9th Annual Year End Group Programs Call - Friday Dec 14 at 11 am Eastern

A quick note to invite you to the 9th Annual Year End Group Programs call which will be held this Friday December 14th from 11-11:45 am Eastern/New York/Toronto. You can participate by phone, and this year there will be a screensharing element for those that enjoy the visual channel.

This year's call will focus on group program trends for 2013 as well as a reminder of some core best practices for team and group programs.

There is no cost to participate other than your own long-distance charges.

To join us on Friday at 11, please follow these instructions:
1. Please join my meeting:
https://www.freescreensharing.com/meetings/282-229-972

2. Join the conference call:
Dial: (559)546-1200
and enter the
Meeting ID: 282-229-972
followed by the # key.

If you are going to be linking in online, you are encouraged to log in a few minutes early to ensure your system can connect.

I look forward to connecting with you later this week! A listing of some of our upcoming year end programs, as well as early 2013 programs can be found below.

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
(416)996-TEAM (8326)

I hope that you will join us for an upcoming program. Upcoming Programs include:
The 2013 Business Planning Virtual Retreat - 11-5 pm Eastern: Monday December 17, 2012
Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals, & ACC/PCC Portfolio Routes: Fridays 12 - 1pm Eastern: Jan 11 - April 12, 2013 (7 group calls, 3 hours individual calls) - 3 spots open
Group Coaching Essentials (6.75 CCEs) - Thursdays 1030-11:45 am Eastern: Jan 10-Feb 7, 2013 - 5 spots open
Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (8 CCEs) - Thursdays 9-10:15 am Eastern: Jan 17 - Feb 21, 2013

Bringing in more visuals to your group and team programs

Think back to a program, webinar, presentation you have recently participated in. What did you enjoy the most? I would guess that if we took a poll some of the things you might have enjoyed would include: interactivity, visuals and connection.

In today's digital age, many of us get captivated by visuals and images. How are you incorporating visuals into your work? From MindMapping to postcards, from collage to cartoons, here is a quick list of 8 things you might want to consider incorporating into your work:

1. MindMapping - have group members create a MindMap related to the work you are doing. It could capture their learning, capture their vision or design a program.
2. Stock up in some post cards or other photos and bring them into the conversation
3. Create your own treasure trove of stock photos by investing in some at IStockPhoto or other site.
4. Start developing your own cadre of photos. With today's smartphones it has never been easier to develop our own portfolio of neat shots - landscapes, buildings, signs etc.
5. Get visual - bring in an activity like collage with your teams or groups. I often encourage teams to create a "story board" of where they are going. You may also have your group members create a vision board.
6. Pinterest is a great place to have photos come alive. (Get permission before sharing snaps of your own events.). You may also want to have group members make their own boards based on their learning, action and awareness
7. Check out the variety of visual decks which can be used in coaching (or training sessions), as well as retreats at CoachingToys.com.
8. Lead from photo and story rather than text. What photos capture your message?

What other visual supports/resources would you recommend? What do you want to bring into your programs next year?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com
(416)996-8326
Coaches - Join me for the Year End Business Planning Virtual Retreat on Monday December 17th from 10-4 pm Eastern. Ready to set the foundation for making 2013 a great year?

Kick Start Your Group Programs for 2013 - join me Thursday

A quick reminder that I will be holding the last Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar for 2012 starting this Thursday November 29th from 9-10:15 am ET./New York. The program will be of interest to those who want to add group coaching to their mix, or incorporate a group coaching approach into their other group programs - teleclasses, retreats and workshops.

We will be meeting on Thursdays and Tuesdays from 9-10:15 am Eastern/New York for the next few weeks, with calls set for November 29, December 4, 6, 13 and 18th. Each call has a distinct focus with assignments designed to support you to move from program idea into program draft. I also am available for one on one laser calls between each session. Our calls will look at designing, marketing and implementing group coaching, providing you with road-tested tips and tools, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

The program is approved for 6.75 CCEs with the ICF. Cost: $395 US or CDN (including HST)

Click here for more information or to register.

“ Jennifer knows her stuff, walks her talk, and provides effective modeling of group coaching principles for those seeking a basic understanding and framework for artful group coaching.”

Melanie Keveles, MA, CPCC, MCC, Starting Fresh Coaching, LLC, startofsomethingbig.com

 

Hope that you will join us for this or one of our other upcoming programs (see side bar).

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com 
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
info{at}potentialsrealized.com
(416)996-8326

4 of my favorite group program resources this year

As we move towards the end of the year I am in the process of starting to take stock of different engagements I ran this year and what I want to carry forward into work with clients. I've shared a number of these throughout this year with other coaches during the Group Coaching Essentials and Advanced Group Coaching Practicum. I wanted to share four of these with you today. Consider how you might be able to incorporate these into your next group coaching program, retreat, teleclass or webinar:

1. Post It Notes - recently on my Facebook page, I outlined 5 ways to bring in post it notes (also seen here). Post-its continue to be an essential tool for engagement, addressing different learning needs, and just mixing it up in my group programs. Think about how you may use it for check ins, evaluation, brainstorming, identifying the coaching focus etc.
2. Visual Explorer  - Over the years I have written a lot about Visual Explorer which is produced by the Center for Creative Leadership. I've continued to use it regularly this year in team and group coaching processes, retreats, and also in phone and web based programs.
3. JICT Cards - These were first introduced to me by Dr. Jean Davidson at my Summer Group Coaching Intensive in Muskoka and I fell in love with them right away. Smaller than the Visual Explorer main deck which I use, the JICT cards were created by four coaches. Great photos, portable, and with a coaching process behind it, you can check out the JICT cards at CoachingToys.com. Also a terrific site for coaches to check out for many more tools.
4. Working with Strengths and Styles - Exploring strengths and styles continued to be a foundational piece of my work with teams and groups this year. Wherever possible we built on what the organization already was doing, and I found myself also bringing in the PSI (Personal Styles Inventory), StrengthsFinder, DiSC, and also VIAStrengths.

What were some of your favorite tools and resources you incorporated into your group programs this year?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Join me for the last Group Coaching Essentials teleclass of 2012 starting this Thursday Nov 29th at 9 am Eastern. We'll be meeting on Tues/Thurs 9-10:15 am ET on November 29, December 4, 6, 13 and 18 (6.75 CCEs). Hope you can make it. More info and registration here. 
2013 BizSuccess Virtual Retreat starts this Friday at 1 pm ET and will also be held on Monday December 17th. Looking to carve out some time to focus on your business? Hope that you will join me. More info here.
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

Team Coaching: Areas of conversation

There are many rich areas for conversation and focus during a team coaching engagement. In speaking with coaches recently during research for my next book, From One To Many - Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, it has been very interesting to zoom in on the multitude of topic areas, and similarities teams are bringing to the table.

Here is a quick list of some core team coaching topic areas:
- Difficult Conversations
- Feedback
- Roles within the team
- Styles - leadership, communication, conflict
- Vision (team, individual, organizational)
- Values (team, individual, organizational)
- Strengths
- Communication - ranging from meeting management to styles to feedback and virtual team issues
- Trust and Respect
- Working Synergistically and Across Differences
- Conflict - Styles, Navigating Conflict
- Goal setting and action planning
- Alignment - Goals, Roles etc.

What are some of the key team coaching issues you see with the teams you work with? What resoruces would you point teams and coaches to? As always, please feel free to comment below.

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com | Potentials Realized
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
(416) 996-TEAM (8326)
info{at}potentialsrealized{dot} com

Group Coaching Essentials starts November 29 (6.75 CCEs)

Our last Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar for 2012 will start on Thursday November 29th at 9am Eastern/Toronto/New York. We'll be meeting on an accelerated schedule of calls on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-10:15 am Eastern, on November  29, December 4, 6 and 13 and 18 th. The program is approved by the ICF for 6.75 CCEs (including 4.25 hours of Core Competencies).

The program is geared for coaches who want to add group coaching to their work, whether in-person, virtual, for public groups or in organizations. Throughout the five calls we explore:

·         The Essentials of Group Coaching – What is group coaching? Skills for Group Coaching? Group Coaching vs. Training and Facilitation. Best Practices for Group Coaching.

·         Designing and Implementing Your Program – Tips, Templates and Resources to support you in designing and implementing your program - Virtually and In Person, for corporate and public clients

·         Marketing tips and approaches for your program - social media, positioning and pricing

·         Tools, Resources and Exercises for Group Coaching

·         The 8 Habits of Highly Effective Group Coaches

If you want to get your programs launched in the new year, the timing is ideal! In addition to the 5 calls, I am available for 15 min laser calls each week as  part of your registration. You'll also receive module notes packed with content, questions to support your work and many templates. If you can't make a call, calls are recorded for you to catch up. Space is limited to 6-8 coaches.

Here's what coaches have said about the program:

"Group Coaching Essentials represents outstanding value.  Every encounter with Jennifer Britton demonstrated her rich skill, experience and integrity as a coach, trainer and group facilitator.  In addition to the content-rich and ideas-rich course material, the addition of several one to one coaching sessions with Jennifer during the progress of the course added great value to the experience.   Anyone wishing to develop confidence, tools and ideas for running their own group coaching will benefit greatly from this course."

Alison Manning

Professional Mediator and Coach

Mindspan Communications, Australia

www.mindspancommunications.com

 

"As a coach, I was looking for new and valuable services to offer my clients.  Group coaching is a great offering for people who want to experience both the accountability of coaching and the support of a group.  When I was looking for the best mentor the only real choice was Jennifer Britton.  She’s structured the Group Coaching Essentials program to be a turn-key solution for anyone to go from inexperience to launching a program – all in five sessions.  Jennifer has done the work of gathering all the best information about group coaching and filtered it into a resource-packed format that takes you from newbie to launch easily and confidently." ~ Deirdre Walsh, Integrative Health Coach www.deirdrewalsh.ca 

 

Cost for the program: $395 US or CDN (including HST). For more info and to register, please click here.

Questions? Please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best regards

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC 

GroupCoachingEssentials.com

Phone:(416)996-TEAM 

 

Looking to create some structured focus to plan for 2013? Consider joining us for two of our year end Virtual Retreats - the 2013 BizPlanning Virtual Retreat (Friday November 30 and December 7 from 1-4 pm Eastern by phone) which focuses on creating your business plan for 2013. Also I'll be hosting the Group Program Design Virtual Retreat on Friday Dec 14 and 21 from 1- 4 pm Eastern by phone, which is geared for coaches who want to work on the design of their own teleclass, workshop, webinar, or other group coaching program.