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

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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!