Project ideas - when you might have more time to dedicate to them

As most people around the world are digging in for an extended process of self-isolation, it's a time

when motivation for ourselves and our clients can be a challenge.
What are the things that are helping you get grounded and enjoy the time you have.
It may be a great time to get started on projects which you have not had time to complete in the past including some of these that I've flagged before:

Scanning the content you have created and using one of the theme's I earmarked for myself  - the 3 Rs - Consider how you can REDUCE, REUSE or RECYCLE Content. Can a former speaking engagement now become a blog post? An image for Instagram?

Harvesting some of the questions you have been asked to create a more extensive FAQ or document. One of my projects this winter was pulling together a new whitepaper on remote work. Little did I know how relevant it would be to so many teams. Download a copy here.

Check out a list of 10 summer project ideas for coaches from several years ago - there may be some ideas you want to check out.

Check out my 2017 8.5 minute audio in this blog post, along with a pertinent 2017 blog post on 5 ways to take your programs virtual (yes, I've been talking about this for a while!)

Here is a list of projects I'm working on right now, beyond my usual coaching work:
Building out a program that is connected to a manuscript related to remote work

• Edits for a manuscript I started as part of last November's NANOWRIMO project
• Working on initial design of a new product leveraging the power of icons
• Creating a digital license for my newest card deck - the Conversation Sparker Journaling Deck which launched a few months ago as a hard copy deck but hadn't been offered digitally yet (digital is the way to go I've realized as we are no longer shipping items for the moment).
• Cataloguing content created in my blogs
• Writing out content for the 52 weeks series of blog posts for my podcast - RemotePatways. We're in week 11 with a focus on communication right now. Take a read, and be sure to download it.
• Preparation for several corporate sessions which have moved from in-person to virtual;
• Preparation for the upcoming Spring programs - including Friday's Mentor Coaching Group for ICF ACC/PCC, and Monday's Group Coaching Essentials program (8.75 CCEs), plus next Wednesday's one-day Virtual Facilitation Essentials offering (8.5 CCEs)  
• Slowly tackling old files and paper that had taken over my desk

Want some inspiration? Grab a pen and check out some of the more reflective sessions I've recorded including the
Quarterly Review (27 minutes) - View it here
Annual To Do List (30 minutes) - View it here.
Vision Work (30 minutes) - View it here

Finally, here a list of of the projects coaches I'm working with are working on:

• Building out new programs
• Catching up on their coaching log
• Updating websites
• Catching up on transcriptions
• Getting rest and recharging time
• Getting reading done
• Deep cleaning their office in terms of file etc.
• Developing marketing strategy
• Mapping out new podcast series

 
What is important for you to be focusing on at this time?

Hungry for connection with others? Join me Monday through Thursday at 12 noon ET for a Virtual Lunch for 20 minutes in my zoom room (270-302-0415) focusing on virtual conversations. Also consider joining us on Friday March 20th from 730-8 am ET for the Remote Pathways Community Call.

Enjoy,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Teams365 | Potentials Realized
Instagram @Remote Pathways (for remote workers) and @CoachingBizBuilder (for coaches)
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: info@potentialsrealized.com

Shifting your coaching to the remote space? Check out these resources

With the current global context, social distancing is becoming a recommended go-to by many

governments around the world. What implications is this having for your coaching work?

For many coaches it is meaning a shift of their conversations over into the virtual and remote space, not only for individual coaching clients, but also group and team coaching clients.


The virtual space has been a primary focus for me in my work as a coach over the last 16 years, as well as the years leading up to that when I managed virtual and remote teams across the world in my work as a Program Manager for the international humanitarian sector.

In today's post I wanted to share a number of resources you may find useful if you are needing to transition over the remote space. Please also share these with your clients as they too are also looking to shift operations to work from home for many teams, or remote work for others who still need to be in the office.

Resource #1 - Resources from the International Coach Federation
I was honored to partner with ICF on creating three videos for members on how to transition your coaching over the remote space, just a few days ago, as part of their support for coaches at this time. You can find these videos, along with other resources for member coaches, and the wider community, and our clients at this the page ICF has set up - https://coachfederation.org/covid-19-resources-for-coaches

You'll find three different videos I created:
#1 - Getting Started
#2 - Top 10 Things to Consider
#3 - Trust, Safety and Connection

Much of the content I share in these videos come from my 2017 book, Effective Virtual Conversations. You may want to pick up a copy of it at Amazon (print and kindle editions)

Resource #2 - Remote Pathways.com
Last fall I partnered with PlanDoTrack facilitator and coach, Michelle Mullins, to co-host the Remote Pathways podcast. It's grounded in some of the new writing i've been engaging with around remote work since last year.
We've released 8 different episodes about the different pathways people find themselves on in the remote space, and have just started releasing episodes with our guests - including the recent one on Strengths and Remote Work with Jennifer Grote (Episode 8)

In addition to the Remote Pathways podcast, I am also doing a weekly blog series there as well. Week 10 focuses on Peer Support in the Remote Space. Enjoy the downloads offered each week.

Resource #3 - Remote Working Whitepaper. 
Check out the 24 page Whitepaper I've pulled together on remote work, based on the writing I've done over at the Teams365 blog these past few years on remote teams.

You can get a copy of the Whitepaper here at the Resource Hub.

I also dedicated the March 2020 Newsletter to Virtual and Remote. You can view it here.

Resource #4 - Let's work together
Finally (and most importantly), many of the programs I offer have a specific focus on the virtual space including:

Virtual Facilitation Essentials - boost your virtual faciltiation toolkit with this ICF CCE approved program (8.5 CCEs including 5.5 core competencies). Offered in a convenient one day virtual format or 5 week series, I take you through the best practices of leading and designing highly interactive virtual calls. Whether you are coaching, facilitating a virtual team day, or a virtual retreat, you'll leave the program with lots of ideas and more confidence with how to navigate in teh remote space. Each participant leads a virtual energizer, opener or closer.

Upcoming dates include:
Friday March 13th (930 - 5 pm ET) - One day format
Wednesday March 25 - One Day format
Wednesday April 1 - One Day Format

The five week series starts again Monday March 30th from 130 - 245 pm eT, on March 30, April 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2020 (April 13th may be replaced with a date on May 1)

Cost: $475 US which includes the course, module notes, and 1-1 time with me (pre call, post call and 2 other laser calls -15 min)

Learn more and reserve your spot.

Or perhaps you decide to book me for some 1-1 time. You can choose from a 45 minute ask me anything mentoring session, a six hour strategy session, or a series of coaching conversation around your programming. Find out the options and availability here.

You can also simply drop me an email and let's set up a time to chat.

I look forward to acting as a resource for you as you continue to navigate and grow in this area.

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Teams365 | Potentials Realized
Instagram @Remote Pathways (for remote workers) and @CoachingBizBuilder (for coaches)
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: info@potentialsrealized.com

Join us for an upcoming CCE approved program, including the
 Mentor Coaching Group - for ACC/PCC - starts Friday March 20th at 9 am ET (10 hours meeting ICF mentor coaching requirement)
Virtual Facilitation Essentials program (8.5 CCEs),
Group Coaching Essentials (8.5 CCES) starts Monday March 23 at 9 am ET (calls Mondays 9 - 1015 am eT - March 23, 30, April 6, 20, 27), or the
Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCES) starting April 3rd (Mondays 3 - 415 pm ET)
 

Join me Wednesday March 25 for the Virtual Faciliation Essentials program (8.5 CCEs)

Looking to build out your virtual facilitation toolkit? Want to become more confident and

comfortable with all the tools available to you for virtual calls - breakouts, polls, annotation?

Join me as I take a dive into Effective Virtual Conversations, my 2017 book. We explore best practices for designing and leading webinars, virtual group coaching, as well as interactive sessions like virtual team development, virtual co-working sessions and virtual retreats.

The program is a highly interactive online session and will be held on one day - Wednesday March 25th from 10 - 5:30 pm ET.

In addition to the one day of live learning, focused on both content and giving you a chance to practice your skills, you will also complete a blended learning assignment, giving you the chance to go deeper into your learning in areas including tricky issues, exercises, and how to use the interactive functions available.

Cost: $475 US.

Click here to register and reserve your spot.

Here's what our day is going to look like:

Module 1 – Virtual Facilitation Foundations

• Four Essential ingredients for virtual facilitation
• The range of virtual facilitation options
• Core Skills for Virtual Facilitation -and how yours stack up

Module 2 – Approaches and Engagement Strategies for Effective Virtual Learning

• Different virtual design options
• Foundations of engagement – practical approaches for engagement
• Core elements for Effective, and Engaging, Virtual Events

Module 3 – Building your Facilitation Toolkit
Whether you are leading meetings, webinars or other virtual events, having a robust toolkit to draw up upon is key. This session introduces you to more than 12 virtual facilitation approaches – from openers, to closers to goal setting and accountability in the virtual space.

Module 4 – Exploring the Technologies

• Exploring breakouts and technology issues
• Core logistical issues to consider
• Different roles in a virtual event
• Evaluating virtual events

 
Module 5 - Tricky Issues and open space for additional topics
In module five we explore common tricky issues around technology, design and participant issues, along with how to mitigate against them.

I hope that you'll join us! Register right now.

 Can't make our special Wednesday March 25th session  Join me for a future one day Wednesday session (additional sessions scheduled for April 1 or May 3) or the five-week offering starting on March 30th. 

Learn more here and reserve your spot!

Want more on Virtual Conversation tips? 

Check out the weekly Effective Virtual Conversations tips at the Teams365 blog at my main site - Potentials Realized.com.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

 Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Teams365 | Potentials Realized
Instagram @Remote Pathways (for remote workers) and @CoachingBizBuilder (for coaches)
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: info@potentialsrealized.com

Join us for an upcoming CCE approved program, including the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program (8.5 CCEs), Group Coaching Essentials (8.5 CCES), or the Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCES) starting April 3rd

Why Team Coaching?

Team

coaching is getting a lot of attention these days with the current WBECS spotlight on the new team coach training being spearheaded by David Clutterbuck and Peter Hawkins.

It's an era where team coaching is coming into its own. As someone who is a team coach practitioner, author on the topic and coach trainer for group and team coaches, I'm often asked, why is team coaching valuable?

I thought I'd reach back and share the value of the team coaching process which I first published in From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching  back in 2013.

Here are the six reasons I highlighted back in 2013 about what was being said about the benefits of team coaching. Consider how relevant these still are for our work today:

#1 - Space for the team to pause and reflect - As I wrote back in 2013, "In today's busy environment, it is very easy to let reflection moments become swept away by immediate issues. A team coaching sometimes provides the only reason why teams will stop". Consider how you are incorporating short and long pauses, along with reflection for the team.

#2 - Prioritizing the need for focus - related to the first point engagement in a team coaching process may create urgency and a priority for the team to focus, particularly as now there is someone coming in to create a pause.

#3 - A non-judgmental sounding board/space for dialogue

#4 - Ability to mirror back to the team what is going on. Observations are foundational to the coaching process, and new awareness gets created by the team as they start to notice their own patterns, behaviors and habits.

#5 - Strong fous on the outcome

#6 - Accountability focus: it holds the entire team responsible for taking the action, and making the changes they have committed to over time, through sustained conversation and check-ins" - pp 147

As I often say, regardless of how much the context changes, the foundational approaches and practices of team coaching are still the same.

What do you hear from coaching clients about the importance of the team coaching process?

Enjoy the conversations,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Teams365 | Potentials Realized
Instagram @Remote Pathways (for remote workers) and @CoachingBizBuilder (for coaches)
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: info@potentialsrealized.com

Join us for an upcoming CCE approved program, including the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program (8.5 CCEs), Group Coaching Essentials (8.5 CCES), or the Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCES) starting April 3rd