Summer Group and Team Coaching Training Starts This Week - Join us!

 Our Summer Training programs for coaches start this week - we hope you will join us for interactive

and practitioner focused group and team coaching. Here's what we have on the go - join us:

 Team Coaching Essentials -  Team Coaching Essentials for the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World.

This six week virtual coach training program is ideal for coaches who are eager to gain foundational knowledge in the essentials of team coaching, with a specific emphasis on coaching that is virtual, or with hybrid and remote teams.

Since writing From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching back in 2013, there have been many, many requests for me to offer a standalone team coaching training. There's lots happening in the space of team coaching, especially in the hybrid world. So, the time is now, with the new ICF team coaching competencies now available, and with so many more coaches looking to add team coaching to their mix, I am pleased to be offering Team Coaching Essentials (for the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World). 

July 2022 Team Coaching Essentials will run Mondays 830 -10 am ET for 5 weeks starting on July 10th. Most sessions will be led by our Team Lead for Team Coaching, Kathy Vaughan, and I'll be leading the call on July 25th. Join us. Cost $795 US. 14 CCES.

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 Tuesdays 830 - 10 am ET Eastern/New York via zoom on Tuesdays starting July 26th. More information and registration at https://www.groupcoachingessentials.ca/advanced-group-and-team-coaching-practicum.html.  You can now bundle this program with either, or both of the Essentials.

 
Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs): Looking to launch your programs in the fall? 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. Two summer sessions are being offered:

Fridays 1015 - 1130 am ET starting this Friday July 15th (5 weeks - led by Jennifer)

Tuesdays 1015 - 1130 am ET starting Tuesdays July 12th (5 weeks led by Evana)

More info and registration at https://www.groupcoachingessentials.ca/group-coaching-essentials.html

 

Mentor Coaching Group (for ACC and PCC) - Looking for Mentor Coaching support for your ICF credential? Join us for the 10 hour mentor coaching group which meets the requirements for your ICF ACC or PCC. We'll be meeting on Mondays this summer and early fall from 1230 - 130 pm ET, starting Monday July 11th and running to mid-October. 7 hours group calls, 3 hours 1-1. This session will be led by Jennifer. Cost: $1195 US (payable in 1 or 3 installments). Join us.

Also starting this summer is coaching supervision led by Jennifer. You can work with Jennifer in individual coaching supervision OR in group supervision. Contact her to set up a call to discuss.

It's going to be a fun summer of learning and interaction. We hope to have you with us!

Best wishes,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Effective Virtual Conversations | Potentials Realized
Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder (for coaches)

Want to know what's new? Looking for remote and hybrid resources - Pick up a copy of the  Reconnecting Workspaces book or the 90-Day Guide for Success. Instagram: @ReconnectingWorkspaces

Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs) - Join us in July on Fridays from 1015 - 1130 am ET: July 15, 22, 29, August 5 and 12 (with Jennifer)  Or Tuesdays 1015 - 1130 am ET: July 12, 19, 26, August 9 and 16, 2022  (with Evana)

Team Coaching Essentials (14 CCEs) - next starts on Monday July 11th at 830 am ET, running July 11, 18, 26, August 1 and 8 (830 - 10 am ET for 5 Weeks) - With Kathy Vaughan and Jennifer

Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs): Starting July 26th - Tuesdays 830-10 am Et: July 26, August 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2022 - With Evana

Mentor Coaching Group - for ACC/PCC - Mondays 1230 - 130 pm ET starting July 11 running to October 10, 2022 (with Jennifer)

Jennifer is also the 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 her author page on Amazon for all publications.

 

 

Group Coaching in the spotlight - 18th anniversary calls (1 of 7)

 This month we're celebrating our 18th anniversary here at Potentials Realized. One of our flagship programs, Group Coaching Essentials, has supported thousands of coaches in designing, marketing and implementing their own group coaching programming. Whether it's for public programming, or corporate groups, in-person, or virtual, great group coaching design is all about engagement, and interaction.

If you haven't checked out our first of the 18th anniversary calls (which are held live on Thursdays from 12  - 1230pm ET) consider joining us between now and the final call date of May 19th. You can sign up for alerts here. Our next call on Thursday the 21st will focus on Hybrid and Remote Leadership and Teamwork.

Here's a link to watch the first call with group coaching in the spotlight. Check out the principle we share, along with some of the best practices:

Want to offer your own group coaching programming? Join us for the 8.75 CCE Group Coaching Essentials program (8.75 CCEs) or the Advanced Practicum (an additional 10 CCEs). Programs start April 19th and May 13th for the Essentials, or April 26th for the Advanced Practicum.

Enjoy the conversation!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Effective Virtual Conversations | Potentials Realized
Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder (for coaches)

Want to know what's new? Looking for remote and hybrid resources - Pick up a copy of the  Reconnecting Workspaces book or the 90-Day Guide for Success. Instagram: @ReconnectingWorkspaces

Build out your skills, toolkit and mastery in coaching in the remote and hybrid space with the Reconnecting Workspaces Certified Coach training (24 CCES). Or join us for one of our other ICF CCE approved programs:

Also 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.

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

Team Coaching or Group Coaching - What's the Difference?

For many coaches reading this blog, it's likely that you undertake both team coaching and group

coaching with different clients. Sometimes, when we are brought in to work with a grouping at an organization, we're asked to coach a group, and we find out it's really a team. Likewise, we may be engaged to coach a team and find out it's a group.

Consider these examples - a coach is asked to coach and handful of new leaders at an organization. They all come from different parts of the business and don't report to each other. In fact, many of them are just meeting each other for the first time.

Second, a team coach is engaged to work with a group of professionals who are being brought together to execute a special project. Over the next 2 months they are expected to design and implement a new process.

So, which is which?
Example 1 - a group.
Example 2 - a team

What's the difference? When we are coaching a team there's a web of relationships, history and common purpose that we are stepping into. When we coach a group, it's likely that the group is starting to form.

A significant different as well is the type of entity and focus we bring to the conversation.
As a team there is, or aspirationally there is, is a shared purpose, mission and vision. They exist for a reason. Teams exist to produce results. The relationships and people which make up that body are central in creating the results they get  even a remote team. The focus in team coaching is on supporting alignment across the team. It's about helping people see their connectivity and alignment together.
In group coaching in contrast, there may not be a significant amoutn of connection or even similarity in their work, their focus, yet, group members can benefit significantly from connecting with and exploring topics of similar interest together. Going back to the examples above, it can be very valuable to connect with other leaders in different parts of an organization, or even across an industury.

When coaching a team, it can be advantageous to explore the various factors which makes a team excel. From Hackman and Wageman -- check this publication, to Katzenhach and Smith, we know that there are several elements which help make a team excel. From clear roles and goals, to a shared vision, and regular practices like team meetings, to everyone understanding what success looks like and how they are measured. These become even more pronounced in the remote and virtual space. For more on this check out the new Remote Pathways Podcast I co-host. We are just at Episode 5 and delve into the different people, places and pathways to remote work. You may also want to check out the Expanding Your Group and Team Coaching Toolkit post I wrote a few months ago on Team Effectiveness

Consider how you might leave space for a team to explore where they are along each of these areas.

For a more detailed look at the difference between group and team coaching, please check out thees articles I have written in the last few years for choice Magazine.

Here's a link to "Group and Team Coaching - The Landscape of Many" as published in Choice Volume 19  - Click here to download 
or  Group and Team Coaching - Valuable Modalities for Today's Organizational Context, Volume 16 of Choice. Click here to download


We go into greater detail around the similarities and differences throughout the Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCes), and to a lesser extent in the Group Coaching Essentials program (8.75 CCEs). I hope you will consider joining us for an upcoming virtual learning group.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
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

If you are looking for  coaching skills development through CCE approved programs - The next Group CoachingEssentials CCE approved program starts on Monday February 3rd from 9 - 1015 am ET - group calls will be held on February 3, 10, 24, March 2 and 9, 2020. This 8.75 CCE program also includes weekly 1-1 time with me (15 min each week). Is 2020 your year to get your groups going or expand the number of groups you are doing? Whether you are new to group coaching or stepping into your next year, there’s always something to learn – I hope you’ll join us. Reserve your spot here.

Also starting on February 3rd is the Mentor Coaching Group (10 hours for ACC/ PCC). Join me for 10 hours of mentor coaching for your credential. This group will be held on Mondays from 12 - 1pm Eastern from February 3 - May 4, 2020.

The 60 Day Coaching Business Builder will also kick off a new cohort on February 1st. This hybrid live and on-demand program supports you in 60 days of daily steps, also with a weekly 1-1 time with me!

10 Ways to Use Breakouts in Group Coaching - Day 7 Countdown to 2020

Welcome back to the Countdown to 2020. I took several days off for the holidays and hope that you

will be doing so too, this week and next!

Today's 10 Ways countdown post focuses on 10 different ways to use breakouts in group coaching. Whether you are meeting in a physical space OR using a zoom breakout, breakouts provide an opportunity for group members to connect, and articulate what is important to them. This is key in a group coaching process where it's not just about listening to others, but also having air time yourself.

Several things to keep in mind as you go to incorporate more breakout work into your own group programs:
1. Give enough time - it does take time for people to get out to their room, set up process and then move into the conversation. 8 - 15 minutes may be a good range for a more substantive process.
2. Assign roles such as time keeper, leader of the conversation, note taker etc.
3. Be very clear with what you want to do. Show, describe and share again, the question you want people to discuss.
4. Keep breakout room size small. The more people in a room, the more likely "Social loafing" is going to occur where no one, or fewer, people will speak. Breakouts of 2 or 3 are quite common, especially in the remote space.
5. Keep people updated re: instructions and/or timing using the broadcast function if there is one.
6. Consider how you will have people share key learning from each group. Is there a presenter verbally or does each group share their top 3-5 ideas in the chat. Consider this BEFORE people go to breakout.

To round out our top 10 today (with a couple of bonuses), here are several ways you may want to incorporate breakouts:
1. Have people share the most important thing they have heard in what you have been discussing or exploring.
2. Have people share the one step they will take to put things into action.
3. Have people share the one resource they use as it relates to that topic. OR
4. Provide group members with a powerful question as it relates to the topic.

What can you do to incorporate more breakouts into your group coaching conversations?

For more on this topic, be sure to check out the call I did on Breakouts that Sizzle, part of the Effective Virtual Conversations book club calls.

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized
Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
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

If you are looking for  coaching skills development through CCE approved programs - I’ll be kicking off the first Group CoachingEssentials CCE approved program on Friday January 10^th at 1015 am ET. This 8.75 CCE program also includes weekly 1-1 time with me (15 min each week). Is 2020 your year to get your groups going or expand the number of groups you are doing? Whether you are new to group coaching or stepping into your next year, there’s always something to learn – I hope you’ll join us. Reserve your spot here.
Also starting in January are two groups of the Virtual Facilitation Essentials - a Friday group and a Monday group. If you want to see many of these tools in practice, and get experience in using them. Consider joining us for this virtual train-the-trainer.
January 1st - calling on coaches who want to focus on growing their coaching business. Reserve your spot for the 60Day Accelerator where you will be focusing on taking daily steps and consistent action around your coaching business. This program is based on my 2018 work, Coaching Business Builder.

12 days of holidays - Day 1 Group and Team Program Goodies

As we start to wind down the business year of 2016 in lead up to the holidays, I wanted to resuscitate an older tradition I've undertaken over the last decade a couple of times - the 12 days of holidays series. Each day up to December 23rd I'll be posting a link to a different resource or special I think you might be able to benefit from when pulling together your own group and team programs - workshops, retreats, group and team coaching, webinars etc. I hope that you will also share these with your friends and colleagues!

Today is day 1 of 12 and I'm including a link to the 13th Annual Year End Group and Team Programs call I held on Friday December 9th. In this year's call I took a look back at some of the key themes and trends in group and team programing this past year, and looked ahead to three possibilities which will likely impact our work with groups and teams during 2017. You can view this video online at our EffectiveGroupCoach YouTube Channel, or view  it here. Run time is 45 minutes:

Enjoy! I'm excited about the resources and specials I will be sharing before December 23rd and I hope that you will enjoy them too. Stay tuned for tomorrow's goodie. It is related to the #1 question I received about groups this year.

Best wishes,
Jennifer


Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCCGroup Coaching Essentials | Potentials Realized 
Phone: (416)996-8326
Email: info(at)potentialsrealized(dot)com


About Us: Jennifer Britton Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013) . Since 2004 she and her company, Potentials Realized, have supported thousands of coaches, trainers, and leaders, design and create more impactful team and group programs (in-person and virtual). Jennifer offers customized programs for organizations, as well as virtual public training programs. Our areas of specialty are team development, leadership and coaching. Our 2017 programming starts during the week of January  9th and will include: The Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar (8.75 CCEs), The Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs), and the Mentor Coaching Group for ACC/PCC portfolio routes. Our 2017 Learning Lab and Design Studio Group for Coaches who want to build their business and expand their group and team programs starts January as well (2 group calls on Fridays throughout 2017)

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)

Group Programs - What's Different Today, Trends and Future Possibilties

Group Programs - What's Different Today, Trends and Future Possibilities
By Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPCC. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2013.

I hosted my 10th Annual Year End Group Programs call yesterday, an annual tradition for me in terms of

taking a look at recent trends and looking to the horizon of what's ahead.

As I was preparing for the call, I reflected on what has changed in the realm of group programs and coaching over the past 9-10 years. Here were some of the things that came to mind:
- Ten  years ago we were talking about teleseminars and teleclasses as opening a whole new vista. Today, consider how webinars, Google Hangouts are continuing to create connection and new learning opportunities.
- The growth of mobile learning - being able to really learn just-in-time from so many places - by smartphone, tablet, web etc.
- The continued appetite for connection with others
- Ten years ago group and team coaching were undertaken by only a few, and many in the coaching profession felt that the coaching conversation can only ensue in the individual environment. Anything else was not coaching, but training or facilitation. Today team and group coaching are really recognized as sub-disciplines of our work.

I spoke yesterday about some of the things I see on the horizon, as well as current issues we want to continue keeping an eye on. Briefly they include:

1. A continued need for, and emphasis on, relationship building. What relationships have supported you throughout this year? What new relationships do you want to foster in the new year. Coaching is a highly individualized service. How are people getting to know you, and what you offer? What approaches have you found most effective in building relationships this year?

2. Synergy and blending in our approaches, in service to the clients we work with. Today's business and personal challenges and opportunities require a multi-disciplinary approach. Coaching is one part of any solution. how do we synergize with others, and blend our skills and approaches in the variety of contexts we engage in. Coaching philosophy and approaches are grounded in the client as being the "Expert". With this in mind, what does synergy and blend, look like, and mean, for our clients?

3. Measurement - A critical part of any coaching conversation is having the client, team or group, identify what success is going to look like for them. At the same time, as coaches we need to continue to keep an eye on measuring impact, and capturing client stories (in a way that maintains their confidentiality). One of the conference sessions I enjoyed the most this year, and found most validating, was Lisa Edward's presentation at the ICF Mid-West Regional Conference. She made me realize that I'm already doing many of the things that are seen as best practice.

4. Sustainability - Sustainability is also a key consideration for the work we do. I know that this is an often over-used word. My entire career, especially prior to coaching when I worked with the UN and on international development issues, entailed working with others to create sustainable futures. I have flagged sustainability as an issue to keep an eye on, on a number of levels. First, exploring what sustainability means for our clients and their results? Second, sustainability for the organizations we work with. How can we partner to build additional capacity in the organizations and entities our clients are part of? Finally, sustainability is also key for ourselves as a coaching business. What will enable you to build a sustainable business?

The Brundtland Report provided us with the following definition of sustainable development more than 25 years ago,

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

What does sustainability mean for the coaching profession as a whole?

Sustainable development has always been grounded in a systems approach. What is your impact on the web around you.

I hope that you enjoy listening to the entire 50 minute call. In addition to quickly talking about these four areas, I also go into some recent research which has come out from the ICF about what coaches are doing, as well as some key reminders for making your own group programming (whether is it group coaching, or workshops, or retreats,  most impactful. You can listen into the call here.

Each year the call is a way for me to say thank you for your support. I also want to thank you for joining me here at the blog - whterh this is your first post that you read, or your hundredth. As always, I look forward to your feedback and suggestions on what you'd like to see going forward.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!

Jennifer

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

Our 2014 programming starts on Friday January 10th with the start of the Mentor Coaching Group - ACC Renewals, and ACC/PCC portfolio; The Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar (6.75 CCEs), and the Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (8 CCEs). The 90 Day BizSuccess program starts Tuesday Jan 14th. I hope that you will join us!

Top 10 Group Coaching Blog Posts from 2013

As we move into the final month of the year, it's a great time to pause and reflect. It's can also be a busy

time of year for coaches as many of our clients are creating space to plan for the new year, and we ourselves are looking to launch new programs.

Most of you know me for my practicality in getting to the core, so we can undertake MORE impactful work with clients. As such, here's a quick list of the top 10 posts (in terms of reading) from the blog this year. I hope that you find them useful in the work that you do, and that you may also consider joining me  for an upcoming program so you don't have to reinvent the wheel (see below).

Drum roll please......Here are the top 10 posts for 2013 from the Group Coaching Ins and Outs blog for 2013:

What? So What? Now What?

Team Coaching Characteristics

The Benefits of Group Coaching

Bringing in more visuals to your group programs 

Mentor Coaching - Three Things to Consider

Three pitfalls for any teleseminar or phone based program

MindMapping: An Essential Part of Group Program Design

Six Ideas for FieldWork in Your Next Coaching Engagement

Coaching Business Builder - Every Action has a Reaction

and finally....

 Team and Group Coaching Tips: Coaching Many

Which one did you enjoy the most? What posts would you like to see during 2014?

Enjoy this last month of the year!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com

Join us for an upcoming program. December 2013 programs include:
The Group Coaching Essentials Teleseminar (6.75 CCEs) - Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-4:15 pm Eastern/New York: 12/2, 4, 10, 12 and 19
2014 Virtual BizPlanning Retreat - Friday Dec 6 and 13 (1030-1:30 pm Eastern) OR Thursday December 19 (8:30- 2:30 pm Eastern) - by phone

Group Facilitation Tip - Virtual Programs

At the desk...Photo J Britton

This fall as I have been leading a number of presentations on group and team coaching with different ICF chapters and coaching schools, I've been asked a lot of questions about running successful virtual programs, whether it is a group coaching, webinar or teleclass, here are four things you will want to keep in mind:

1. Priming people for learning: Setting up our group and team members for maximum engagement is What do you want to do to "prime" people for learning?

critical. What pre-work would be useful to get people prepared for the conversation? Is there a question you can pose for people to think about? A video for them to watch? An audio to listen to? I find that pre- and post-work play an even more important role in virtual programs, to expand the impact of our call time together.

2. Building connection - in a virtual environment it is important to build connection amongst individuals and with the coach/facilitator as early as possible. Pre-calls with each learner start the connection process for a facilitator. What can you incorporate to build connection amongst participants? What additional visual elements can you incorporate? What will give the greatest impact in building connection amongst your group members?

3. Engage regularly - in an in-person environment it's often recommended that you change the pace every 7-10 minutes through switching activities. In a virtual environment engagement and pace changes can be even more important. Make use of breakout opportunities (possible if you use services such as Maestro Conferencing or FreeConferenceCalling.com). You may also get people to write things down, or share in a larger group. Have people use the chat function if you are on a webinar. Check in regularly with your group to see how the pace is working with them. What approaches do you want to use in engaging your learners?

4. Less is More- You may find that it takes longer to cover topics in the virtual domain than an in-person environment. Factor in transition times if you are having people move to a virtual breakout. What are the components of the content that can be put aside, and perhaps moved into post-work, or a resource list?

What other tips would you offer for others in running successful virtual programs? Which of these one areas do you want to focus on as you move forward with your work? For those that have my latest book - From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, you will want to take a look at Chapter 7 - Virtual Program Design and Delivery. Enjoy!

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, CPCC, PCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
GroupCoachingEssentials.com - Our next Group Coaching Essentials program starts by phone Tues 12/3 at 3 pm ET - 6.75 CCEs (which you can complete before the end of the year)
Phone: (416)996-8326