Trust and Group and Team Coaching Processes

Earlier this month I wrote about Creating Connection Amongst Group Members in any group coaching

context. As important to enabling a coaching conversation in any group or team, is the level of trust amongst group members. Trust levels in a group influence the depth of conversations we have, along with the topics we may delve into, and the approaches we use.

There are some significant differences as it relates to the topic of trust in group and a team coaching context. For group coaches, many times the group is newly forming, so trust needs to be building between you and group members, as well as amongst group members. As the group is forming, recognize that they will be looking to you to create with them a safe environment where they can share, learn and grow. Without a sense of trust and safety it is unlikely that the conversation will move to the deeper level of a coaching conversation. The conversation may remain at the surface level. 

In a team coaching process, most likely they are getting to know you as coach, but there are likely to be relationships already formed (except in the course of a newly forming team). A significant difference in the team coaching context are the levels of trust, and distrust, that have built up over time. When teams do not trust each other it is very difficult to surface and address the core issues at play.  It's important to design with the group at the start of the engagement what  role you will play in surfacing difficult issues, and what your role as a coach is.

Developing trust with your group and team members starts even before you get on the phone or in the room with your group/team. What are you doing to create expectations and build connection. Some of the Tips in the Creating Connection blog post may be things to consider.

In addition, some specific things to consider within your work as a team or group coach is:
- Consider how group members can get to know one another - especially if it is a virtual group. What opportunities online and offline can you create?
-  In a virtual realm what opportunities do you have to "see" each other (i.e. video skype), not just hear each other?
- For groups and teams that work with teach other, what can you do to build trust across typical relationships and silos that might exist?
- Explore with the team what the cost of distrust is. For group members, what is the cost of low levels of trust for themselves and their experience?
- Have team members define what behaviors define "trust". If you were to take a video camera or smart phone clip of their daily behaviors, what would "trust" look like?

It is also important to keep in mind the group and team development process. I've written in the past about Bruce Tuckman's model and coaching, and go into much greater detail in both of my books - Effective Group Coaching (pages 59-62) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (pgs 198-199).

Trust is a core issue for many of us that work with teams and is often the core issue (not symptom!).

Two resources I continue to recommend to my clients (individuals, teams and groups) are Stephen Covey's Smart Trust and Speed of Trust.

What would you recommend for coaches and clients as it relates to this topic of trust?

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

Group Coaching Intensive - Toronto: April 5-6 2014

A quick reminder that I will be holding the Group Coaching Intensive again in the Toronto area on the
weekend of April 5-6, 2014. An early bird rate is on until February 28th. The program is geared for both new and experienced coaches who are eager to add group and team coaching to their mix, and are looking for an immersive weekend to build their skill and knowledge base.

This program is approved for 15 hours of Continuing Coach Education including 13 hours of core competencies and 2 hours of other. Starting this spring, we will be placing a heavier emphasis on team coaching as well, as the program has evovled to incorporate my most recent writing in From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013).

This is a two day in-person program where you are going to get hands-on experience and feedback on your skills, in addition to lots of content, templates and ideas you can integrate into your work!

 

Fifteen things you’ll learn, or take-away from the Group Coaching Intensive: 

1. What group and team coaching is and how it is different and similar to workshops, retreats and individual coaching
2. Essential skills for group and team coaching and how you stack up
3. Key issues in group and team dynamics
4. Tools for designing your own group and team coaching programs, whether in person or virtually
5. Key considerations for Knowing Your Client
6. Essential components in opening, closing a session and keeping the flow
7. Core exercises and tools for group coaching
8. How to create actions, assignments and accountability to take your clients to the next how
9. New group coach stretch points, pitfalls and how to avoid them
10. Designing Virtual Programs – Phone, Web, Key considerations when going virtual
11. Corporate considerations – positioning group coaching, connections with other initiatives
12. Evaluating your programs
13. Pricing your group coaching work
14. Developing a marketing strategy for promoting your work – social media and traditional media
15. Tricky Issues – how to avoid them, and what to do if they happen

The hotel venue is still to be finalized, however, we are looking at a hotel near the airport for those coming in from out of town.


Early Bird rate of $950 plus HST which is payable in two equal installments (one now, one on March 28th). The early bird rate ends this Friday February 28th. Starting March 1st registration will go up to $1095 plus HST.

What's included with your registration:

• 15 hours of in-person training (approved for 15 CCEs with the ICF)
  
• The Intensive Binder  - more than 90 pages of content, ideas and resources
• A copy of either Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) or From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
• An individual pre-call with me
• A final group call one month after the event (1 hour)

More information about the program at our dedicated Group Coaching Intensive website here.

I hope that you will consider joining me in early April here in Toronto. I am really looking forward to it. Past programs have attracted coaches from Europe, across Canada (both coasts) and the US.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me directly.




With best wishes,
Jennifer



Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)
 

Three Essential Systems for Your Virtual Coaching Business

One of the most popular posts from the blog last year was about systems for your coaching business. You can read what I had to share about core systems for your coaching business last January (2013) here. With coaches I work with we spend quite a bit of time exploring the systems and foundations they have, or want to create, in order to create a sustainable business. Servicing multiple coaching clients, especially if they are individuals, groups and teams, really dictate the need for some systems that will work for you, and can be replicated, whether you have one group running or six.

Looking to what's supported my work this winter with individual, team and group clients, three areas automatically jump to mind:
1. Bridgelines
2. Registration
3. Marketing


Considering that this has been the winter of snow storm after snow storm, and the polar vortex which continues to bring frigid air to most of the Eastern Seaboard systems have been critical in keeping things hopping here in my world. I've also been very pleased that for the last few years I've made the conscious decision to not book a lot of in person work that required extensive travel between mid-November and March. So for December through to the end of this month, most (but not all) of my work has been virtual.

If you are considering how to move more of your work to the virtual realm so you don't spend days in an airport (something I learned during my former years of being a global leader with staff in 10 countries), here are four areas you will want to consider shoring up in terms of your business:

1. Bridgelines and online platforms - I first started running my virtual classes back in 2005, when the options were not as plentiful as today. Considering whether you are training or coaching you will want to explore the myriad of paid and free services out there. I'll dedicate an upcoming post to some of the more popular options that exist.

Considerations: What works for you? For where your clients are located (note, some bridgelines are inaccessible from certain locations). Which ones can be accessed on a mobile device? From international callers?

2. Registrations - Registrations no longer are done over the phone or by fax. Online registrations are an easy way to systematize your business. Eventbrite and PayPal are two possible options available 24/7 for coaches today at a low cost as are many more. Many coaches will also want to explore setting up a Merchant account with their bank. For those that do more in-person work, Square may be a good option to explore for taking payments in-person.

Things to consider when you choose how you are going to accept registrations:
1. Where are people based? What will be accessible and convenient for them?
2. Do you need mutliple currencies?
3. What is going to be viewed as secure and professional by them

Many of you know that I continue to work with professionals from across the globe. I have found that PayPal has really been the preferred option for online registrations and payments in the last five or so years by many of my clients - especially those located out of North America.

3. Marketing - A reminder of the "seven to eleven times" rule. A lot of coaches think that if they put an announcement out one, that will be enough. As I have written in multiple posts about marketing here at the blog (view past marketing posts here), it often takes many touch points (possibly somewhere between 7-11) before a person may decide if they even want to consider exploring something. It is critical to be building relationships in multiple ways throughout the year - in person and virtually.

Questions to consider:
What is your marketing strategy this year?
What will help to automate it?
What marketing systems will help you grow your business?
How can what you do this year for marketing (i.e. speaking, blogging etc), be rolled into future products or services?
How much time are you going to dedicate to marketing on a regular basis? What will this look like?

For those with either of my books - Effective Group Coaching, or From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, you will want to take a look at the Marketing Sweetspot activity (EGC pg 167-168) and From12Many (Digital Chapter on Marketing).

What other systems are going to enable you to scale up your work so you can serve multiple clients at any time.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

A reminder that the Early Bird Rate is on for the April 5-6 2014 Group and Team Coaching Intensive until February 28th. Take advantage of more than $100 in savings and payment in multiple installments. The program includes two days of hands-on practice in group and team coaching processes, and will be held in the Toronto areas. The program runs Saturday April 5 and Sunday April 6 from 8:30 - 5 on Saturday and 8:30-4:30 on Sunday. Reserve your spot here. Space is limited to 8-10 coaches. The program has been re-approved for 15 hours of Continuing Coach Education by the ICF, including 13 hours of Core Competencies.

Key Components in Designing Actions in Group and Team Coaching

In my latest book, From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, a chapter is dedicated to looking at how the eleven core coaching competencies of the ICF play out in a group and team coaching context. Today I wanted to take a look at the competency of Designing Actions with teams and groups you work with.

It's important to remember that group and team coaching are related sub-disciplines of the coaching profession, and although there are some additional skills required to be masterful team or group coaches, our core skill foundation remains the same.

There are six areas I highlight as quite important in any team and group coaching process, to support clients in designing actions. In the group coaching context actions may be taken individually, or depending on the synergy of a group, may be cumulative. In a team coaching context often actions are across an entire team or involving the entire team.

Area 1 - Application opportunities. As I write on page 79 of From One to Many, "Fundamental to the coaching process is the actino that comes from the conversation....Coaching is a conversation with intent. What action is the group or team inspired to take? Application of the new learning is key...".

What application opportunities are you co-designing with your group and team members?

Area 2 - Brainstorming and other approaches. We play a key role in supporting groups and teams to identify other options in leading them to their goals. Brainstorming can be a very useful process individually and collectively in moving thinking outside of the box. At what levels will these options support the group or team - big picture, or tactical?

Area 3 - Do It Now! One of my favorite sub-components listed by the ICF under the Designing Action competency is about the coach supporting a client in Doing it NOW! What does DO IT NOW look like for the teams and groups you are working with. What support would they like from you?


Area 4 - Stretch and Super-stretch: Coaching is a process of change. As such we work quite closely with clients to identify their comfort zones, and support them in stretching these. In a group or team coaching process, it is important to recognize that a stretch for one many not be a stretch for all. What is the stretch, or are the stretches, for the groups and teams you are working with?

Area 5 - Opportunities for Celebration - Team and group coaching conversations offer important pauses in today's busy world. As coaches it is important to create moments for reflection and also celebration, as individuals, and the collective reach new milestones, habits and learning through their action.


Area 6 - Field Work. As I have written many times in the past, the real impact of coaching happens outside of our conversations. Field work - whether a coaching request, reading, research - helps to support group and team members in taking action. Our next coaching conversation provides greater accountability in getting it done.
What field work will support your clients in taking action?

In closing, taking action is an important part of the coaching process, and is closely linked to the goal setting work we go with teams, as well as another related competency of Designing Actions. What else is important for you to keep in mind around Designing Actions?

 With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

A reminder that the Early Bird Rate is on for the April 5-6 Group Coaching Intensive until February 28th. Take advantage of more than $100 in savings and payment in multiple installments. The program includes two days of hands-on practice in group and team coaching processes, and will be held in the Toronto areas. The program runs Saturday April 5 and Sunday April 6 from 8:30 - 5 on Saturday and 8:30-4:30 on Sunday. Reserve your spot here. Space is limited to 8-10 coaches.

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Mentor Coaching Group starts Thursday February 20 at 9am Eastern

A quick reminder that I will be starting the next Mentor Coaching Group this week on Thursday Feb 20th at 9 am Eastern/New York by phone. This program is geared for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes.

It it consists of 7 group calls over the three months and one individual call each month. It meets the mentor coaching requirements for the ICF, and explores the 11 core coaching competencies. It also provides coaches with feedback ontheir coaching skills.

Group calls will be held on: February 20, 27, March 6, April 3, 10, May 1 and 22. An individual call will be scheduled with you monthly.

Space is limited to 3-6 coaches. Cost is $1000 for the three month program, payable one installment or three monthly installments.

Here's what past participants have said about their work with me as a mentor coach:

“Jennifer Britton delivers a well-designed mentor coaching program grounded in the ICF coaching competencies that blends peer learning and mentor guidance. The program design is suitable for busy coaches who want to sharpen their skills and maximize their learning in a cost and time effective manner.” - Jennifer Vissier, ACC

“A consummate professional!  Jennifer's coaching style is an impressive balance of care and rigor.  Agile, perspicacious, bold, and generous are some of her core qualities that I greatly appreciated over the course of the Mentor Coaching program.  To top it all off, she's got all the logistics and basics - i.e. punctuality, preparation, presence, process management, etc. - covered.  A WOW experience for sure!” - MC Lessard, ACC, 4D Excellence

 

Click here to learn more and register.

Note: I also offer individual mentor coaching as well for those who prefer 1-1 work.

I hope that you will consider joining me for an upcoming Mentor Coaching Group.

Best
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-8326

Call

Send SMS

Add to Skype

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Creating Connection Amongst Group Members: Group Coaching

One of the eleven core competencies (of the ICF) is about Building Trust and Rapport with our

Five Ways to Build Connection - Copyright 2014, Jennifer Britton

coaching clients. In a group and team coaching context creating connection amongst group members is just as important in creating a "safe" space for a coaching conversation. Without the sense of safety it is unlikely that people will engage into the depth of a coaching conversation. It may be more of a "surface" conversation.

Today's blog post explores five ways to create connetion amongst group members. As we know, the coaching process may begin before you even get in the room, or on the phone together. Many of thes tips are also useful in creating a link between you and each particpant.

#1 - Introductions: Consider how you can make introductions a key part of creating connection. Whether you are in person or on the phone/web, consider how you can use introductions to make people feel more connected. Is there any follow-up (i.e. photos and a paragraph about themselves) you would like people to share after the first session?

#2 - Utilize breakouts: Breakouts make a huge difference in getting people to connect in a larger group setting (even when the group may only be 4-8 people). Historically, it was only conference calling services such as Maestro Conferencing that allowed you to do breakouts on the phone. today free services such as FreeConferencing.com allow you to break into up to four separate groups. How might you leverage breakouts for connection?


#3 - Bring in different approaches, for example, Visuals. I continue to get amazed at the impact of using Visual tools such as Visual explorer in my work. Seveal weeks ago, while I was delivering a conference presentation I brought in Visual Explorer as a conversation sparker around collaboration. The change of energy in the room was instantanenous, which says a lot for 3:30pm! using visual resources may allow certain participants to connect to the conversation in a different way.

Click here to view my December video post on different visual tools I use in my work.

#4 - Leave enough time - Creating connection takes time. A best practice in any group coaching work is "Less is more". What might you need to let go of in terms of topics, activities, in order to provide the space for people to be in dialogue?

# 5 - Peer learning partners/buddies - Creating peer partners (twos or threes) can also provide a significant way to keep the conversation flowing and boost connection between some group members. If you are concerned that these connections may create cliques, rotate the pairings. Fro my experience, I have found that people have enjoyed building connection with one or two other peers in the group, and that it has allowed them to go deeper in their own goals and plans. Also, it's always interesting to notice what connections people find, even it pairings are done randomly!

What approaches do you want to bring into your next group coaching process?

Best wishes,
Jennifer


Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-8326
 
Join us for an upcoming program - 
Group Coaching Essentials (starts Thursday March 20th at 10:15 am Eastern/New York) - 6.75 CCEs
Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes (starting Thursdays 9-10 am ET on Feb 20th running to May 22nd)

February Group and Team Coaching Nuggets Newsletter and February Program Dates

This month's newsletter includes an article on Team Coaching versus Team Building, along with links to last months blog posts and the January 2014 Video on different ways to use index cards in your programs. You can read the newsletter here.

I've also linked to upcoming programs for February which include:
1. The Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar (6.75 CCEs) starting Thurs Feb 6 at 10 am ET: Calls held Feb 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 6. In addition to these 5 x 75 min calls, you'll benefit from weekly laser 1-1 calls with me (15 min/week), and an 80 page module. Calls run Thursdays 10 - 11:15 am Eastern/Toronto. Several spaces still open. More info and registration here.

2. Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes. This 10 hour program includes 7 hours of group calls, and 3 hours of individual mentor coaching. We take a deep dive of looking at the core competencies and provide you with opportunity to practice and get feedback on your coaching skills. More info and registration here. The next group will start on Thursday Feb 20th at 9am ET and will run to May 22nd. The group calls will be held on Thursdays from 9-10 am ET/New York and will be held on Feb 20, 27, March 6, April 3, 10, May 1 and 22.

3. Facilitation Skills Intensive - this two day train-the-trainer will be held in Toronto on Feb 24-25. Focus is on providing you with facilitation skills and techniques to be more effective with your work with groups and teams. It will be offered again in June and the fall of 2014. Registration deadline Feb 10.

4. Early Bird rate for Group Coaching Intensive - This spring the two day Group Coaching Intensive returns to Toronto on April 5-6. Are you a coach looking for hands on training in the area of group coaching? Want to take a deep dive into the techniques and practice of this work? Curious about how you can add support to Groups (and Teams) to your work? Want feedback on  your skills. Join Jennifer for this weekend program as we take an immersive look at Group and Team Coaching. Program is being resubmitted for CCEs for 2014. It has been approved for 15 CCEs in the past. Early bird rate on now. More info and registration here. Program size capped at 10 coaches.

Questions about any of the programs? Contact me at (416)996-8326 or by email.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)