Thursday, November 28, 2019

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Specials: Learning Lab, Conversation Sparker, Year End Planning Retreats

Many of you have enjoyed family time as you have celebrated Thanksgiving this week. For me in
Toronto, our Thanksgiving was last month as we brought in the harvest. The ripple effect of US Thanksgiving is always here in Canada - a small turkey is in the oven for tonight (without all the fixings), and I think many of us spent some time today being grateful and giving thanks to those who have supported us this year.

Thank YOU for your support and for joining me for one of our CCE programs, or via one of my books, or during a speaking engagement I may have led. As I've celebrated my 15th year in business it's been very inspiring to see where people are taking their learning!

For the last five or so years Black Friday has been a big thing here in Toronto - usurping our Boxing Day Specials (which happen on 26th). I've also gotten into the rhythm of offering a few days of special pricing on our longer programs, digital products and even 1-1 coaching packages through our Potentials Realized store.

Just in case you hadn't seen it yet, there's a number of specials on until December 3rd, including:

The December PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training - Save $500 off the regular price of $2450. This program equips you to lead your own productivity, planning and remote team sessions (coaching, retreats, webinars). It's like a "program in a guide". IT's also approved for 24 CCES with the ICF. Last 2019 session being held on Mondays and Tuesday evenings 6-9 pm ET/New York on December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16,17. Special pricing for the December 2019 training only. Use this link for the discount:
https://www.potentialsrealized.com/store/p20/PlanDoTrack_Facilitator_Training_-_18_hours.html


Also on sale are the two annual groups I host - the Learning Lab and Design Studio - geared for coaches who want to focus on their own group and team programs throughout the year, and the Coaching Biz Growth Lab - for those coaches who want to grow their businesses. You'll save $500 off the annual rate of $1450 US for these two groups to December 3rd. You'll also be able to join us for the December calls (being held December 6 and 20th).

In addition to these, several digital products are available including the Conversation Sparker cards, Weekly Journaling Prompts and the 40 Ways to Work with Visual Cards.
https://www.potentialsrealized.com/store/p10/40waysvisualcards.html
I only do this big a sale once a year so I hope you will take advantage of the savings. Visit the Potentials Realized Store here.

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC – Potentials Realized 
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder 
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development)

Final 2019 programs include the Group Coaching Essentials Monday/Thursday group starting December 2nd meeting on  Mondays and Thursdays 1:30 - 245 pm ET: December 2, 5, 9, 12, 16 (8.75 CCEs) and the PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training - Monday and Tuesdays 6-9 pm ET December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17 (24 CCEs)

Monday, November 18, 2019

Expanding Your Group and Team Coaching Toolkit - Systems at the Heart of Your Business


Systems are at the heart of any business. The word systems means a lot of different things to different
people. In one of my current writing projects I was curious how many different definitions there are around systems. I took a look over at vocabulary.com who provided these nine different definitions. From systems as a method or set of practices, to working with a system such as an ecosystem.



Over the next few weeks of Monday posts we’ll be looking at systems in several of these ways. First, systems for your business as a group of team coach. Next week, systems in terms of working with the system of a team or group.

Why are systems important for business.

They help us scale and grow

Systems help with replication and ensuring that things are done similarly across a business.

Over at the Coaching Business Builder blog, I have included a variety of posts around systems, including a Systems Checklist for you to use. Be sure to check it out:

There are several main areas coaches will want to explore for their own business including:


Financial Systems:

o What needs updating?

o Cash Flow review

o Review sales

o Review expenses

o Invoicing

o Accounts Receivable

o Review cards and credit -what are rates like?

Marketing Systems:

o Review website – about page

o Review website – current offerings up to date

o Marketing material up to date

o Marketing/promo material in stock (cards, post cards etc)

o Consider 15 – 20 different titles. Pick the best one.

o Graphics updated

o Identify how this will be shared? (i.e. other channels)

o Consider graphics

o Draft graphics

o Links are current?

Social feeds up to date (FB, Instagram, Twitter, Linked In)

Communication Systems:

o Include photo of you

o Schedule posts for Facebook

o Schedule posts for Instagram

o Schedule posts for ______

o Is the content mentioned in your newsletter?

o Let current clients know about the resource

Client Systems

o Files up to date?

o Logs up to date

o Agreements/letters

o One thing I said I would do…

o Onboarding materials

o Other: _______________

o Other systems:

o Write down ideas and/or draft repurposing while it is fresh

o Back up completed

o Content created

o Networking

o Publishing

o Plans up to date

Trackers up to date?


When coaching many (coaching groups or teams) it’s important to get systems in place before your work expands too much. The number o different clients you work with can warrant a focus on systems early in the process.


When working with groups

When working with groups, especially groups of entrepreneurs, it may be useful to take a look at the five areas of systems listed here. Which ones need attention? Which ones are well established?

Are there best practices which group members have emerged which can help each other?


When working with teams:

When working with teams, business systems can play a key role in ensuring consistency and alignment across the team. Systems play an important role in sharing information, pointing to resourcing required, and ensuring access to key information.

What systems does the team have in place? What’s working? What’s not?


Six Questions:

What systems exist?

What role do systems play in terms of supporting the team or group?

What’s working?

What’s not?

What needs attention?

What best practices can people tap into so they don’t have to reinvent the wheel?

Enjoy your reflections,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC – Potentials Realized 
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder 
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development)

Final 2019 programs include the Group Coaching Essentials Monday/Thursday group starting December 2nd meeting on  Mondays and Thursdays 1:30 - 245 pm ET: December 2, 5, 9, 12, 16 (8.75 CCEs) and the PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training - Monday and Tuesdays 6-9 pm ET December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17 (24 CCEs)

Monday, November 11, 2019

Expanding Your Group and Team Coaching Toolkit (25): Execution






This week brings us to the 25th week of the Expanding Your Group and Team Coaching Tookit. This
week's focus is all about EXECUTING, getting things done, and DOING!

One of the core coaching competencies with ICF is designing actions. This goes hand in hand with creating awareness. Doing without being grounded in what's important, our values, our visions, our beliefs, may not get traction. It may not create the momentum needed for results in today's context.

This week's blog post gets you thinking about the different things you can be doing with teams and groups to support execution. This may involve getting the important things done that people put off (individually or collectively) as well as creating an accountability support, either real-time, peer lead or after the fact.

As we approach the end of the year (or even the end of a quarter, or month), clients are often yearning for "closing the open loops" on projects. This is where immediate support on DOING can be of value.

Over the last decade the Virtual Business Planning Retreats I have hosted have always been given huge thumbs up by clients. They have appreciated the time earmarked for them to do both PLANNING and DOING. It was the many years of experience in leading these Virtual Retreats first as the 90 Day Biz Success VRs and then the Inner Biz Leader Virtual Retreats, that ultimately laid the groundwork for my 2018/2019 publications  - PlanDoTrack (for virtual and remote professionals) and Coaching Business Builder.

If you are a group coach, consider how you might incorporate bursts of DOING during your calls or as part of field work. As stated earlier, be sure that this is grounded in people's values and vision. Earmarking even 10 minutes of a regular call can start making inroads for people on things that they are stuck on. In a group context, this might involve:
 providing the group with a series of reflective prompts so they can write out an introductory brochure they have been putting off:
Putting people in breakout to speak through and work through together an introduction they are crafting about their services
OR earmarking 10 minutes of a call for people to take action real time in doing the thing they've been procrastinating on - filing, making a call, drafting a blog post.

What could you add in, in short bursts with your groups to hold more space for getting the important things done?

The power of peer accountability can be significant even in the virtual space This is where participating in longer virtual retreats - 4 hours - focusing on planning and doing can be a great support.  Check out info below about upcoming PlanDoTrack Virtual Retreats to support you in planning for 2020!

I've been seeing how valuable real-time working sessions are for several years now, from the Getting Organized Virtual Retreats I co-hosted a decade ago, to the upcoming PlanDoTrack virtual retreats. This month is also National Novel Writing Month and I've been hosting a series of Friday afternoon writing sprints for fellow writers. Two more are scheduled for November 15 and 22 (130 - 215 pm ET in my zoom room - check out the first two here).

If you are working with teams, execution and getting things done are also important. Some of the most powerful tema coaching work I've done in recent years has involved me being embedded as part of teams, where I join them (in the shadows or as a partner) as they move through high stakes events and programs. The spot coaching and rapid implementation they can undertake is very powerful. 

Teams will always benefit from a clear, shared plan, and one that is visible. How are you ensuring that accountability around their action steps is not only part of your coaching process, but also part of their ways of working back at the office.

In your team coaching work, what can support for EXECUTION and getting the important things done look like?

Note, I'll be hosting several year-end PlanDoTrack virtual retreats throughout November and December for those who are looking for a virtual pause and planning session. The four hours focuses not only on your PLANNING for the new year, but also DOING -Getting into action around an important project which will be the foundation of your work next year, as well as spending some time on TRACKING - looking at your metrics. Check out the CoachingBusinessBuilder.com blog for a recent post on metrics. The 4 hour retreats are a deal at only $129 US. Join me November 14th, 29th or in December. Reserve your spot now.

What do you want to put into practice with your work? Enjoy your week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC – Potentials Realized 
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder 
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development)

Monday, November 04, 2019

November Group and Team Coaching Training Programs plus the PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training Program

As we step into November it's a great time to get prepared for 2020 program offerings. The next couple of weeks sees the launch of one more cohort in my most popular group and team coaching training skills. Here's what is upcoming around ICF-CCE approved programs:

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10CCEs): Looking for practice and feedback to gain confidence with your skills as a group or team coach? Join us for the six week practicum where
you get the chance to lead a conversation with the group. Coaches continue to indicate that it's this program that helps them gain the clarity and confidence about their style and approaches as a group and team coach. We'll be meeting on Mondays from 3 - 4:15 pm Eastern/New York via zoom on Monday November 4, 11, 18, 25, December 2 and 9. More information and registration at https://www.groupcoachingessentials.ca/advanced-group-and-team-coaching-practicum.html. $525 US.

Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs): Looking to launch your programs in the new year? This content rich program covers the best practices of designing, implementing and marketing your group coaching work. Benefit from short-weekly assignments to move your ideas forward. Last group of 2019 will be held on Mondays and Thursdays 1:30- 2:45 pm ET December 2, 7, 9, 12 and 16, 2019 More info and registration at https://www.groupcoachingessentials.ca/group-coaching-essentials.html

PlanDoTrack and/or Coaching Business Builder Facilitator Training (24 CCEs) : Looking for a body of work to offer to the coaches you work with (Coaching Business Builder) or the Remote workers you support (entrepreneurs, leaders, remote workers)? Join us for the Facilitator training program as we take a deep dive in to these resources, and also give you practice and feedback opportunities around your facilitation skills. We'll be kicking off on Fridays from 530 -930 pm ET on November 15th meeting on Friday evenings virtually (November 15 and December 6) and Saturdays from 930 - 330 pm ET (November 16 and December 7). Monthly installment payment available. More info and registration at https://www.plandotrack.com/facilitatorpdt.html

Questions? Reach out and let's have a conversation. You can reach me by phone at 416-996-8326

Can't wait to have you join us!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC – Potentials Realized 
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder 
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development)

Expanding your group and team coaching toolkit (24): Metrics that Matter


My October monthly article for my PlanDoTrack newsletter recently focused on “Metrics that
Matter”. What are the guideposts that are helping the teams you are working with track and understand their metrics?

In launching the PlanDoTrack workbook and planner late last year, and the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner eighteen months ago, a significant focus  in conversations with individuals, groups and teams, has been on tracking, and noting data. As we reflect on data gathered there can be some interesting pictures, and patterns that emerge. Data is data and when we track it on a regular basis, it’s easier to see what the “True picture” is.

Throughout the workbook planners there are many different ways for people to track data on a daily or monthly basis - through the Monthly Daily Trackers, the One Line a Day or in the Monthly Content trackers.

As a coach, some things you might want to track on a regular basis are:

  • Sales
  • Website visits
  • Downloads
  • Revenue
  • Reads
  • Sample Sessions
  • Products Developed
  • Speaking engagements
  • Likes
  • Numbers of clients
  • Hours Billed
  • Net Profit
  • Social visits
  • # of books sold
  • Operating Revenue

What else do you have metrics around? What else might you want to note?


With groups, consider what types of trackers will help them. Could a wheel of life or leadership included at the front end of coaching, be revisited mid-point and/or at the end, to help the team understand what progress they are making?  Would a daily tracker help to capture lessons learned? Would a journal provide the written story for them?


If you have a copy of Coaching Business Builder or PlanDoTrack, check out the Monthly Daily Trackers I’ve included in the Content Planning Section (Section 5). There’s one that will provide you with space for capturing key activities, and one where you can capture key thoughts of the day.

With teams, the starting point for a team coaching engagement may be a team assessment providing them with data they can incorporate throughout their coaching, and work, journey.


At the team level, helping people note where they are at so they can make the small micro-shifts which are needed. Have discussions with the team around what they want to track - collectively and individually.


Questions to consider:

What do you want to track?
What data do you have available?
What do you notice about patterns, changes, etc?
When will you dedicate time to note and review your data?
What story can you make up about the data you have available?
How can this inform your decisions and priorities?

Enjoy your conversations,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC – Potentials Realized 
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder 
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development)

Join us for an upcoming ICF CCE approved program - Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs) starting Friday November 1st at 1015 am ET (running to December 2nd), Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum ( 10 CCEs) starting Monday November 4th at 3 pm ET or the PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training Program (24 CCES - starts Friday November 15th at 530 pm ET - virtually!)