Reflecting Back on 2015 Trends for Team and Group Coaches

I hope that you have been enjoying a happy and restful holiday season. As coaches, this can be a busy

time of year with clients preparing for  the new year and taking stock of the year that was.

In January we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Group Coaching Essentials program and I am excited to be hosting some special events, including our new semi-monthly Blabs on the topic of Group and Team Coaching, and also the launch of a new six and twelve month coaching support program for coaches at the Learning Lab and Design Studio.

As I logged in today to write this last post of 2015 it was amazing to note we are almost hitting the 100,000 read mark here at the blog.

A few weeks ago I held my 12th Annual Year End Group Programs call on a newer platform - Blab - and highlighted these four trends that impacted our work during 2015:

 1. Explosion of technology
2. The different options and combinations needed by clients
3. Value in the variety of tools available
4. Recognition that clients engage in different ways (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)

If you missed viewing the blab you can see it on YouTube, or directly at the Group Coaching Design Studio Blab site (and please check out the others I did this fall as well on topics including using visuals,  three core components of group coaching processes etc).

On a macro and global level around Group and Team Coaching, it has been a busy year with group coaching continuing to embed itself as a real option for public and corporate clients, and I can't count how many times I have  heard people say that they think team coaching is ready to explode in terms of demand.

For me, it continues to be a privilege to write, and speak and support coaches in this  area. During 2015 I was able to connect with  more than 1000 coaches directly through my speaking, training and many more through my writing, and blabs. I look forward to continuing to support you during 2016 as well.

Some of this year's most popular posts included the following - perhaps an indication of areas coaches are focusing on:

The Twelfth Annual Year End Group Programs Call  - Read and View it here

Six Ways to Bring in Visuals to Your work -Read Part 1 here. Read Part 2 here

Group and Team Coaching Myth - Everyone Engages in the Same Way. Read it here

Group and Team Coaching Myth 0 More is More in Terms of  Program Design Read it here

Three Core Elements of any Group Coaching Program - Read it here

Coaching Questions - Year End Review (December 2015) - Read it Here.

6 Coaching Questions to Strengthen Connection in Group and Team Coaching - Read it here

What's the Difference Between Group and Team Coaching? - Read it here

Three Keys to Marketing Group Coaching (the inspiration for an on-demand program I launched this spring dedicated to Marketing. It's called Marketing Tips for Your Team and Group Programs. You can enroll for 24/7 access here and take the program at your own pace).  Read the blog post here

and finally a link to the Eleventh Annual Group and Team Programs call

I want to wish you the best of success for 2016 and enjoy these last few hours of our current year!

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 me in January to sharpen your coaching skills, amp up your group and team coaching work and/or coaching business:
Group Coaching Essentials teleclass starting Thursday January 7th from 10:15 - 11:30 am ET (8.75 CCEs with the ICF)
Mentor Coaching Group starting Friday January 8th from 9-10 am ET (for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes
The six and twelve month Learning Lab and Design Studio membership group which includes two group calls  a month, a Facilitation Lab, access to a treasure-trove of resources, and some 1-1 time with me monthly

Four Critical Success Factors for Team Coaching

This fall I was asked by participants at the Team and Group Coaching Intensive what were the critical

success factors for team coaching engagements. Given that team coaching engagements are often longer in length with more touchpoints and time involved, it is critical that we get things right.

A critical success factor is something that is essential for success. That's a pretty strong statement, and after dozens of team coaching engagements, I shared the following four as critical success factors for the teams I have coached whether they have been in customer service, health care, financial services or consumer goods:

1. Leader Engagement and Openness - The engagement and buy in of the leader is absolutely essential. Without their active participation and openness to not only the team coaching process, but supporting change and crreating n enabling environment is key.
Sometimes team coaching points to areas the leader needs to take responsibility for. As such, it is important for us to spend time with the leader preparing them, and priming them, for potential change and their role.

Without leader engagement and openness, even the best team coches can only have limited impact on the team and its' system.

2. Linkage into regular/ongoing team practices - Teams have a lifespan outside of our work with them. Therefore, it is important that as coaches we have team members make the connection back to their work with the commitments and practices they want to undertake. For example, if the team is committed to having more direct conversations, a great starting point might be their regular team meetings. Check back with the team regarding what structures they already have in place to support new behaviors, accountability and action/.

3. Masterful team coaches have a variety of tools to pull from. Our ongoing professionl development is key. Acquiring skills, techniques and approaches from a variety of sources can help to build our tolbox. As you think to the new year, what new skills do you want to add? Look to other professional associations outside of the ICF for potential learning opportunities - ATD, the Institute for Performance and Learning,

4. Metrics - Measurement is key starting wiht the begining of the team coching assessment where the team defines that their success measures are. As coaches continue to ask those involved, how can ou measure this? When will be measure this? Given that many team coaching engagements are longer term (i.e. 3 to 6 months or more), consider how you can build in with the team measurement points (i.e. start, mid-point, end point). Be aware of the potential fricition which can exist between measurement, evaluation and confidentiality.

There are definitely more Crticial Success Factors fr this work such as trust, connection and mnay more. What do you see as critical success factors in the work you undertake?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Join me at the Learning Lab and Design Studio for ongoing group and individual coaching support during 2016. Six and twelve month packages now available.

12th Annual Year End Group Programs Call - Jennifer Britton

Late last week I held my 12th Annual Year End Group Programs call which has become an annual tradition. Over the years, I've migrated from bridgeline, to zoom, to this year's blended format of bridgeline and Blab. If you missed it, you can listen into, and view the 30  min call/presentation here.

In the call I shared four key themes of this year which impacted our work as group and team coaches, facilitators, and trainers. They included:
1. Explosion of technology
2. The different options and combinations needed by clients
3. Value in the variety of tools available
4. Recognition that clients engage in different ways (visual, auditory, kinesthetic

Key needs and focus areas in our work continue to be:
Trust
Connection
When coaching focusing in on goals (as articulated by the clients), support for action and awareness, and on-going accountability
Providing a rich space for conversation

You can also listen into some of the trends I see coming in 2016 - will be blogging on this in early 2016!

What are you doing to create a pause for the end of the year? Do you journal? Retreat? Join me for a one day retreat on Thursday December 17(8-4pm Eastern/NewYork) where over the course of 8 hours we'll be doing a combination of group calls, individual reflection and I'll be available throughout the day for some 1-1 laser coaching. You'll also have ongoing access to the Inner Biz Leader Virtual Business Planning Retreat on-demand program which you can return to quarter after quarter at your own pace. Cost: $495 for the day, or save 35% at http://bitly.com/dec17vrspecial.

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Join me at the Learning Lab and Design Studio for ongoing group and individual coaching support during 2016. Six and twelve month packages now available. 

Coaching Questions - Year End Review and Vision for the Next Year

This is an exciting part of the year where many of our coaching clients want to take stock of the year

Photo D. Lupeneau - Freeimages.com

that was and look ahead to the vision for their next year. That was the inspiration for today's post.

In my December newsletter I include 10 Activities you may want to undertake as part of your year end process with groups and teams. You can read it here.

Some of the questions I like to use at year end include:
What do you want to celebrate about 2015? What have been your greatest achievements this year?
What opportunities have provided you with the greatest learning? What have been those key learnings?
Who has helped you be successful?
What has helped your successes?
What obstacles have you overcome?
AS you look back at the year, how would you sum it up in 1-2 sentences?

AS you look ahead to the new year:
What is your intention for the new year?
What are the top three goals you have set for yourself? (or what are your main goals if people find it too hard to isolate or prioritized just a couple)
What's going to support you to be at your best?
What might get in the way? How can you be proactive to make sure this doesn't happen?
What is really important to you in 2016?
What plans do you have to recharge? Renew?
What commitments are you making to yourself for 2016?


I do a lot of visioning work at this time of year and you can listen into a 10 minute vision piece for yourself and your business at the Inner Biz Leader Virtual Business Planning Retreat. Scroll towards the bottom of the page where you will see all of the elements of the course including the Audio on Vision. (with the Preview button highlighted).

Perhaps you will even consider joining me for the one day virtual retreat session I will be holding on Thursday December 17th between 8-4 pm ET by phone. I'll be leading the group through both group activities and I will be available for one on one conversations throughout the day as well. You can save 35% off using this special link.

As you start this week consider how you would like to schedule time for yourself for planning for 2016 and reflecting on 2015. Not sure what areas you might find yourself coaching around in 2016? View last week's Group Coaching Design Studio blab (Blab 6.2) where I cover 24 areas coaches often find themselves coaching around. Enjoy!

Have a great start to the week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Join me at the Learning Lab and Design Studio for ongoing group and individual coaching support during 2016. Six and twelve month packages now available. 

A reminder too that the 12th annual year end call will be held on Thursday December 10th at 12 noon ET at the Group Coaching Design Studio blab, or you can dial in to 1-805-399-1000, access 998223. No cost to attend other than your own long distance charges to connect by phone.

December Progamming - Business Building, Planning For 2016, Learning Lab and Design Studio

As we step into the month of December attention turns to planning for 2016. 

I'll be holding a one day live virtual business planning session which includes the 8 hour live program by phone with me, plus you get ongoing access to the on-demand Inner Biz Leader Virtual Business Planning Retreat. Throughout the day, and the on-demand program, we'll be focusing on supporting you to develop your business vision and plan for 2016 while also leaving space for you to tackle (and possibly check off!) one of your projects of choice. In past virtual retreats I've had coaches focus on their websites, their blogs, work on program and service offerings etc. Regular cost for the one day Virtual Retreat with me and ongoing access to the Inner Biz Leader on-demand program is $497. Save 35% until Midnight on Monday December 8th using this link.

Prefer something shorter and more compact? the Coaching Business Builder: 12 Core Tips is now available to you at the Learning Lab and Design Studio our new online learning portal for asynchronous courses (i.e. on-demand programming). This program covers 12 core areas for business development and provides you with short activities to get into action. Cost $59 US.

Last week I also launched my newest digital resource - 40 Ways to Work with Visual Cards. Many of you may know my penchant for working with different visual decks in group and team programs. I've pulled together detailed instructions on 40 different activities you can use, and also provide you with 5 worksheets you can use "as is" with your groups. Introductory pricing is $40 US -that's only $1 an activity! Click here to learn more and order the 40 Ways e-manual. If you are looking for cards to use consider the Conversation Sparker Cards orthe Teams365 Team Sparker Deck.


I will be hosting my 12th Annual Year End Call this year on the blab platform on Thursday December 10th from 12-12:30 pm Eastern. I hope that you can join me on blab. I'll cover some of the trends from the past year and share a few forecasts for 2016. No cost for this call other than your own time.

In January the Group Coaching Essentials program turns 10! For some time now coaches and alumni have asked What Next? What Else can I tap into for ongoing support around my own development as a coach, and support for group and team programs? You can now join me at the Learning Lab

and Design Studio for a 6 or 12 month membership. This includes two group calls per month, plus a once a month Facilitation Lab call where we experiment with and use a different resource for group and team work. It also gives you access to me once a month for 1-1 coaching call. Also at your fingertips will be dozens of hours of audio, video and written resources for group and team coaching. It's geared for coaches, and other professionals who are looking for ongoing support in the area of group and team programs, and coaching in general, who are looking for a network of colleagues to learn with, grow with and experiment with. For more information and to grab your seat in the Lab click here. I hope that you will consider joining me in 2016 at the Learning Lab and Design Studio. It's going to be  blast. Cost for a six month membership is $1250 US (which means that you get one month free. The monthly cost is $250 US or $2500 US for the year). Learn more or sign up here.

Looking forward to having many rich conversations this month and as we move into 2016.

Have a great month,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Join me at the Learning Lab and Design Studio for ongoing group and individual coaching support during 2016. Six and twelve month packages now available. 

Six more ways to use visuals in your work - Part 2

Last week's post on using visuals in our work with groups and teams proved to be very popular and I received a number of emails from individuals wanting more info. I dedicated last week's blab to demonstrating six ways to using visual cards in your work. If you haven't had a chance to view it, you can do so here.

Here's a list of ways you might consider bringing in photos:
Openers
Closure
Celebration
Acknowledgement
Work around Vision
Work around Values
Pre-work (supporting the "priming" function of learning. There may be something you can do linked to your focus)
As learning partner work
As a tangible "take away" from the session
As a reminder which can be sent out after the event (like a post-card)


Whether you decide to go with a formal photo deck like Conversation Sparker or other, you can also make your own. I've had alumni of the Group Coaching Essentials make their own decks for their coaching work. Here's how different people did it:
1. Created their own deck using istock photos
2. Created special laminated cards using their own photos

ConversationSparker.com

3 Purchased a series of calendars at the dollar store
4. Brought old magazines for people to choose from.


I've just launched my newest e-manual - 40 Ways to  Use Visual Cards = which goes into one and two page descriptions of forty different activities plus 5 worksheets you can use "as is" with your groups. This is a digital product and costs $40 US - that's only $1 an activity!

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Join us for an upcoming CCE approved program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting December 1st (Tues/Thurs Dec 1, 8, 10, 15, 17 - 8.75 CCEs with the ICF) - 3 spots open
Save 50% on the Coaching Business Builder - our latest on-demand course -  at the Learning Lab and Design Studio
 (416)996-8326

Resources for your Coaching Business, Year End Planning, and Teams and Groups - Black Friday

I hope that Thanksgiving was a wonderful time of Friends, Family and Festivities for those of you who are just wrapping up celebrations. We've just started celebrating Black Friday here in Canada over the last few years, even though our Thanksgiving is in October. It's quickly become a marker for the start of the holiday season and year end savings. This year I'm pleased to announce a couple of resources to support you in your year end planning, 2016 business development and a cool new resource for your team and group work if you use visual cards.

Next Friday December 4th from 8-4 pm ET/New York I will be hosting a live virtual retreat for business owners using the Inner Biz Leader Virtual Business Planing Retreat. If you are looking to create your business plan for 2016 while reconnecting with your unique strengths, this program is for you.While this has been an on-demand program for the last year, I'll be hosting a one day live event where you get to work with me in group and 1-1 conversations throughout the day by phone and skype, and be able to Click here to access the special pricing coupon.
access the on-demand program 24 hours a day, 7 days a year, 365 days a year. I'm offering a 35% discount on the December 4th Virtual Retreat - regularly $497 US, with a savings over the Black Friday weekend of 35% for a total for the one day virtual retreat and on-demand program of $323.05 US.

The Coaching Business Builder on-demand program covers 12 core tips for coaches who are wanting to start, or grow their business. the course includes several hours of video and more than a dozen worksheets you can use in your business right now. Save 50% on the regular pricing of $59 US (for a total of $29.50 US) until Tuesday December 1st using this special link at the Learning Lab and Design Studio. Complete the course at your own pace and time.

Worksheet from the 40 Ways to Use Visual Cards,

Finally, I am very pleased to announce the latest support for coaches who are using visual cards in their work. As I shared in this week's Group Coaching Design Studio blab #5 (view here), I've just finished pulling together my latest e-manual 40 Ways to Use Visual Cards with Individuals, Teams and Groups. Chances are if you've ever seen me speak you've had a chance to experience one of the many great visual decks out in marketplace (Visual Explorer, the Coaching Game - Points of You, the JICT Deck or my Conversation Sparker Deck). The 40 Visual Ways e-manual (which I'm calling it for short form) includes detailed activity descriptions for facilitating 40 different activities with cards - from startegic planning, to change management, team development, innovation and problem solving. In addition to the one and two page activity descriptions I'm also including 5 worksheets which you can use Engaging Exercises e-manual has been for the last 10 years.
as is with your own teams and groups (one on strengths, a vision roadmap, the SWOT and more). This new resource is $40 US and is available through the Group Coaching Essentials site and the Conversation Sparker site. That's $1 an activity - can't beat it! I have a feeling it will be as widely embraced as the

Finally, the last (accelerated) session of the Group Coaching Essentials program starts Tuesday. This 8.75 CCe program covers a wide range of best practices, approaches and tools to support you in designing, marketing and creating your own group coaching programs. Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:30 - 245 pm ET on the phone on December 1, 8, 10, 15, 17. Price increases in January. More info and registration here (4 spots open for next week's session) .

So....as we start to turn our attention to year end, what do you want to wrap up before year end?What do you want to focus on in 2016? the Group Coaching Design Studio Blab #4 covered a number of other visioning questions you might be interested in exploring. Do listen in here. The next blab #6 will be held Friday November 4 at 9 am ET on 24 Theme areas to coach around - click here if you want to subscribe and/or join us.

Have a fantastic rest of your holiday weekend and I do hope you will take advantage of some of the savings, and the upcoming resources to grow your work!

Best wishes,
Jennifer

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

Six Ways to Bring Visuals into your work with groups and teams

For many years now I have seen the transformative power of integrating images in my coaching work

Team and Conversation Sparker(TM)Decks - www.conversationsparker.com

with individuals, teams and groups. It led me to launch my own photo deck called Conversation Sparker(TM) in the spring of 2014, a product which is now being used by coaches and leaders in industries as wide ranging as music, health care, financial services, the legal profession, publishing and transportation.

Visuals can create a new entry way into insights and ideas. I continue to hear from and group members I get to work with how the photos unlock new ideas for them, as well as help them articulate their ideas.

there are many ways we can be using images in our work. From visioning, to using images as an opening activity or closing activity, visuals can deepen awareness for an individual, create synergy in a team, or lock in the learning from a workshop or retreat.

Here's six different ways you may want to use visuals - taken from a brochure that accompanies the Conversation Sparker Cards (a 72 card deck which includes 50 photos and 22 questions. You can download an 11-page brochure here and enjoy these different ways to use visuals.

My blab this week - on Wednesday November 25th from 930-10 will be focusing on real-time ways to work with cards (so drop in a be ready to play and perhaps glean some new insights). You can find out more about this week's blab here.

Six Quick Activities for the Conversaton Sparker(TM) Cards - Jennifer Britton, Copyright 2014.

The Conversation Sparker Cards™ can be used by team leaders, facilitators, coaches and trainers. Just as the name implies, it is our hope that the Conversation Sparker Cards™ will create the spark for deeper dialogue. The cards can be used in a team meeting, workshop, retreat or coaching session. This brochure includes six ways you may want to incorporate the Conversation Sparker Cards™ into your next program.

1. Select a Card

The facilitator/leader, coach or trainer will lay out the cards on a large table or in an area where all the cards can be seen by participants. It can be useful to lay them out on a freestanding table so people can move around it and see the photos from different perspectives. You may want to include cards with photos or also include the cards with questions.

A virtual twist - Have group members select a photo from those that you have shown on your whiteboard, or sent as PDF form. A digital license can be purchased online at http://www.conversationsparker.com.

Give each person a few minutes to select the card. For those that have purchased the deck, you can download a Worksheet to use with this activity.

 2. Create a Vision:

For individuals - Have individuals select a photo which represents their vision (for their work, leadership, business, career etc). Give them time during the session to make notes on it, dialogue around it or have them journal their ideas before your next conversation point.

For a team - Have a team create their own story line using the photos included in the deck. What are significant milestones in the past and/or future?  Team members can also create their own drawings of their vision using blank index cards.

3. Conversation Sparking Questions

The main Conversation Sparker Card deck comes with 22 questions , some with photos, some plain. You can use these questions in several ways:

1. Have each person pick a card for individual reflection

2. Team leaders can select a card for the team to be in dialogue around that week at their staff meeting

3. Each team member can select a card which they want to spark conversation in the team around.

4. Creating Connection:

At the start of the program have individuals select the card which represents what they uniquely bring to the group. Have them introduce themselves to the larger group sharing the card they selected and  providing their story behind it.

5. What’s Possible?

If you could make a change right now and follow your dream, what would be possible? Select the card which represents what’s possible! Have each group member select their own photo and share their story. What would it take to make this happen?

6. Celebratory Closure

The old adage says “All good things must come to an end”. Our group and team members remember the start and tend of things. As part of your closure activities, get people to select the card which represents what they are leaving the program with. Alternatively, you can have them select a Question card which they want to carry forward.

I hope that you have as much fun as I do in bringing visuals into your work. I'd love for you to check out the Conversation Sparker Cards here, or our Teams365 Team Sparker Deck - 52 questions for team leaders and others to bring into conversations with teams. You can order either deck here. Coming in the next week or two is a new digital product which will include 40 Different Ways to Work wtih Visual Cards. Stay tuned!

Have a great week,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Join us for an upcoming CCE approved program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting December 1st (Tues/Thurs Dec 1, 8, 10, 15, 17 - 8.75 CCEs with the ICF) - 4 spots open
 (416)996-8326

Did you catch my announcement in this month's newsletter about our newest on-demand course? Earlier this month the Coaching Business Builder was released. Just like our other on-demand programs, the course includes several hours of video based content and more than a dozen worksheets and activities to support you in growing your coaching business. Both experienced and new coaches growing their businesses will find the program of interest. You can learn more about the Coaching Business Builder here at the Learning Lab and Design Studio(TM), our new online portal for all of our on-demand programs.

Group and Team Coaching Myth - Everyone engages in the same way

One of the things I love most with group and team coaching is the fact that each group and team we

Source: DollarPhoto

work with is so different. This is what keeps my work fresh. Many coaches are curious to find the "one way" or the "one model" you need to coach teams and groups when in fact a variety of approaches is what is needed.

Today's post debunks the myth that everyone engages in the same way. Each group member you work wtih will have their own preferences with how they want to engage in the coaching process and how they want to engage with each other.

As you approach your upcoming coaching conversations consider that your group will likely consist of people with visual, auditory and kinesthetic approaches. The way we perceive, learn and our interactions in taking in sensory information can vary widely.

Visual learners will usually love any visual stimuli - from photos to what's written on the flipchart or on a worksheet, visual learners will enjoy what they can leverage off of.

Auditory learners, in contrast, learn through hearing. Whether it's through small group conversation, or connecting learning and insights with music, consider how you can bring in more of an  auditory element.

Finally, kinesthetic learners learn by "Doing" and interaction. Creating a vision board, rather than just talking about it, or creating an aluminum foil model of their Inner Critics will inspire and engage kinesthetic and more tactile learners.

The impact of engagement does not just stop here. In fact, the types of questions we ask in a coaching conversation may also hav different impact across your group and team coaching mmbers. Consider these questions
What does it look like? VERSUS
What does it feel like? VERSUS
What does it sound like?
Next time you are with a group notice the impact your questions are having and where they are engaging and connecting with members, and where they are not.

in addition to learning styles, the group and team members we are working with may also have different engagement strategies in terms of processing speeds (slow/fast) and processing approaches (verbal processors who like to talk things through versus reflective processors who might prefer to reflect and write out what they realize). Consider how you can use pre-work to support processing speed and approaches, as well as "pause points" of silence, individual reflection, as well as small group work and discussion.

Another important dimension to consider is whether people are more extroverted and love engaging with others, or might be more introverted and find some of the connection time "draining". Again consider the approaches you may want to utilize in meeting these different needs - small group breakouts, large group discussion,

Our clients in the field of group and team coaching is incredibly diverse. As I have written in past posts, one of the most elemental activities coaches can undertake in setting people up for success with a group coachin gprocess is to hold a pre-call with each group member to learn more about them, including their learning preferences and personality styles. This will help you shape an even more powerful process. If you are a team coach consider the impact of holding a pre-call with each team member. In instances where the focus is building capacity of each team member these pre-calls may be more appropriate. Be aware however of any ethical issues which may arise if you are coaching a "team as a system" where in fact a pre-call may actually weaken your ability to hold the system as intact.

What are your next steps as you consider client engagement in your upcoming team and group coaching programs?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Join us for an upcoming CCE approved program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting December 1st (Tues/Thurs Dec 1, 8, 10, 15, 17 - 8.75 CCEs with the ICF)
 (416)996-8326

Did you catch my announcement in this month's newsletter about our newest on-demand course? Last week the Coaching Business Builder was released. Just like our other on-demand programs, the course includes several hours of video based content and more than a dozen worksheets and activities to support you in growing your coaching business. Both experienced and new coaches growing their businesses will find the program of interest. You can learn more about the Coaching Business Builder here at the Learning Lab and Design Studio(TM), our new online portal for all of our on-demand programs.

Group and Team Coaching Myth - More is more in terms of program design

Photo from DollarPhoto.com

This past weekend I hosted the Group and Team Coaching Intensive a weekend long program where coaches get a chance to practice their skills in group and team coaching. As we moved through many great coaching  moments it became really apparent that coaching conversations really take time in groups and teams. Less is truly more!

While we may be able to squeeze more moving parts into a workshop or retreat process, in group and team coaching trust and connection is paramount. Without this foundation, members won't engage in the coaching dialogue. Trust and connection takes time to form. This connection and trust is often formed over several sessions, so coaches will want to consider how they want to invite people to get to know each other, set goals for their work, and engage with each other in the conversation.

When we look at the less is more principle to program design we want to consider:
* What key elements do we want to include in each session (check in, check out, pre-work/post-work and coaching moments)?
* What key themes does the group want to explore during their time together?
*  What is the optimum group size the facilitate the dialogue and coaching process?
* What do group members really want and value (group dialogue, paired discussion, more individual reflection etc)?
* Just how much can we explore in the time we have together.

Really embracing and understanding the less is more principle to programming, requires that we get into action and get into real time dialogue with groups. Experience helps us understand just what this means. What opportunities can you create to work with groups in the coming months and into 2016. Nothing can replace real-time practice and experience.

For more on program design topics related to group and team coaching, check out some of my past posts in the area of program development here.

Best
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Join us for an upcoming CCE approved program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting December 1st (Tues/Thurs Dec 1, 8, 10, 15, 17 - 8.75 CCEs with the ICF)
 (416)996-8326

PS - A reminder my next Group Coaching Design Studio blab will be held this Thursday from 945 - 1015 am ET. I hope that you will drop in and join us. Link to the session is here - focus of this week's blab is  on Core Design Elements for Group and Team Coaching.  We'll be exploring program elements and considerations pre-program, during the program and post-program, Hope you'll join us!

Setting the Stage for a Successful Group Engagement

People remember the start of any process, and getting things right from the start with your groups is key.

Foundational to a successful coaching engagement is also the start and "design of the coaching agreement". in this post I am going to share with you three core activities you may consider as you go to establish your next group coaching engagement.

1. Pre-program calls - Getting to know each individual participant prior to starting the group process can be important for getting to know each person's reasons for joining the group, their own learning goals and how they interact. I typically schedule short 15 minute calls with each participant to learn more about them and answer any questions they have. It's always interesting to note the themes that start emerging even before we start our work together, and I find these calls are a key part of building trust and connection. Finally, the pre-call serves as a forum to make sure that each participant understands what they are getting out of the process.

2. WOW - Ways of Working or Group Agreements - In a group process, connection and creating shared expectations amongst group members is key. Working with the group to create shared Ways of Working and how they want to operate is essential. It ensures that everyone is on the same page and also helps to mitigate against tricky issues which may surface.

3. Goal Setting - the One Page Plan - Goals are critical in any coahing process and in a group each individual may have their own goals that they are working towards. One activity I like to give as an assignment usually between calls (or session) one and two is getting people to work on their one page action plan.  I go into greater depth around the One Page Plan in one of the lectures of the Tips for Your Team And Group Programs. You can access that program on-demand at Udemy or at our new Learning Lab and Design Studio.

I'll be going into more examples of key opening, closing and ongoing group and team coaching activities this coming weekend at the Group and Team Coaching Intensive - 2 spots still open - November 7-8 in Downtown Toronto (19CCes with the ICF including 17 core competencies). Also two spots are open this weekend for virtual participation (via skype).  Save 15% if you register with a colleague. 

Have a great week,
Jennifer

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

Four ways to spark deeper dialogue within your groups

Group coaching is about a conversation amongst group members. Many new coaches feel

uncomfortable with the silence that can emerge in the space needed for reflection, pause and entry into that place of deeper dialogue.

Four ways coaches may consider sparking deeper dialogue include:

1. Provide pre-work, an inquiry, or have the group design an assignment in the last session which will get them thinking about that week's topic.

2. Leave structured time for pausing and writing as part of your process. Bring in music or a timer to formally mark the reflection time. Reflective writing could range from a journal question, to an inquiry, to mindmapping, to working around people's vision.

3. In larger groups, and the virtual domain, utilize breakouts and pairs. Get people connecting in different ways during the actual group coaching session, and in smaller groups so they can share more of their insights, more frequently with each other. Provide one or more questions to get the groups started in dialogue.

4. Create learning pairs/buddies for the entire program (or part of the program if it is longer) so that people do get to know each other at a deeper level, and trust each other more. These deeper connections may provide for deeper conversations quicker, inside and outside of the room/phone.

What other approaches do you use to spark deeper dialogue in your groups? As always, please feel free to comment below.

Warm regards,
Jennifer

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

Two quick announcements.....
9 Days to go for the two day in person Group and Team Coaching Intensive (19 CCEs) training. Ready to get started and immerse yourself? Take a deep dive into these two sub-disciplines on the weekend of November 7-8 (19 CCEs with the ICF including 17 hrs of core competenices)! Save 15 % when you register with a colleague. Click here to reserve your spot.

Also a quick reminder to join Thursday's Group Coaching Design Studio(TM) Blab. During this complimentary 30 minute blab (online call) I'll be getting back to the basics of group coaching looking at Questions and Connection. I'll also open up the chair for you to join me with your questions. The blab will run from 945-1015 am ET/New York Thursday October 29th. You'll be able to find the link at https://blab.im/jennbritton.

Group Coaching Design Studio - Inaugual Blab - October 22, 2015

As many of you know I like to experiment with new technologies in service of community, education and learning. I am exctied to announce that I hosted my first blab this morning! If you haven't heard about blab yet, it's a neat new platform which can bring people together for conversation. From my experience this morning I also see it as a great vehicle for educational snippets and dialogue.

I'll be hosting my next blab  - the Group Coaching Design Studio (TM)  Blab - on Thursday October 29th from 945 - 1015 am Eastern. You'll need an internet connection and Twitter account.

You can view this week's inaugural blab where I cover off some of the benefits of group coaching, do a short piece on vision work (with the Conversation Sparker card deck), and then opened the mic!

You can view the replay here (26 minutes) - Enjoy!

Hope that you will join me next week for our 2nd blab - 945 - 1015 am ET on Thursday October 29th. The link should be https://blab.im/jennbritton-group-coaching-design-studio-jennifer-britton-author-effective-group-coaching-3 (and you can also always search on the date of programming where I am "online live" in case the link does not work).

If you have program ideas - things you'd like covered, or questions you have, please let me know as I'm looking forward to hosting several more of these.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
 (416)996-8326
Join us for an upcoming program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting Oct 29th at 1030 am ET (8.75 CCEs) or the Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (10CCEs) starting Friday Oct 30th at 145 pm m ET. There are also a few spots open in our 2 day training - Group and Team Coaching Intensive (19 CCEs) - being held the weekend of November 7-8 (19 CCEs)

Coaching Toolbox - Powerful Questions

In my book, From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, I write that "Questions form the backbone of any coaching conversation".

Powerful questions are one of the eleven core coaching competencies with the International Coach Federation (ICF). Whether we coach full-time or incorporate coaching skills into our conversations, having a variety of coaching questions to draw upon create a more powerful conversation.

Today's blog post focuses on five resources you may want to explore as you build your resource base around questions:

1. Coaching Questions  - A Coaches' Guide to Powerful Asking Questions -Tony Stoltzfus
2. Change Your Questions, Change Your Life - Marilee Adams
   
3. Co-Active Coaching Book- Kimsey-House, Kimsey-House
4. Appreciative Coaching - Orem, Binkert and Clancy
5. QBasics - Open Ended Questions from Marcy Nelson-Garrison at CoachingToys.com 

What other resources would you recommend around the art of questioning?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
 
Looking to expand your tools for groups and teams? Join us in Toronto the weekend of November 7-8 for the Group and Team Coaching Intensive (19 CCEs). Register with a colleague and each receive a discount on your registration. 

Group Coaching Essentials starts October 15 and Group and Team Coaching Intensive runs November 7-8, 2015

Looking to launch your own group coaching work this fall and winter, or  have a new request come up for team coaching? Join me virtually later this week for the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar, as we Thursdays from 10:30 - 11:45 am ET on October 15, 29, November 5, 12, 19.

take a five week look at the foundations and best practices of Group Coaching - design, marketing, implementation and resources. The program is approved for 8.75 CCEs with the ICF. Each week you will have short assignments to breathe life into your program ideas, while we use the call time looking at examples, and also modelling some of the approaches you may use in your own work. The Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar will be held on

If you prefer to learn face to face, join me in Toronto in a few weeks for the Group and Team Coaching Intensive on the weekend of November 7 and 8th. We'll be widening the lens to look at both group and team coaching - best practices, approaches, and we will give you several opportunities to practice leading group and team coaching conversations over the two days. This program is approved for 19 CCEs with the ICF (including 17 hours of core competencies).

Listen in as I talk more about the program and what you can expect to get out of it

Hope to see you either online for the Essentials teleseminar program (8.75 CCEs) later this week (4 spots open) or on November 7-8 here in Toronto (5 spots open) for the Group and Team Coaching Intensive (19 CCEs).

Best wishes,
Jennifer


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

Coaching Toolbox - Time Management

Wordle crerated at Wordle.net

As coaches we are not content experts AND it's always important to have a number of resources we point our clients to around key issues we are coaching them around. In this new series I will be suggesting a number of my favorite "go-to" resources I recommend to clients  (individuals, groups and teams) when I find myself coaching around.

I'm going to start with time management. Whether our clients are struggling with "doing more with less" or finding better balance (in whatever balance means for them), outside of the coaching conversation clients are often very eager to explore topics around time mangement and priorities.

Several key resources I often refer my clients onto are

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Steven Covey

First Things First - Covey, Merrill, Merrill

Get it Done Guy - Stever Robbins

Overwhelmed - Brigid Schulte

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think - Laura Vanderkam

MindTools.com - They have created so many great resources and articles - from Time Management to Delegation, many of my clients have their "content" needs satiated and create that information as a foundation for our coaching exploration.

In terms of coaching tools, work around the Wheel of Life, priorities and values is part of the terrain we usually explore.

What resources would you recommend to others around time management? As always, please comment below.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Group Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized  
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
 
Looking to expand your tools for groups and teams? Join us in Toronto the weekend of November 7-8 for the Group and Team Coaching Intensive (19 CCEs). Register with a colleague and each receive a discount on your registration.

Three Core Elements of Any Group Coaching Process

Group coaching processes continue to be very diverse - ranging from one month programs, to one year programs, with support to business owners, mid-level managers to stay-at-home moms. What is similar

Photo copyright of DollarPhotoClub

across these are common elements, making them coaching and not training, facilitation or something else.

Fist, goals. Every coaching process is grounded in goals. Part of what you will want to do at the start, or before the start of the program/process, is have individual group members identify their key goals for your work together. This will help the group identify common theme areas, as well as create the iniital baseline and traction for individual group members to participate. What are you doing to create opportunities for your group members to articulate and share their goals?

Group coaching is also a sustained conversation space. As I have written many times, "it's an intimate conversation space" (From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching). our focus on support for accountability, action and awareness is key. For a group to be considered a coaching gorup as part of an ICF coaching log there can be no more than 15 members. As we add more members to the group it becomes more a facilitated discussion, than coaching space. What are you doing to maximize the impact of these regular touch points? What numbers are optimal for your work?

Peer involvement is another essential condition for any group coaching process. Group members tend get as much out of the process from their interactions with each other, as they do with the coach. Consider how you can maximize peer interaction in a way that works well for your group, whether it's through breakouts in virtual calls, learning partners throughout a program, or linkages through journalling or other tech platforms. What approaches do you want to use in fostering peer connection?

As you move into your own programming and/or planning this fall with groups, what other elements do you see as foundational?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

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

Prefer in person learning? Join us in Toronto the weekend of November 7-8 for the Group and Team Coaching Intensive (19 CCEs). Six spots still open. Register with a colleague and each receive a discount on your registration.

September programs - Advanced Group Coching (10 CCEs), Mentor Coaching Group and Group Coaching Essentials

It's back to work for many of us with Labor Day just behind us. Here is what's on tap in terms of program offerings I have for Coaches in the month of September:

Mentor Coaching Group (for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC Applications with ICF) - 10 hours
This ten hour program meets the requirements for ICF mentor coaching for those working towards their ACC or PCC portfolio/ATSCH or ACC Renewals. The program is geared to support you in sharpening your skills as a coach, while deepending your understanding of the 11 core competencies of the ICF. You

also receive feedback on your coaching skills as demonstrated in the coaching lab. 7 of the hours are in small group setting (3-5 coaches typically) and 3 hours of individual mentor coaching are scheduled with Jennifer. Cost: $1000 US or CDN (plus HST)
The fall groups will meet on Fridays. Choose from either 9-10 am ET or 12 - 1 pm ET. Group calls will be held on September 11, 18, 25, October 2, 16, 30 and December 11 plus an additional 3 hours of individual coaching hours will be scheduled with you (one hour a month for the three months)
Cost: $1000 US or CDN (plus HST) for the 10 hour program. Payable in one or 3 monthly installments. Click here to learn more or register.


Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs) Fridays 1015 - 11:30 am Eastern/7:15 - 830 am Pacific (September 11, 18, 25, October 2, 9 and 16) - 3 spots
Looking for more practice in group coaching and getting a deeper understanding of group coaching? Geared for coaches, the program includes 6 x 75 minute group calls, 5 individual 15 minute 1-1 calls with me, along with weekly module notes full of more ideas, templates, and resources to support you in your work, along with audio and video tips.
Through practice and dialogue we take a deeper dive around group coaching topics including:

•  Core skills and techniques in group coaching
• Tricky issues in group coaching
• Engagement, systems and support for group coaching
• Virtual programming best practices (webinars, teleseminars/teleclasses, group coaching by phone)
• Co-Facilitation and Co-Leadership
• Advanced Issues in Marketing Group Coaching
• Advanced Design Issues in Group Coaching

Each coach will have at least one opportunity to lead a 25 minute group coaching session as part of our class, and will receive written and verbal feedback on their skills. This will give you an opportunity to see different styles and approaches for group coaching at play. We will also hold our calls in different virtual environments so you get to experience them for yourself - bridgelines, skype, Zoom, etc.
Cost: $495 US. Course is approved for 10 CCEs with the ICF including 9.25 hours of core competencies. Click here to register and learn more. 

Group Coaching Essentials - 8.75 CCEs - 5 spots
Tuesdays 9:15 - 10:30 am ET - September 15, 22, 29, October 6 and 13, 2015
Our flagship course, the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar provides coaches with road-tested tips and best practices around designing, implementing and marketing your own group coaching programs. Whether you are offering corporate or public groups, virtual or in-person groups, you can benefit from the rich content, modelling of approaches, weekly assignments to draft your own program and learning with a small group of peers. Five 75  minute calls and weekly laser 1-1s with me, along with a robust 80 page set of module notes. Cost: $425 US. Click here to learn more and register.

Questions? Don't hesitate to reach out and contact me directly at (416)996-8326.
I hope that you will consider joining us!

Jennifer

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

Prefer in person learning? Join us in Toronto the weekend of November 7-8 for the Group and Team Coaching Intensive (19 CCEs).