CSTD/IFTDO Conference Wrap Up

I had a great time last week attending, and speaking at the IFTDO/CSTD Annual Conference. Thanks to all who turned out for my presentation on Group Coaching: A Method to Support Organizational Performance. There were about 80 coaches and learning professionals who attended the session I co-facilated with co-faciltiator, Maureen Clarke of the Blueprint Group. We had a lot of fun and hope that you did too.

It was wonderful reconnecting in person with colleagues from the learning profession across North America, while renewing my thirst for knowledge. Some of my favorite sessions were facilitiated by:

Christie Sterns of Training Makes Cents
Harold Stolovitch of who talked about research and performance improvement
Jane Bozarth who spoke on Instructional Design for the Real World
as well as some of the really innovative training via technology that is coming out of UHN from Heather Pollex and Anya Wood.

When was the last time you participated in some professional development? I look forward to meeting up with a number of you in December in Orlando for the 2009 ICF Conference. I will be presenting a session on Group Coaching: Essential Habits and Innovative Approaches on Saturday Decmeber 5th in the afternoon as part of the program. I hope that you will join me if you are attending!

Have a terrrific week - more to follow on tidbits and bytes gleaned last week.

Warmly
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPT
Group Coaching Essentials
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{com}

The date of the next, and last, Group Coaching Essentials program for 2009 has been shifted to start one week later on Monday November 9th at 12noon (ET). If you are wanting to create and launch your own group coacing work in the new year, now is a great ime to get started. Several spaces still remain in November's lunchtime session. Contact me for more details or click here. Session dates and times are: Mondays 12 - 1:15 pm (ET): Monday November 9, 16, 30, December 7 plus early January

7 Reasons to Co-Facilitate Group Coaching

Many coaches ask if co-facilitation is recommended when working with groups and teams. Throughout the years I have enjoyed great co-facilitation experiences, and for the most part today, whenever I undertake in-person work with large groups, co-facilitation is a must. Even with smaller groups, in more intensive interactions, such as team coaching, co-faciliation is my preference.

Here are seven reasons why co-facilitation makes great sense:

1. When working with larger groups, it makes it much easier to keep an eye on the group process;
2. The diverse styles many co-facilitators bring, allow for connections with different participants. Not everyone resonates, and connects, the same way with each facilitator;
3. Two heads are often better than one in terms of creativity and new idea generation;
4. Even if group process is running smoothly, it is useful for the "other facilitator" to keep an eye on logistical details (i.e. meals, materials, set up) if they are not leading an exercise;
5. It's easier to take note of outcomes and accountabilities, when you are not leading the discussion;
6. The energy created amongst co-facilitators can help you ride through the peaks and valleys of energy throughout the day;
7. It can be a lot more fun as you hopefully have created a partnership that you can lean into.

What are your reasons why you like to co-facilitate?

A bonus chapter of my book, Effective Group Coaching, is all about Co-facilitation and will be chock full of more tips and questions to consider when co-facilitating. Stay tuned for more details, and take note to circle back in January when the book is launched.

Have a great week and do check out earlier posts I've written about co-facilitation and what to consider.

Warm regards,
Jennifer

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

This month's Group Coaching Essentials program starts Tuesday October 13th at 7pm (Eastern). Join me and gain valuable tips, tools, resources and exercises for your own group coaching work. There are still 3 spaces available. The program is also accredited for 6.25 CCEs (Continuing Coach Education Units) by the ICF for those ACCs, PCCs, and MCCs needing to recertify (including 4.25 hours of Core Competencies). Give me a call at (416) 996-8326 if you are ready to add group coaching to your offerings and want to get started right away!

Join Me in Toronto on October 21st

I hope that you may join me here in Toronto on October 21st at 2 pm, when I will be presenting
Group Coaching: A Method to Support Organizational Performance at this year's CSTD/IFTIDO Annual Conference.

I will be co-presenting with colleague, Maureen Clarke. In addition to a very interactive session where you will be getting to explore how you can use group coaching to support your organizational performance, I will also be sharing some insights from how group coaching is impacting organizations across North America. Maureen will also be sharing some of her own research around how group coaching has impacted organizations.

Many of you will know that I was busy this summer writing Effective Group Coaching which will be published by Pfeiffer-Wiley in January 2010. I will be sharing some of the insights gathered from my research during my presentation next month. I hope that you can join me!

For more information on this year's CSTD/IFTDO conference, please visit http://www.cstd.ca. More information will be coming soon about pre-launch book information. Stay tuned!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

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

New Start Dates: Group Coaching Essentials: October and November

I'm pleased to announce that we've just added three new start dates for the Group Coaching Essentials program this fall.

Choose from one of the three new sessions that will be starting soon:

Fridays from 12 - 1:15 pm (ET): October 2, 9, 16, 23 plus 5th call (3 spaces still available)

Tuesdays 7-8:30 pm (ET): October 13, 27, Nov 3 and 10 plus 5th call (5 spaces open)

Mondays 12 - 1:15 pm (ET): November 2, 9, 16 and 30 plus 5th call (Just added)

This program is designed for coaches who are looking to design, market and implement their own group coaching programs, and are looking for tools, resources and exercises to support their work.

Program size is limited as this is a hands-on, interactive program. The program is also accredited for 6.25 hours of Continuing Coach Education Units by the ICF, ideal for those needing to recertify their ACC, PCC or MCC.

Click here for more information about the program or to register.

Questions? Please drop me an email or give me a call.

I hope that you will join us this fall!

Warm regards,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CPT

Group Coaching Essentials

Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

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