7 Ways to Create a Pause in Group Coaching - Day 8 of the Countdown to 2020

One of the benefits of group coaching which many coaching clients mention is that they like the

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"pause" coaching creates. When I went to write and research Effective Group Coaching more than a decade ago, one of the greatest benefits people signalled group coaching created was the "pause". This was also reflected in the research I did a few years later as I wrote and researched From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching.

Pauses provide an opportunity to stop, reflect and take more intentional action. In a 1-1 coaching conversation it can be very clear what a pause can look like, but what about in a group coaching context?

Here are ten different ways to create a pause during a group coaching conversation. It can include:

1. Breakout work with a partner - rather than always going "Around the room" to hear from each group member, consider leveraging breakouts and having group members pair with others. Check out the earlier posts on 10 ways use breakouts in this countdown to 2020 series.

2. Dedicate a few minutes during the call (at the start, or end) to intentionally pause and let people reflect. This could be a couple of minutes spent in silence, having people create a mindmap of their thoughts or give people a few minutes to journal.

3. Provide group members with a journal and provide 2-5 minutes each call to journal.

4. Schedule a half day retreat with the groups you work with. Wheter it 's hosting a virtual retreat or a "Get things done" session, meeting with your groups for a longer block of time to stop and take action can be well received. The half day "Get things done" virtual retreats I host quarterly are some of the favorite events of many programs.

5. Have a few minutes of "offline time" for people to get up, move around and see things from a different perspective. This is just like inviting people to go for a walk by themselves in an in-person program.

6. Incorporate visual cards.  Many of you know my affinity for incorporating visuals into group programming. If you haven't seen me talk about it - check out this 2016 video (yes - it is dated but the content is still great!) I did as part of one of the weekly blabs I hosted.

7. Bring a hands on exercise - whether it's creating a model of your saboteur/inner critic, or creating a vision board, what's the hands-on, tactile exercise you can use.

What else might you do to create a "pause" and something a little different in your next group coaching conversation. Share with us your insights using the link below.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized
Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
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

If you are looking for  coaching skills development through CCE approved programs - I’ll be kicking off the first Group CoachingEssentials CCE approved program on Friday January 10^th at 1015 am ET. This 8.75 CCE program also includes weekly 1-1 time with me (15 min each week). Is 2020 your year to get your groups going or expand the number of groups you are doing? Whether you are new to group coaching or stepping into your next year, there’s always something to learn – I hope you’ll join us. Reserve your spot here.
Also starting in January is the Virtual Facilitation Essentials - spaces are still open in the Monday group starting on Monday January 13th from 130 - 2:45 pm Eastern - 5 weeks, 8.5 CCEs.
The Winter 2020 Mentor Coaching Group starts on Friday January 10th - Fridays 2nd and 4th weeks of the month from 9 - 10 am Eastern. Reserve your spot now in this 10 hour program which meets the requirements of the ICF.
Finally, starting on....  January 1st - calling on coaches who want to focus on growing their coaching business. Reserve your spot for the 60Day Accelerator where you will be focusing on taking daily steps and consistent action around your coaching business. This program is based on my 2018 work, Coaching Business Builder.

What to Pack and Prep for Back to Back In Person and Virtual Group Engagements

This week I'm facilitating a number of different back-to-back programs. It’s one of the crunch weeks that usually emerge every quarter. From new virtual groups, to in-person groups, from one off team events to in-person speaking. In one week, I'll pretty much be leading the full range of what I offer in my work.

A question I often get from coaches and others new to this work is "What do you pack and build in as you go to prepare for your own work?".

I thought it would be useful to do a bit of an exploration of what's in my toolkit as I step into this week of both in person and virtual calls. 

First, remember that we work doesn’t start when you meet with the group or team. It begins way before that. Have you built in enough time to meet with them and get to know them? Have you built in the the time you need for preparation?

One of the key success factors to ensuring that programming is the right fit for everyone attending is holding a pre-call one on ones. While this may not meet everyone's needs, it does provide a key component of building trust and connection as you go to design and pull together program elements. While it’s easy to think that group A will be like group B, more often than not, they will be different. 

Our work needs to be tailored to the different groups that you work with. This can take some time, and shouldn’t be left to last minute. 

You may also want to include multiple pre-checks along the way (through phone calls or sharing materials for review) to make sure that there is enough time to make changes as needed. 

If you are a solopreneur and don't have a team around you, be sure to do a last minute quality check. It can be useful to run it by others who can catch any last minute typos or changes in font size. These are little details but it is a big one!

Some of the other things I always want to make sure I have for in person-programs include enough materials plus an extra copy or set of all handouts and eval forms. Also, for for every in-person engagement,  I like to pack:

•  Post it notes
•   Colored Dots
•  Markers and some extra pens
• masking tape 
•  any visual cards I'm going to use
• a spare set of the handouts/worksheets or binder I am using.

I also always carry my presentation or any files on earth on USB key, in addition to having it on my laptop. I also want to make sure I have my remote control for slides/laptop. 

Before I close my briefcase I do a final check for cords. It's inevitable that once in awhile cords got left behind so create a bit of a checklist for yourself at just to see what you're missing!

This week, in between my in person work I'm also going to have to be doing some calls on the road. Given that “technology usually happens”, what's critical for making this happen while on the road is:

• 1   making sure I have the contact details for each call I am leading. This usually includes access codes, back up dial in and url links;
• 2.       making sure I have the backup contact details and number;
• 3.       making that the app on my phone works;
• 4.       Ensuring I have the participants email addresses and phone numbers in case tech happens.

 I also need to remember to pack headphones and a spare battery charger.

These are small details but they mean the big difference of being able to do work well on the road.

When getting ready to deliver back-to-back programs during the week, a final area is to make sure that your building in enough time for yourself what will help you transition from activity to activity.

Anytime you have “crunch weeks”, it is important to pause once it’s done. How will you take some time to recharge afterwards? When you are working for yourself, you may find you have 80 hour weeks but these should not represent every week. It is important to build in “focus breaks” for yourself before, during and after the event.

The last part of the year can be a very busy time for teams and groups as they are usually trying to fit in events during the fiscal. It an be important for you to decide what you can, and cannot take on, and who you might be able to refer to.

Let us know what you pack in your kit for either in person and or virtual programming by commenting below.

Have a great week everyone!

Jennifer

 PS - I hope that you'll join me for an upcoming program including our upcoming community calls – including Monday October 15^th 11:15 – 11:45 am ET call on Team Tools for the Virtual and Digital Space. This call will be held in my zoom room (zoom room 270-302-0415).

Tomorrow I'll be sharing more about 2 additional October programs starting in the next 10 days. Stay tuned!

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC
Potentials Realized | /GroupCoachingEssentials
Email: info@potentialsrealized.com
Phone: 416-996-8326
Group Coaching Essentials - All things group coaching
Effective Virtual Conversations.com - All things virtual
Coaching Business Builder.com- All things business related (for coaches)  

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

What's your vision for group and team programs in 2015?

As we start to wind down the year, what is your vision for group and team programs in 2015? What do

you want to create? Where do you want to put your attention?

I love this time of year! This week especially provides us with a quieter time to grab a few minutes to put energy and clarity behind a vision for the new year. I would encourage you to carve out 10-15 minutes in the next few days (if you haven't done so already) to capture your vision for 2015 and your group or team programs. Write it out, draw it out, capture it!

Some of the vision questions I like to ask my clients at this time of year are:

1. What have been your major achievements this year?
2. What are you most proud of?
3. What really gave you leverage?
4. What successes have your clients found because of your work together?
5. If you had to summarize the essence of 2014 in three words, what would they be?
6. What do you need to leave behind in 2014? What's important about this?
7. As you look to 2015, what do you want your driving force, or your WHY, to be?
8. Where do you want to place your focus in 2015?
9. The most amazing thing that I could create in 2015 is.....
10. What's going to be most important for me in 2015 is....
11. A habit or practice I am going to bring forward in 2015 is....
12. I want to do more of _____ in 2015, and less of ____ in 2015.
13. The strengths I really want to utilize in the new year are...
14. Three words that describe my annual theme for 2015 are ......

A few weeks ago, I launched an on-demand Virtual Retreat to support you in creating your vision and plan for the coming year, while also exploring your own leadership foundations. Entitled the Inner BizLeader(TM) Virtual Retreat this program takes you through six to seven hours of structured exercises and worksheets, plus three hours of audio and video from me. With this on-demand format, you can revisit and complete the retreat every three, to six, or twelve months if you would like, to see what's changed and where you are going. The course is hosted on Udemy and regularly costs $199 US. For the next two days (until December 31st) you can access it at a discounted rate of $127 US. Please use this link to access the special registration rate.

Listen into a ten minute audio I've made available to everyone on visioning from the Inner BizLeader(TM) program here (See the preview visioning audio file).

Enjoy your own vision session!

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

Join us for a 2015 program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting Thursday January 8th (6.75 CCEs),  the 10 week Virtual Facilitation Skills program starting Thursday January 15th at 11:45 am ET OR one of the Mentor Coaching Groups (for ACC Renewal and ACC/PCC portfolio routes) starting Monday January 12 or Friday January 30th.

Have you watched my 2014 Year End Annual Group Programs Screencast which covers some of the trends we've seen this past year in group and team programs? You can access it here.