Group Coaching Essentials starts Thursdays at 1045 am (ET) August 13

Just a quick note to alert you that the next Group Coaching Essentials program will start on Thursday August 13th at 10:45 am (ET). The program will be held on Thurs from 10:45 - 12 noon ET on August 13, 20, 27 and September 3/09 plus a 5th date held in September(note this is a week later start date than what was originally published). Space is limited.

This ICF Accredited program (for CCEs) provides coaches with a treasurechest of tools, resources and templates to support you with the design, implementation and marketing of your group coaching prorams. Whether you are working with corporate groups, or groups from the public, by phone, web or in-person, you are sure to leave the program with a number of new a-has as well as focus and steps forward wtih your own program ideas.

Throughout the program we cover:

• The Best Practices of Group Coaching
• Design Tips and Tools of Group Coaching
• Marketing Your Group Coaching Program
• Implementation Tips (and Pitfalls to Avoid!) for phone based and in-person programs
• Exercises for Group Coaching

plus lots, lots more. In addition to the 5 x 75 minute group calls, you also receive an 80 page e-manual, along with the opportunity to book a lazer 15 minute 1-1 with me throughout the program. Calls will be recorded if you can't make one.

Cost: $275 US or CDN (CDN link will be sent to you separately if you are a CDN resident)

If you have any questions, please give a call or drop me a line.You can register online at http://www.groupcoachingessentials.com/pages/gec.

I look forward to having you join us.
Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960
Phone: (416) 996-Team (8326)
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

5 Mistakes Group Coaches Make

The manuscript is almost done for my new book, Effective Group Coaching, and I have to say it's been a pretty enjoyable process of writing, as well as connecting with group coaches over the last couple of months. I've been a little more silent than usual on the blog this summer with all of the other writing I have been doing. Please keep posted as we move closer to the release date of the book - early 2010, as there are going to be a number of special initatives pre-release.



A huge question I often get asked during the Group Coaching Essentials program is What are some fo the Biggest Mistakes Group Coaches Make?



Here are five major pitfalls a lot of new group coaches fall into:

- Not discussing expectations at the start of a program - yours and the clients (plural!)

- Assuming a one size fits all within your group

- Marketing only one date at a time for your upcoming programs

- Not managin Group Dynamics and Process

- Trying to cover too much (content, exercises, concepts, themes etc/etc - you get it, right?)



What are some of the biggest pitfalls you have experienced or witnessed? As always, please feel free to comment below.

Have a great start to the week!
Jenn

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CPT
Group Coaching Essentials
Phone: (416) 996-TEAM(8326)
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

Group Coaching Essentials starts Wed July 22 (pm) and Thurs Aug 5 (AM)

Just a quick note as I've had a lot of inquires about the remaining summer dates for the Group Coaching Essentials program. There are two more summer phone based programs starting in the next few weeks. If you are looking to launch your own group coaching programs in September and are looking for some additional tools, a structure and exercises to bring in, then this program is for you.

We've just passed the 3.5 year anniversary of this program - and over 300 coaches have participated in this program! The program is also accredited by the ICF for 6.25 hours of Continuing Coach Education: perfect if you are needing recert hours for your ACC, PCC, MCC.

Weekly Sessions Cover:
- The Foundations and Best Practices of Group Coaching
- The Essentials of Design for Group Coaching
- Marketing Your Group Coaching Program
- Exercises for Group Coaching
- Essential Habits for GREAT Group Coaches

Upcoming dates include:
July 2009: Wednesdays 7-8:15 pm (ET): July 22, 29, August 5 and 12 plus 5th call in September -- 3 spaces remain!
OR August: Thursdays 10:45 - 12 noon (ET): August 6, 13, 20 and 27/09 plus a 5th call in late Sept/early October -- 4 spaces remain

Cost: $275 and includes the 5x75 minute calls, a 75 page manual, pre and post course 1-1calls with me. Calls are recorded if you cannot make a session.

For more information on the program, and to register, please click here. You can also give me a call directly at (416)996-8326 to register or email me.

Here's what two recent participants have said about the program:
As a coach who has been trained in one-on-one coaching techniques, Jennifer’s Group Coaching Essentials class filled in a crucial gap in my learning. Through her teaching style and her extremely well presented materials, she modeled how we as group leaders can develop and structure our groups. Jennifer was instrumental in helping me create my own coaching group. Thanks, Jennifer.
--Raymond L. Rigoglioso, ACC, http://www.rayriggs.net

"Jennifer is a gifted facilitator and coach. The Group Coaching Essentials program was practical, well designed and provided me with the opportunity to design my own group coaching course as I moved through it. I enjoyed the lazer sessions where I was able to ask more specific questions of Jennifer. The resources, exercises, and templates provided were excellent. I would highly recommend this course."
Pam Thompson, CEO, Creative Life Coaching Inc. http://www.creativehealingcentre.ca



I look forward to having you join us!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CPT
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

MidYear Check In: Group Coaching Programs and Your Business

July and August can be a terrific time to check in on where your programs and business are, to plan and reposition for the rest of the year.

In my newsletter this month, I included 10 Questions for Coaches to consider as a Mid-Year check-in. I wanted to share these with you at the blog given that I've had a lot of emails saying that these were very useful.

Take 15 minutes to sit back and reflect over the next few weeks and consider the following:

1.The major goals that I have completed since January are ______.
2. I am really pleased that I have accomplished ________ this year.
3. The projects I currently have on the go are _______________.
4. The opportunities that are facing me/my business/my programs right now are....
5. The challenges that are facing me/my business/my programs right now are....
6. I want to keep the following on my radar screen for the remainder of the year _______
7. I want to put more attention on ___________ for the next quarter/month.
8. My priorities for the next six months/quarter are ........
9. I want to be energized/fueled by .... for the remainder of the year.
10. By December 31, 2009 I will have.........

What action is really going to STRETCH you over the next few months?

Have a great time planning (and getting into action)!

Warm regards,
Jenn

Jennifer Britton, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Phone: (416) 996-8326
Email: info{at} potentialsrealized.com

Creating Momentum with Consistent Effort

I'm working out of my cottage this week on what I am calling a quasi-holiday. It is a busy summer with my bookwriting, lots of programs on the go and working on moving into a new house in 6 weeks. Being able to reflect riverside while disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of city life always renews my creative juices and energy.

Over the past few weeks in my 90 Day BizSuccess program, as well as the Group Coaching Essentials program I have been talking to business owners - coaches, and non-coaches - about the importance of creating momentum through consistent small steps.

• What are your big goals for the rest of the year?
• What would it be like to create momentum around achieving these?
• What small steps can you take on a daily basis towards this goal?
• What's the next small step you can take tomroorw to move yourself closer towards your goal?

I really love this time of year as it is a wonderful time to focus in on marketing. There are lots of posts from the past few summers here on the blog. Check out the marketing category on the left.

Do enjoy!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Group Coaching Essentials
(416) 996-TEAM (8326)

Two new classes of the Group Coaching Essentials programs start in July -- spaces are filling quickly. Choose from a daytime or evening session. Programs start:
Tuesdays 10:30 – 11:45 am (Eastern): July 14, 21, 28 and August 4 with 5th call in Sept
OR Wednesdays 7-8:15 pm (ET): July 22, 29, August 5 and 12 with 5th call in Sept

Click here for more information or to register.

Group Coaching Questionnaire Now Available Online

I want ,to thank all of the coaches who have contacted me in recent weeks to participate in my own rearch on Group Coaching for my upcoming book - Effective Group Coaching (Pfeiffer/Wiley, Jan 2010).

I am still looking for a few more case studies from around the world - particularly Europe and Australiasia. If you know of coaches who are undertaking group coaching work, please have them contact me.

I am also attaching a link to the group coaching questionnaire I am using to gather further insights and materials from coaches. If you are undertaking group coaching work and would like to participate in this questionnaire, please click here. The questionnaire should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. I will be following up on completed questionnaires directly with you.

I will be wrapping up my interviews in the next few weeks and would love to hear from you! - please take a few minutes now to complete this online questionnaire.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Phone: (416) 996-8326 (TEAM)
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot

Terrific Resource - Faciltiative Coaching

I often get asked for recommendations on resources for group coaching and in fact am accumulating quite a list of recommendations from coaches who I am interviewing for my book - Effective Group Coaching.

A few weeks ago I purchased a wonderful book which I feel is a must-have for all coaches bookshelf - Facilitative Coaching by Dale Schwarz and Ann Davidson.

The book is chock full of coaching exercises to use with clients - many of which could easily be adapted for the group coaching environment. What I like about the book is the range of exercises included - 71 in total! - as well as the clear cut descriptions of how to use them, and in many cases, how they've been used real life.

If you are looking for some new tools for your coaching toolkit - this is a great resource!

What other coaching books have you added recently to your bookshelf that you consider to be a must have? Feel free to comment below!

Warm regards,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC

Group Coaching Essentials

Potentials Realized

Phone: (416) 996-TEAM (8326)

Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com