Group Coaching Core Essentials - #11 of 18 - Learning Styles

 This week's blog is written by Evana Valle, our Team Lead for Group Coaching. Evana has

been leading many of our Group Coaching Essentials cohorts this year, after shadowing with me, being an alumni and an amazing group coach herself. 

One of the things that gets pronounced in a group is the different ways people connect in with the coaching process. While there's still debate about the "validity of different learning styles" in the academic world, as a practitioner I see this play out every day in conversations - in person and virtually.

Here's our 11th in the 18 series:

This week focuses on the value and benefit of intentionally considering and including various learning styles in your group programs. For example, approximately 60% of adults in North America have a preference for visual learning. Surprised? Likely not; however, what about the remaining forty percent?

In group programs, various learning styles are likely to be present, and you want to be mindful of who’s in your room (virtual or in-person) and how you can keep everyone learning, engaged, and moving towards their goals in a meaningful way. Here’s a table to help you:

 

Learning Style	Preferences	Possible questions by learning style?
Visual- learn by seeing.	Video over phone call Appreciate PowerPoint presentations and visual images	1.What does that look like? 2. What impact do you envision?
Auditory- learn by hearing.	Prefer conference calls and enjoy supplementary programs through Ted Talks, audios, Podcasts and peer dialogue	1. What does it sound like?
Kinesthetic – learn by engaging with the world.	Love to try things out. Can be challenged in virtual reality IF no hands-on, active exercises are included	1.What does it feel like? 2. What would you do?

*Source: Effective Virtual Conversations by Jennifer Britton

 

Consider how you can integrate learning styles throughout the various elements of your overall program, including marketing and sales (to maximize interest and buyers), session design, in-between session interaction, and fieldwork. 

 

Principle – Consider the four core learning styles (visual, auditory, reading and writing, and kinesthetic). 

 

Action: Create your programs to include all or a combination throughout each session to support maximum learning and embodiment.

 

 

This week, consider reviewing various aspects of your program (design, marketing, sales copy) to ensure the different learning styles are included. 

Consider the following ideas/ questions: 

 

* How do you ensure all learning styles are incorporated into your programs and marketing? 

 

* How can you leverage technology to support your participants to lean into their natural learning style?

 

*What further learning/development would benefit you as a coach to support you in identifying your participant’s preferred learning style? 

 

*How can you integrate the learning styles in pre-work? 

 

*How can you diversify your marketing and sales copy to include the various learning styles? 

 

*How might you use learning styles to deepen participant awareness? Forward their Actions? Goal-setting? And accountability? 

Enjoy the conversation and exploration,

Evana

What is your unique style as a coach? Take 2-minutes to complete the NEW Group and Team Coaching Superpower Quiz. You can find it at https://bit.ly/gtcoachingsuperpower. Share your style using the comments below and/or follow along on Instagram at our CoachingBizBuilder site.

Join us for an upcoming program including: 

Group Coaching Essentials - Tuesdays 830 - 945 am ET starting Tuesday September 27 - running for 5 weeks to end of October (8.75 CCEs). Best practices for design, marketing and implementing group coaching.

Virtual Facilitation Essentials - One Day Offering - Wednesday October 5 - 830 - 430 pm ET (8.5 CCEs). Come build your confidence and skills with Virtual Facilitation (yes, there still is more to learn about zoom, Teams and the virtual world!)

Coaching the 5 (Hybrid) Work Styles (based on our Hybrid Work Styes Quiz) - Tuesdays 1230- 230 pm ET - September 27 - end of October (currently being reviewed for 14 CCEs). Geared for coaches who are looking for a quick, (and free!), framework to use with teams as a conversation sparker around different styles, approaches and teamwork.

Team Coaching Essentials for the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World - Join us May 10

For many years I've been asked to run a separate dedicated team coaching training program for coaches.

While I have offered several smaller iterations of this since 2018,  I'm pleased to announce that starting May 10, 2021 I will be offering on a regular basis Team Coaching Essentials for the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World.

This six week virtual coach training program will be ideal for coaches who are eager to gain foundational knowledge in the essentials of team coaching, with a specific emphasis on coaching that is virtual, or with hybrid and remote teams.

Since writing From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching back in 2013, there have been many, many requests for me to offer a standalone team coaching training. In June, I will also be releasing Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World. So, the time is now, with the new ICF team coaching competencies now available, and with so many more coaches looking to add team coaching to their mix, I am pleased to be offering Team Coaching Essentials (for the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World).

Here's what we'll cover:

We'll be exploring the following topics:

Week 1 – Team Coaching Fundamentals
Week 1 explores the fundamentals of the art and science of team coaching including:

• Team Coaching Competencies – ICF
• Core Skills and Distinctions -Where are you on the map?

 
Week 2 - Remote and Hybrid Foundations

• 7 Remote Enablers
• Six Factors of High Performing Teams
• Arc of Team Coaching
• Teamwork Skills

 
Week 3 - Design and Engagement in a Virtual Space

• The neuroscience of great virtual design
• 6 Layers of Connection
• 5 Engagement Levers – Design and Engagement

 
Week 4 - Core Issues

• Coaching for Results and Relationships
• Dealing with Conflict
• Dealing with Roles

Week 5 - The Business of Teams Coaching

• Contracting
• Assessments
• Proposals

Week 6 – Collaboration and Tricky Issues
This week we explore :

• Co-facilitation and co-coaching
• Tricky issues
• Open space for additional topics

Class size will be capped at 6-10 coaches, and you can follow the six weeks of learning with an additional six weeks of the Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum.

Join us for the May 2021 group which will be held on Mondays from 1 - 2:30 pm ET on Monday May 10, 17, 24, June 7, 18, 21.

Your registration includes

6 x 75 minutes of group training calls (live)

6 weekly 15 minute 1-1s with me

Weekly module notes

Additional video content around team coaching, virtual conversations and remote and hybrid teams.

Cost: $695 US

Register now, or contact Jennifer to discuss the program.

Can't wait to have you join us! Interested more in group coaching? The Group Coaching Essentials program is going to continue to be offered monthly. Check it out.

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 

Set up a time to connect to discuss your needs

Winter 2021 Programming for Coaches

 Happy New Year! If you haven't joined me for the 21 for 21 Virtual Co-working Sprints yet this year, I wanted to drop in and wish you a great start to the new year.

This month, from January 1-21 I am hosting the 21 for 21 Virtual Co-working sessions, where I'm
hosting 21 minutes of virtual co-working daily (And that's Monday through Sunday). It's open to everyone! I hope you will join us.

With my writing in PlanDoTrack and Coaching Business Builder being grounded in the philosophy of Daily Steps + Consistent Action = Momentum, this special event is geared to get you moving daily on key projects. Head on over to StandOutVirtually.com and sign up. If you can't make the live calls I have a special 21 for 21 Booster Pack available which includes the daily recordings, as well as a daily worksheet for you to take your thinking deeper around.

And now...onto our Winter 2021 programming. If you are a coach looking to boost your skills or scale into the areas of Group and Team Coaching check out these winter 2021 programs starting in the next couple of weeks:

Virtual Facilitation Essentials (8.5 CCEs) - boost your skills for Facilitating Virtually. Want to boost your confidence and toolbox for working people virtually? I'm hosting a one-day delivery of this program on Wednesday January 6 from 9 - 530 pm ET. Join us for this FUN and Hands-on program, geared to get you thinking differently about WHAT's Possible in your work? Cost : $475 US

Group Coaching Essentials (4 spots open - 8.75 CCEs) - Celebrating our 15th year this month, the GEC flagship program provides with the best practices for designing, marketing and running your own group coaching programs. The January group will meet on Fridays from 1015 - 1130 am ET from January 6 - February 5, 2021. Build out your next set of conversations. Cost: $550 US

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Programming (1 spot left - 10 CCEs) - If you have taken the Essentials program then consider taking your skills to the deeper level with the Advanced Practicum. This program is all about hands-on practice and feedback around group and team coaching skills. Cost: $595 US

Stand Out Virtually Incubator - Looking to strengthen your brand and messaging in the virtual space, along with your own program model. The incubator is a deep dive with Monday and Friday calls, geared to get you into action, and dialogue around what you have to offer into the world. This program will begin either January 18th or 25th. 5 spots open. $997 or 3x $397 payments.

Amplify Virtually Mastermind - This 6 months program incorporates two masterminds a month, one-on-one coaching, and also special monthly events to get you moving forward with your group and team programming and business in the virtual space. I'm pleased to be offering this, this winter for the first time. Set up a call to discuss if this is the program for you. Find out more at: https://www.groupcoachingessentials.ca/amplify.html 

I hope that we will get the chance to work together this winter. 

Please reach out to set up a call to explore what program is going to be the best fit for you.

Warm regards,

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 

 Join us for the 21 for 21 Virtual Co-working Sprints! 

Check out the 1st day recording of the 21 for 21 Virtual Co-working sprint - Grab a project and work alongside us!

Shifting your coaching to the remote space? Check out these resources

With the current global context, social distancing is becoming a recommended go-to by many

governments around the world. What implications is this having for your coaching work?

For many coaches it is meaning a shift of their conversations over into the virtual and remote space, not only for individual coaching clients, but also group and team coaching clients.


The virtual space has been a primary focus for me in my work as a coach over the last 16 years, as well as the years leading up to that when I managed virtual and remote teams across the world in my work as a Program Manager for the international humanitarian sector.

In today's post I wanted to share a number of resources you may find useful if you are needing to transition over the remote space. Please also share these with your clients as they too are also looking to shift operations to work from home for many teams, or remote work for others who still need to be in the office.

Resource #1 - Resources from the International Coach Federation
I was honored to partner with ICF on creating three videos for members on how to transition your coaching over the remote space, just a few days ago, as part of their support for coaches at this time. You can find these videos, along with other resources for member coaches, and the wider community, and our clients at this the page ICF has set up - https://coachfederation.org/covid-19-resources-for-coaches

You'll find three different videos I created:
#1 - Getting Started
#2 - Top 10 Things to Consider
#3 - Trust, Safety and Connection

Much of the content I share in these videos come from my 2017 book, Effective Virtual Conversations. You may want to pick up a copy of it at Amazon (print and kindle editions)

Resource #2 - Remote Pathways.com
Last fall I partnered with PlanDoTrack facilitator and coach, Michelle Mullins, to co-host the Remote Pathways podcast. It's grounded in some of the new writing i've been engaging with around remote work since last year.
We've released 8 different episodes about the different pathways people find themselves on in the remote space, and have just started releasing episodes with our guests - including the recent one on Strengths and Remote Work with Jennifer Grote (Episode 8)

In addition to the Remote Pathways podcast, I am also doing a weekly blog series there as well. Week 10 focuses on Peer Support in the Remote Space. Enjoy the downloads offered each week.

Resource #3 - Remote Working Whitepaper. 
Check out the 24 page Whitepaper I've pulled together on remote work, based on the writing I've done over at the Teams365 blog these past few years on remote teams.

You can get a copy of the Whitepaper here at the Resource Hub.

I also dedicated the March 2020 Newsletter to Virtual and Remote. You can view it here.

Resource #4 - Let's work together
Finally (and most importantly), many of the programs I offer have a specific focus on the virtual space including:

Virtual Facilitation Essentials - boost your virtual faciltiation toolkit with this ICF CCE approved program (8.5 CCEs including 5.5 core competencies). Offered in a convenient one day virtual format or 5 week series, I take you through the best practices of leading and designing highly interactive virtual calls. Whether you are coaching, facilitating a virtual team day, or a virtual retreat, you'll leave the program with lots of ideas and more confidence with how to navigate in teh remote space. Each participant leads a virtual energizer, opener or closer.

Upcoming dates include:
Friday March 13th (930 - 5 pm ET) - One day format
Wednesday March 25 - One Day format
Wednesday April 1 - One Day Format

The five week series starts again Monday March 30th from 130 - 245 pm eT, on March 30, April 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2020 (April 13th may be replaced with a date on May 1)

Cost: $475 US which includes the course, module notes, and 1-1 time with me (pre call, post call and 2 other laser calls -15 min)

Learn more and reserve your spot.

Or perhaps you decide to book me for some 1-1 time. You can choose from a 45 minute ask me anything mentoring session, a six hour strategy session, or a series of coaching conversation around your programming. Find out the options and availability here.

You can also simply drop me an email and let's set up a time to chat.

I look forward to acting as a resource for you as you continue to navigate and grow in this area.

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Teams365 | 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

Join us for an upcoming CCE approved program, including the
 Mentor Coaching Group - for ACC/PCC - starts Friday March 20th at 9 am ET (10 hours meeting ICF mentor coaching requirement)
Virtual Facilitation Essentials program (8.5 CCEs),
Group Coaching Essentials (8.5 CCES) starts Monday March 23 at 9 am ET (calls Mondays 9 - 1015 am eT - March 23, 30, April 6, 20, 27), or the
Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCES) starting April 3rd (Mondays 3 - 415 pm ET)
 

Virtual Facilitation Essentials: Wednesday February 19 2020 (8.5 CCEs)

I've been getting a number of inquiries about what we'll be covering tomorrow, Wednesday February

19 2020, in the one day Virtual Facilitation Essentials program. A picture is a thousand words so here's a short video on 23 things we'll be covering.
If you can't join us for the Wednesday February 19th session (8-4 pm ET on zoom), I'll be offering a few more Wednesday dates throughout the year.

Hope you'll consider joining us for this 8 hour Virtual Train-the-Trainer program. It's approved by ICF for 8.5 CCES (including 5.5 hours of core competencies).

In addition to giving you an opportunity to learn more about creating and leading virtual calls (coahcing, training and facilitating), you'll also have a chance to get "Behind the dashboard" of virtual sessions, to see behind the scenes.

Cost: $475 US

Enjoy and hope to see you join us!

Jennifer Britton - Virtual Facilitation Essentials 

For other ICF CCE programs check out GroupCoachingEssentials.ca

Questions? Call me at 416-996-8326

Check out this short video for 23 things we'll be covering at the VFE program:

 

Prefer a five week format? That starts on Monday Feb 24th:

Expanding Your Grouip and Team Coaching Toolkit - Virtual platform tools (13)

One of the areas I continue finding myself spending a lot of time in these days is the in space of

virtual learning. As a former virtual leader, I’ve always been an early adopter of tech – even throughout the 1990s and early 2000s when business and tech looked a lot different than today. For the last 15 years I’ve headed a virtual business, and the bulk of my work has been virtual, supporting teams, groups and individuals, through coaching, training and consulting services.


With this in mind, I’m dedicating the next three weeks to posts around expanding your group ad team coaching toolkit into the virtual space. This week’s post gets you thinking about leveraging all the tools available to you on the virtual platform. There’s a lot more available to you than you might think. It’s usually the inclusion of these tools that moves us from on a one way talking head/death by PowerPoint experience to an interactive conversation.


Things to keep in mind:

Trust and connection are key to conversation in the virtual space. Be sure to include activities and exercises that will connect people early on to each other, and what they know, and can share.


Switch the pace every 7-10 minutes – Pacing is key in the virtual space for engagement and learning


Leverage the tools available to you. These could include:

Breakouts  Just like in the in-person room, breakouts bring the conversation to the personal level. For larger groups breakouts are an essential part of the group coaching experience. Some skill development around questioning and listening may be required with groups that are non-coaches. For more on breakouts check out my October 2017 video – Breakouts that Sizzle! LINSERT LINK

What can you do to leverage breakouts?

Polls – Polls are a great way to incorporate discussion and dialogue. From using the internal polls available (which can be activated on most platforms like WebEx and Zoom), to using an external app like Kahoot, polls area  real-time way to get consensus happening and see where the group or team is.

What can you do to leverage polls?

Annotation – Annotation is a great way to get people moving. For kinesthetic learners this invites people to create together. Whether it’s having a team draw their vision for themselves on a white screen, or having people share the theme they want to explore that week, annotation is also a key tools in making things visual. More on this next week.


Questions to consider:

What can you do to leverage the tools available?

What’s the environment you want to create in your virtual call?

What breakout opportunities

What will connect people to others quickly in the conversation?

What will connect people quickly to their WIIFM – What’s in it for me?

What polls might you add to the conversation 


For resources on this topic check out

My 2017 book – Effective Virtual Conversations (444 pages) – pick up a copy at Amazon (almost all of the 13 chapters of the book have relevance to this topic, including part 3 which is geared to supporting virtual team development)

Jane Bozarth – Bettter than Bullet Points

ICF’s January 2018 blog on the Virtues of Virtual Coaching – read it at https://coachfederation.org/blog/virtues-virtual-coaching


I also have a whole series of past community calls you can tap into around the topic of creating Engaging Virtual Conversations – you can check them out at https://www.youtube.com/effectivegroupcoach (Check out the Effective Virtual Conversations playlist)

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC – Potentials Realized 
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder 
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development)

Join us for an upcoming ICF CCE approved program - Group Coaching Essentials (starts Monday July 8 - 8.75 CCEs), Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (starts Monday July 8: 10 CCEs) or the Virtual Facilitation Essentials(starts July)