to spend your time in your business? Who do you want to serve? What unique offerings do you want to create with your work.
2. Continued Investment in refining your skills -Working with groups is an art and science. What investment have you made lately in refining your skills? What courses would you like to take during 2011 to add onto your tool kit? What new skills will benefit you, and your clients?
3. Getting into action - As important as it is to keep abreast of the latest trends, with group coaching, training and working with groups, the most important thing is to get into action and actually work with groups. Don't fall into the trap of over-educating without practice. Look for, and create opportunities in the new year to work with groups - in person, or virtual.
4. Knowing what tools you have at hand - When was the last time you took stock of what coaching tools you have at your disposal? Take a quick inventory of what you have at hand, and what you may want to budget for in the new year.
5. Look at the sytems you have in place and what you need to not reinvent the wheel. What can become standard practice for you and your business? What systems do you have in the areas of tracking your coaching hours, invoicing, tracking expenditures, budgeting, registrations etc?
6. Track your results - What were the activities during 2010 that really gave you inpact or brough in business? Which ones sucked up a lot of time and have not given any return (now or perceived in the future). Focus on those tasks which will give you more impact and results.
7. Ask about the impact you are having - Quantifying and qualifying the benefits of coaching can sometimes be nebulous. Regularly ask your clients what impact and benefits the coaching is having for them. Feedback, both positive and constructive, can serve to point you in new and continued directions.

I hope that you have enjoyed all the holiday specials this year. They will all be available until December 31st - you can check them out here.

Wishing you a wonderfully prosperous, happy and healthy 2011.

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials.com - Next Group Coaching Essentials class starts January 13th

Group Coaching: Day 11 of 12: 5 Key Questions To Ask

Knowing your clients is critical for success, and holding the group's agenda as a coach. Today's post is not a special in terms of product offering, but 5 key questions to ask group members before the start of a program, or during a first call. These questions will give you a better sense of "who" your group is, as well as the specific needs and preferences that exist.

Prior to your next group coaching program, or workshop, or retreat, consider asking participants/clients the following:

1. What led you to enroll in this program?
2. What would you like to get out of the program?
3. What are your primary questions/challenges regarding (the topic/theme/program)?
4. What should I know about how you learn best?
5. How can I best support you during the course of this program?

I hope that you are continuing to enjoy some space for reflection and rejuvination this holiday season. Stay tuned tomorrow as I cover 7 key considerations for coaches in their work for 2011.

To access our previous specials this holiday season (which will be avaialble to December 31st) click here, or click on the 2010 holiday special tag here at the blog.

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials.com

Group Coaching: Day 10 of 12 Holiday Celebrations

I hope that you and your loved ones have been able to take some "down time" and spend some quality time together. over the last few days.

We're into the homestretch of the 2010 Holiday Celebrations and specials for professionals who focus on group programs. You can see a listing of the other daily specials throughout December here, which include an Early Bird savings of over $200 for the April 2010 Group Coaching Intensive program (until December 31st), discounts on program licensing, as well as special pricing on the Effective Group Coaching book - 20% off and a personalized autographed copy, until December 31st.

Today's special is a discount on the January 2011 BizSuccess Group Coaching program. This 3 month program is geared to provide coaches, trainers, and other service professionals with tools and an accountability structure to focus in on, and build their businesses. Until December 31st, I will be offering a $150 discount on the January 2011 program, which includes 7 group calls, 3 individual coaching sessions, and the BizSuccess manual.

Course details are as follows:

January 2011 - Thursdays 2-3:15 pm Eastern/New York:

Classes meet on:

Jan 13, 27, Feb 10, 24, March 10, 24 and April 7, 2011
Regular pricing: $497 US or CDN (plus HST)
Special 2010 Holiday Celebration pricing: $347 US or CDN until December 31, 2010

Click on over to learn more about the program and to reserve your spot at this special rate. Spaces are limited to 6-8 business owners per session. This special rate is only available until December 31, 2010.

I hope that you will continue enjoying your holidays!

Looking forward to connecting with you soon
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials.com

Group Coaching: Day 9 of 12 Days of Holidays - 8 Favorite Tools this Year

It is day 9 of the 12 days of holiday specials and I will be returning to post again next week for Days 10 - 12 in lead up to the end of the year. For now, I want to wish you and yours a very wonderful holiday season. For those who celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa, I hope that the day is special and celebrative for you.

During this 9th day of holiday specials geared to professionals and coaches who work on group programs, I wanted to share 8 of my favorite tools, books and other resources I found enjoyable, and important, this year in my work:

1. MindJet's MindMapping Software - For years I have used MindJet's software to support me with program design as well as brainstorming with marketing and other business issues. Another great mindmapping tool, this one free, and open source, can be found at MindMeister.com.
2. Post It Notes - Yes, the simple tool of post-it notes has so many applications, from serving as a structure or visual reminder for clients, or as a great brainstorming tool.
3. Visual Explorer - I continue to bring this tool into many of my in person work, and coaches are starting to also explore how the digital option can be integrated into their virtual programs. Check out Visual Explorer from the Center for Creative Leadership.
4. The Coaching Game - Many of you may be familiar with a similar coaching tool entitled The Coaching Game. Great opportunities for application within the group coaching context as well as with individual coaching work.
5. Cindy Huggett's Book Visual Learning Basics. I continue to love the books put out by ASTD press for their practicality. One of the best ones I read this year was Cindy's Visual Learning Basics, a book I consider a must-read for coaches holding teleclasses, teleseminars, webinars or group coaching programs by phone. You can purchase a copy at Amazon as well as at ASTD's online store at http://www.astd.org/.
6. Vistaprint's phenomenal marketing materials available at low cost. Whether you are looking for business cards, letter head or banners, VistaPrint provides great quality and quick turnaround at a reasonable price.
7. Ordering from Amazon - this year coaches continued to enjoy the recommendations I've made around books (see the right column Bookstore at my Group Coaching Essentials website). As my book Effective Group Coaching has been rolled out this year to the market place I have been amazed by how it facilitates global purchasing as well as digital consumption through the Kindle and other e-readers.
8. FreeConferenceCalling.com - Looking for a reliable and free teleconferencing service? FreeConferenceCalling.com is one of my favorites as I continue to find the recording services of very good quality. I also enjoy the web dashboard I have as a facilitator to keep tabs on the call
(muting, hands raised etc).

I look forward to connecting back with all of you after Christmas as we wrap up days 10-12. You can view all of the specials over the last two weeks here at my site.

Happy Holidays all!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Host of the Group Coaching Essentials Program: An ICF Accredited CCE Program
Potentials Realized

Group Coaching Day 8 of 12: Individual Coaching Sessions

I hope that your holiday preparations are coming along well! Are you a coach wanting to grow their business during 2011 or a coach or other professional looking to develop their own group program - workshop, retreat or group coaching program?

Today's holiday special is a 10% discount on a 2.5 hour individual coaching package with me. Whether you want individual business coaching, or 1-1 consults on designing, marketing and implementing your group program, this package is geared to give you a jump start for 2011. These one-on-one sessions can be booked in 30, 45 or 60 minute blocks and need to be used by April 30, 2011. Special pricing of $500 US or CDN.

You can access a special payment link, as well as a listing of our other holidays special here. Scroll down to Day 8 to purchase your own individual coaching block of time with me.

Have a great day!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Phone: 416.996.8326

Engaging Exercises Manual: Day 1 of 12 Days of Christmas

As we move through the holiday season this year I will be offering 12 specials for coaches, business owners and other group facilitators throughout the 12 Days of Christmas.

Today's item is the Engaging Exercises for Teams and Groups manual. Designed for professionals looking for activities and other exercises to spice up their next meeting or off-site, this electronic manual includes more than 25 activities to use with teams and groups, as well as 19 pages of additional templates to support you with your next group program. Originally published in 2005, this e-manual includes many of my favorite tried and true exercises.

Cost: $25 US or CDN (plus HST)

The manual is delivered as 6 separate PDF files which you can add to your toolkit.

Click here for more info, to view the Table of Contents or to purchase Day 1s holiday special.

Enjoy!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)