April 2021 Programming - Group Coaching, Virtual Facilitation, Mentor Coaching Group

 As we step into a new month, what do you want to put attention around?

This month there are several new program starts including:

Group Coaching Essentials - THE original group coaching training program which has helped thousands of coaches since 2005 in designing, launching and leading their own group coaching programming. 

Three upcoming starts for this 5 week, 8.75 CCE Continuing Coach Education program:

Mondays 830-945 am ET: April 5, 12, 19, 26 and May 3 2021 OR

Tuesdays 630 - 745 pm ET: April 20, May 4, 11, 18, 25 OR

Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET: April 30, May 7, 14, 21 and 28 2021

Programming includes 5 x 75 interactive virtual learning calls (max 8 coaches), 5 x 15 minute 1-1s (pre and post and 3 other calls during the program), robust module notes and weekly assignments geared to get you into action around your programming.

Cost: $550 US. Reserve your spot now.

Virtual Facilitation Essentials - Looking to take your Virtual Facilitation Skills up a notch? Join Effective Virtual Conversations author Jennifer Britton as she takes you through more than a dozen facilitated processes you will want to consider. At the same time, you will be building out your own virtual programming.  We cover the best practices of designing, and leading virtual conversations.

Weekly calls are held Mondays 130 - 245 pm ET: April 19, 26. May 3, 10 and 17 2021

Cost: $475 US. 8.5 CCEs. Reserve your spot now. 

With best wishes,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Effective Virtual Conversations | Potentials Realized
Instagram @Remote Pathways (for remote workers) and @CoachingBizBuilder (for coaches)
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: info@potentialsrealized.com

Phone: (416)996-8326 

October CCE Coach Training: Group Coaching Essentials, Advanced Practicum, PlanDoTrack (24), Virtual Faciltiation

As we step into the last quarter of the year, what are your learning goals? A reminder that this

month several of our most popular ICF CCE approved programs are starting again. Here's what's on tap this month:

PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training (24 CCEs):  Do you work with virtual teams, leaders or virtual entrepreneurs? Looking to add a set of programming tools, and templates around productivity and teamwork to your mix? Consider becoming a PlanDoTrack Facilitator. 

This training will run virtually (on zoom) on Tuesdays from 1230 - 3:30 pm Eastern/Toronto from October 8 - November 12, 2019. The training is approved for 24 hours of CCEs with the ICF (including 19 hours of core competencies). 

A second (and possibly third) cohort will start in late November, running into early December. Choose from Mondays and Tuesday evenings from 6-9 pm ET (starting November 25 for 3 weeks) or a more intensive weekend program.  Learn more about the program here. PlanDoTrack can be incorporated into individual coaching, team coaching, workshops, retreats etc. Reach out to set up a call to discuss if this will meet your programming needs for 2020. 

Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs) - Looking for key tips, tools, ideas and processes to support your work with groups (and teams) as a coach? This five week interactive virtual learning session covers the best practices of DESIGN, MARKETING and IMPLEMENTING group coaching. This program is approved for 8.75 CCEs with the ICF. Weekly assignments support you in putting your ideas together, and sketching out your marketing plan. The next October group starts on Mondays from 9 - 1015 am ET meeting on October 21, 28, November  4, 11, 18. Learn more and register here.

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10CCEs): Geared for those who want to gain practice, feedback and confidence about their skills, this program brings group and team coaching into action. Coaches lead a group or team coaching conversation of their choice, and we also take a deeper dive into the nuances of group and team coaching. This program builds onto what is covered in the Group Coaching Essentials program. We'll be meeting for 6 weeks starting Monday October 28th on MONDAYS from 3 - 4:15 pm Eastern/New York on October 28, November 4, 11, 18, 25 and December 2nd. Click here to learn more and register.

Virtual Facilitation Essentials - 8.5 CCEs: Want to create more memorable virtual events - webinars, virtual meetings, virtual coaching? Looking to boost your skills in navigating zoom and other virtual platforms? Join me as we explore the realm of Effective Virtual Conversations (the focus of my 2017 book), in 5 sessions. Each week we explore a different area related to designing interactive, engaging virtual events, platforms and support you in building your toolkit of impactful things you can incorporate (more than 3 dozen covered!). The final 2019 group will meet on Mondays from 1:30 - 2:45pm ET on October 27, November 4, 11, 18, 25, 2019. 

$450 US for the course. Learn more at https://www.groupcoachingessentials.ca/vfe.html.

Hope that you will consider joining us for one of these last cohorts of the year. Students appreciate that most courses include some modelling, PRACTICAL and TACTICAL tips and tools they can use right away, as well as the resources (which are never in short supply!).

Questions? Email me to set up a short call to discuss your needs and see what program works best.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC – Potentials Realized 
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder 
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - my online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development

January 2017 Programs - Mentor Coaching, Group Coaching Essentials, Practicum, Learning Lab and Design Studio

It's January which means the kick off of our winter 2017 programming. Is this year that you want to sharpen your coaching skills for your ACC/PCC (Mentor Coaching Group)? Or is it the year you want more community with other professionals who are working in group and team programming - consider the Learning Lab and Design Studio which meets on Fridays at 8 am ET. Or perhaps you want to get grounded in the best practices of group coaching through the Group Coaching Essentials program which will start at 1030 am ET on Friday Jan 13th. Friday afternoons this winter I will be hosting the Group and Team Coaching Practicum - a six session hands-on virtual learning class where you lead us through a group/team coaching session and receive feedback on your skills (Fridays starting Jan 13th at 1:15 pm ET).

Upcoming January Programs include:

Mentor Coaching Group (ACC Renewals & ACC/PCC Portfolio)  - By phone 

Upcoming Program Dates:

Fridays 9-10 am ET  - starting January 13th running to April 13th OR Fridays 12 - 1 pm ET starting January 20th running to April 20th.

The Mentor Coaching Group will be of interest for ACC renewals, as well as those working towards their ACC and PCC portfolio applications with the ICF. This is a 10 hour mentor coaching program, which includes 7 hours of group mentor coaching calls, and 3 hours of individual mentor coaching sessions (held monthly). We look at all 11 core coaching competencies of the ICF, and coaches have the opportunity to practice and receive feedback on their skills during the program. Each class you'll receive module notes to support you with your learning and coaching work  These will also be supportive for you with the new knowledge exam.

Click here for more info about the Mentor Coaching Group 

  

Here's what one coach said about her recent experience in the program:

"As an experienced coach who needed to fulfill my mentoring requirement for ICF certification, I was amazed at how much I got out of it! Working with Jennifer in the mentor coaching group energized me and helped me reengage my passion for coaching. It helped me hone my skills and be deliberate about expanding my coaching and consulting practice. Absolutely worth it!" - Shannon Goodwin, ACC 

 

Group Coaching Essentials - 8.75 CCEs

Fridays from 10:15 - 11:30 am ET on January 13, 20, 27, February 10, 17 - 5 spots open
Want to expand your work as a coach to groups? Join us for this five week virtual seminar where we

explore the best practices of Designing, Marketing and Running Group Coaching Programs. Weekly calls model different approaches to the group coaching conversation and weekly assignments support you in starting to draft out your own program ideas.

Cost: $450 US (includes the 5 x 75 min calls, weekly module notes and a weekly 1-1 laser call with Jenn). Reserve your spot in our January program starting Friday January 13th

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum - 10 CCEs

Fridays from 1:15 - 2:30 pm Eastern/Toronto on January 13, 27, February 10, 17, 24, March 3

The first of four 2017 Advanced Practicums will be held in January (with others starting in April, June and September). This program provides a deeper dive into the context of group AND Team

coaching topics including design, activities, co-facilitation, virtual programming. It also gives coaches the opportunity to practice their skills by leading at least one practicum. This program has six zoom calls and includes 1-1 lasers, and more rich content. Space is limited to 6 coaches. 4 spots are open for January's group which will met on Fridays from 1:15 - 2:30 pm Eastern/Toronto on January 13, 27, February 10, 17, 24, March 3. Cost $495 US

More information and registration for the Advanced Practicum here.

Learning Lab and Design Studio

Two Fridays a month from 8 - 8:45 am ET throughout 2017  

Are you looking for creating community with other coaches, and looking to continue to expand your learning during 2017? I'll be hosting the Learning Lab and Design Studio in 2017 giving you the opportunity to work with me directly at a lower price point, and on an ongoing basis. The focus at the

lab is both business building and all things groups and teams!

After our inaugural year our format for 2017 will include:

• Two group calls per month focusing on group and team program development and business building. These calls will take place on Fridays from 8-845 am Eastern/Toronto by zoom. Download the January - June schedule here.
• Access to more than 30 hours of past LLDS calls focusing on program design, marketing and implementation issues, a dozen templates and articles. These resources are only made available to those at the LLDS.
• Quarterly virtual retreats (3-4 hours each) to focus in on your planning and actions
• An opportunity to bring your real-time questions to each group call.

You can join us for a monthly charge of $147 US/month or join us for the entire year for $1250 US. You can also add on a block of five hours of coaching support (taken at any time in 6 months) for only $500 US (that's a significant savings on my regular rate of $300/hr).

Join us at the LLDS starting today until the end of 2017 for $1250 US. Click here to register and reserve  your spot.

If you have any questions about these programs, please email or call. 

Hope you are having a great start to 2017!

Jennifer

  

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized/GroupCoachingEssentials
Email: info (at)potentialsrealized (dot)com 

(416)996-TEAM (8326)

What to Look for in a Mentor Coach

Since 2006 I've been involved as a mentor coaching in supporting CPCC candidates through the CTI coach training program, and since 2007, coaches from all backgrounds through the ICF ACC and PCC credentialing process. Whether I'm working one-on-one as a mentor coach or taking small groups of coaches through the Mentor Coaching Group process, I continue to love the learning and sharpening of skills that happens through the process.

As coaches start exploring what mentor coaching is, and the myriad of possibilities which exist, it can be useful to consider the following as you look for a mentor coach:

1  What skills, knowledge and experience does the mentor coach bring? How does this match what you are looking for?
2.  What coaching skills training have they undertaken? What coaching models do they use or integrate into their work?
3. How do they keep their skills sharp? What regular learning do they undertake?
4. How do they demonstrate their understanding of the ICF core competences?
5. What has been their experience in supporting others through the mentor coaching process? What experience do they have with coaching? (Consider their experience in the types of clients they support, the different industries they work in, if they expand their work outside of 1-1 coaching to incorporate other areas)
6. What resources are they connected to which can help you learn, grow and sharpen your skills?
7. What do you notice about the fit between the two of you? How can they support you in your development?

 Finally....What are your preferences for being supported? Do you want to take the deep dive of doing all your 10 hours of mentor coaching 1-1, or would you like to mix it in participating in a smaller group. ICF allows for 7 of the 10 hours of mentor coaching to be undertaken in a small group context. This can provide the benefit of seeing other coaching styles at play and learning from peers who might bring different coaching approaches and resources to the work.

Several years ago I wrote an article for Choice Magazine on the considerations in developing your skills as a mentor coach. While it is several years old now, the points are still very relevant. Download your own copy of my Choice Article "Mentor Coaching: Developing  Your Muscle and Refining Your Craft " here.  Check out the questions I have posed in the side bars on page 32. These are questions a mentor coach should be able to answer quickly if you reach out and interview several before choosing one.

AS you go about thinking about how to sharpen your coaching skills to take them to the next level, what's going to be important for you?

If you are looking for some support from a mentor coach like myself, please reach out and email me and let's see how we fit. I offer Mentor coaching Groups for ACC renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes (10 hours including 7 hour small group) and also individual mentor coaching (for CPCC and also ACC/PCC).  The next Mentor Coaching Group will be held by zoom on Thursdays from 915-1015 am ET starting on June 3rd running to September 8th. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPCC, CPT
GroupCoachingEssentials.com | Potentials Realized
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2009) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
(416)996-8326

2.

Join us at the Learning Lab and Design Studio during 2016 starting Friday at 12noon ET

This Friday January 27th at 12 noon ET the doors metaphorically open for a new online resource portal and group program for all things teams and groups called the Learning Lab and Design Studio.

For several years coaching alumni, and facilitators I have worked with have asked for a venue where they could have longer term learning, support and a space to practice and engage in group and team skills.

Is this year that you want to:

• Have more focus on your business and creating group and team programs - workshops, retreats, online training (like Udemy), group and team training, coaching or facilitation?
• Connect with a community of fellow practitioners to learn from and share with?
• Build your toolkit?
• Sharpen your skills in working with teams and groups?
• Become more masterful and skilled in program design - perhaps in newer areas like video based training, virtual retreats, webinars, or e-learning?
• Boost your confidence in your skills through practice and feedback opportunities?
• Benefit from group and individual coaching?
• Access a rich online portal of resources (print, audio, video) which you can use in support of your own work?

Download a brochure about the Learning Lab and Design Studio (LLDS) here.

You can join us at the Learning Lab and Design Studio for the year, six months or even a month at a time. Group members at the LLDS will be involved in:

• a monthly Facilitation Lab  call where we'll be experimenting with different tools you might want to bring into your work,
• two group calls a month with a blend of Coaching and Teaching - click here to review the schedule;
•  a monthly laser 1-1 call with me;
• dozens of hours of audios, videos, templates (which you can use "as is");
• The opportunity to beta test new products and courses I am developing;
• Four virtual retreat mornings (4 hours), one a quarter, to support you with your program ideas and design.

Calls are usually scheduled for Fridays from 12 - 1pm ET, with some scheduled earlier on Friday from 8-8:50 am ET. View the schedule of our first six months of calls here.

Most blog readers know me through my writing or work in the area of group coaching. As the author of Effective Group Coaching and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, you know that I am passionate about supporting coaches, trainers, facilitators and other professionals in doing masterful work with groups and teams (virtually or live). I bring almost 30 years experience of working with groups, teams and in program design and evaluation!

You can join us at the LLDS this year (12 months from January 29th 2016) for an introductory rate of $2500 US, six months for $1250 US and monthly for $250 US.

If you register and reserve your spot for the one year program you also get to participate at no additional cost in next week's Virtual Facilitation Skills Intensive program (Thursdays 12 - 3 pm Eastern - Feb 4 - March 3, 2016 -  a 15 hour virtual train-the-trainer).  This is a time sensitive offer open only on Wednesday January 27, 2016. Click here to take advantage of this special pricing. This will take you to the Group Coaching Essentials website and is the only place to get this special rate. Regularly  the Virtual Facilitation Skills Intensive program is $950 US.

If you don't see this until Thursday January 28th and still want to join us, while you won't get the Virtual Facilitation Skills Intensive program for free, you will save 50% OR save 15% if you register for the year at the LLDS with another colleague (you each will save 15%) on Thursday January 28th ONLY . Click here to lock in your spot.

Questions? Please email me or call me directly at (416)996-8326.

View several Frequently Asked Questions and what's currently available at the LLDS (beyond our calls and which will be added to regularly) at LearningLabandDesignStudio.com.

I hope that you will join us on Friday at the Lab for the kick off to a rich year of learning, practice and community!

Click here to view a short 11 minute video I did recently on what the LLDS is all about.\

See you Friday!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPCC, CPT
GroupCoachingEssentials.com | Potentials Realized
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2009) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-8326
Email me with any questions you have at info(at)potentialsrealized(dot)com

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)
 

Mentor Coaching: Four Things to Look For

Whether you are a new coach, or an experienced one wanting to brush up on your skills, mentor coaching can be an important process in helping to refine our skills and craft. Here are four things to look for in a mentor coaching process:

Compatibility – Is there a good fit/chemistry with the mentor coach? What are you looking for – someone who can encourage you on, stretch you or be a sounding board?

Experience – What is the experience of the mentor coach? Do they bring the type of experience in the coaching realm, and possibly outside the coaching realm that you are looking for? Are you looking for breadth or depth in terms of their experience?

Synergy with your coaching approaches – individual, team, group. I increasingly find more coaches are adding team and group coaching to their mix. In your mentor coaching process, are you looking to also explore the distinctions of how the core coaching competencies look and sound across the individual, team and group coaching realms.

Composition of your learning needs – scenarios, supervision, tricky issues. These can all be valuable parts of the mentor coaching process, as the core coaching competencies are explored. How do you learn best? Individually or in a group mentor coaching process? You may want to consider how you could benefit from a mentor coaching process in a group.

The ICF has also created some really good documentation around what to look for in a mentor coaching process. For an overview click here, and you can check it what ICF recommends for Mentor Coaching duties and competencies here.

Listen in to a quick audio I recorded last summer on what to look for in mentor coach.

What is important for you in the mentor coaching process? What's going to challenge and stretch you to be the best coach you can be?

Have a great week!

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Looking to complete your mentor coaching requirements? Join me for an upcoming Mentor Coaching Group (10 hours) starting April 24 (Tues 12-1pm ET), June 1 or August 10. 7 hours group calls, 3 hours individual mentor coaching. For ACC renewals, and ACC and PCC portfolio candidates. I also offer 10 hour individual mentor coaching packages as well which can start at any time.
Phone: (416)996-8326