Happy Holidays - Catch up on the 17th Annual Year End Group and Team Programs Call

 Happy Holidays!

I hope that you are enjoying this year's holiday season and possibly finding new ways to celebrate.

Every year in December I host a year end call around group and team coaching issues. This year, in the spirit of creating more connection and community (two elements people are yearning for in these times), I hosted a special 4 hour year-end holiday party, with several other colleagues from the Stand Out Virtually Incubator joining me for the presentations and festivities. If you haven't had a chance to view it, I hope you will find some time to do so.

Here are some of the key highlights:

Start - Welcome and the 17th annual year-end group and team programs call (stay tuned for some of the key themes I highlighted this year)

30 minutes - Kathleen Vaughan - The Kaleidoscope of Teams

60 minutes  - Luisa Ferrario -Remote Leadership

90 Minutes - Lisa Hoashi - What were the opportunities of 2020 - Grab a pen for this one!

120 minutes - Paola Fiore - Authenticity and Sustainability

2 hours 30 minutes - PlanDoTrack Facilitators speaking about PlanDoTrack and how they are using it in their work with remote professionals and teams

3 hour 25 min (approximately) - grab a pen or our drawing activity of cars with trees

3 hour 30 min - Future Trends for 2021 Group and Team Programs

I hope that you will enjoy it and join me in the coming weeks as I host a number of additional events for kickstarting your business in 2021. Stay Tuned this week as I highlight several things. Also, be sure to check out the Boxing Weekend Specials with 2021 Lab pricing and the Amplify Virtually Mastermind Founders Rate.

And now...here's the 17th Annual Year End Group and Team Programs Call:

I look forward to continuing to support you in 2021 with programming around virtual group and team work - from coaching, to facilitation to team development and Standing Out Virtually. ICF CCE approved programs start again in January as does the 60 Day Coaching Business Builder Accelerator and Mentor Coaching Groups (for ACC/PCC).

Enjoy the rest of the holidays,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - Group Coaching Essentials | Effective Virtual Conversations | 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

Phone: (416)996-8326

Join us on Friday January 8th for the start of Winter 2021 programming around Group and Team Coaching. Get ready to launch your 2021 programming Click here to learn more and reserve your spot in the Essentials program.

16th Annual Year-End Group and Team Programs Call - Day 3 Countdown to 2020

As we move into mid-December my guess is that your days and evenings are full with wonderful annual events - perhaps concerts, parties and conversations. Last night I spent the evening enjoying the sweet sounds of singing and music at my son's high school concert. Nothing like enjoying some good holiday music!

One of the traditions I've been hosting since my first year of business has been the Annual Year End Group and Team Programs call, where I take a look back at some of the themes which have shaped our work as practitioners - whether we  have been coaching, training or mentoring.

This year I hosted the 16th annual call. While the calls have gotten shorter (the first few years it was always a one hour call which I would host 2 -3 times in the month of December) and they are now much shorter (this year's clocked in at 20 minutes) and shared via YouTube (years ago they were all phone based)

Regardless of purpose, the core intent remains the same -  connecting to pause and think about where we've been as it relates to group and team programming, and looking ahead to potential ideas which may shape our conversations next year.

I hope that you will take 20 minutes and listen into this year's call - it's embedded here for ease of access:

While it's fresh, I hope you'll take a few minutes to capture your key learning from this year and to also note ideas you want to carry forward.

Enjoy the call,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized
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 support - 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. You can also bundle it with the Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs) for several months of learning and 18.75 CCEs.

Need support now? Join me for a 6 hour virtual Strategy Day where we can map out what your program is going to look like. You'll leave the day clear on your structure, support elements, and your next steps. If you already have programs but want wider business support, we can also spend the time helping you map out your 2020 marketing strategy, or content plan. It's six hours in an intensive virtual context of doing REAL-TIME work with me. Dates available include December  18, 19, 23, 27, 31. Six hours. Book your date here. https://bookme.name/jenniferbritton/year-end-strategyprogram-design-session-6-hours-virtual

Prefer to explore with others? Join me for one of the very budget friendly PlanDoTrack Virtual Retreats I'll be hosting over the next few weeks. These 4 hour programs are geared to get you visioning, planning, and doing real-time. Cost: $129 US. I'll be hosting them on Friday December 20th (11 - 3pm ET), Monday December 23rd, Monday December 30th or Friday January 3rd). Reserve your spot now. I'll look forward to having you join me!

2018 Trends in Group and Team Programs - Coaching, Webinars and On-Demand

Late last week, I hosted the 15th annual year-end group and team programs call. This has become an

annual event where I take a look back at  some of the trends from the past year as it relates to group and team programming. I also take a look ahead at what themes might be prevalent, and influencing, our work.

You can check out what I wrote about last year's call here.

This year, it was no surprise that some of these themes showed up as key areas:
- Micro-learning (short sound-bytes of learning - usually only 3-10 minutes in length). With that in mind, I'll be releasing components of the call in shorter soundbytes in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!
- Considering what on-demand offerings you might include - as someone who has offered on-demand programs since 2014 it's interesting to see the current wave of professionals flocking to create on-demand opportunities. As a coach, I think it is important to consider how on-demand may supplement your different live offerings as well.
- Enhanced Virtual Focus - I've seen more and more professionals shift to the virtual space this year, and become not only more proficient, but confident in leading ENGAGING virtual events. This year was the 5th year of offering our series of virtual train-the-trainer programs. The Virtual Facilitation Essentials was approved this year for ICF CCEs, making it a popular offering. It will be starting up again in the new year if 2019 will be your year for expanding your virtual toolkit and skills!

There were a few more trends impacting us this year, and you are probably not surprised that these themes showed up on my list

The second part of the 15th Annual Year End call took a look ahead to 2019, and themes I think will continue to influence our work. As a writer I'm constantly scanning the horizon for latest research and focus. Having been in the industry of coaching for more than 15 years now it has been very interesting to see how many themes continue to cycle.



What are the trends you see influencing your work?

During the call I also shared my top 6 tools I turned to, time and time again. My work has continued to focus in the virtual space this year, as it will in 2019. As technologies continue to morph and emerge it makes geographically diverse groups a popular choice for busy professionals. I'll cover off my top 6 resources as a separate post in the coming weeks, but I will say that visual cards are on the list once again! Also up there was. of course, journaling. If you haven't connected into my Weekly Journaling Prompts, which I share every Saturday over at the Teams365 blog, do be sure to check it out. Of course, planning and journaling have been a key theme for me this year, as I released the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner in August and the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner for Virtual and Remote Professionals late last week.

What are you planning to create in your business next year? If you haven't found it yet, be sure to check out my new website - CoachingBusinessBuilder.com, including the weekly blog posts I share around Coaching Business Development.

I'm looking forward to being in touch with one more blog post of 2018. Enjoy your holidays next week!

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2009), and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013) and Effective Virtual Conversations (2017)
Phone : 416-996-TEAM (8326)
2019 programs kick off on Friday January 11th with the return of the 3 month Mentor Coaching Group (for ACC/PCC), the Group Coaching Essentials program (8.75 CCEs), Virtual Facilitation Essentials (8.5 CCEs) and the Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs)

Three Key Infuences for Group and Team Coaching in 2017

Every year I dedicate a blog post to some of the potential trends which may emerge in this new year around group and team coaching. It continues to be a time of growth and interest in group and team coaching as organizations and individuals look to leverage their resources and time, as well as benefit from the collaborative conversation space of these modalities.

In my December 2016 Community call I took a look back at some of the trends which had shaped 2016 including continued virtualization, and real-time coaching support. These will continue to be important influencers this year as well. Real-time coaching support requires that we remain flexible regarding what the coaching engagement looks like in terms of timing, frequency, blend of face to face and/or virtual, to meet the dynamic realities of the clients that we are working with. Some of my favorite 2016 coaching engagements with teams and groups involved a more intensive, real-time, embedded series of work, where new practices, approaches and habits could be practiced and tweaked repeatedly real-time over a series of days at the start to make these habits more engrained.

The continued development of streamlining technologies such as zoom are changing the coaching conversation space for groups. The ability for groups to see each other real-time, and not just hear each other, has significantly changed the way people are connecting with each other across time and space. Since transitioning most of my groups from phone only to zoom in the early part of 2016 I have noticed how groups are forming faster and connecting more quickly with their ability to see each other. Zoom as a platform has also made it easier for many people to connect in a more stable manner. This year you may want to revisit the technologies you are using to bring people together

Another key influencer this year will be the continued dynamic nature of teams. While the teaming environment has shifted significantly in many contexts, it is important to be flexible with our coaching approaches to meet the dynamic needs of teams (and also groups) in organizations today. Whether teams are completely virtual, matrixed, agile or other, spending time with the team to evolve a process that is going to work for their context is critical.

One of the resources you may want to tap into to learn more about group and team coaching is the panel discussion which I was part of with other team coaching thought leaders such as Phil Sandahl, Marita Frijohn, Peter Hawkins, David Clutterbuck and DJ Mitsch at the October Columbia Coaching Conference. You can view the 1.5 hour panel on YouTube.

As you consider your work this year, how will real-time support, leveraging virtual and/or streaming programming and working within a dynamic teaming environment, shape your work this year?

What do you see as some of the 2017 influences in your work?

Hope you are having a great start to 2017,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized/GroupCoachingEssentials
Email: info (at)potentialsrealized (dot)com

About Us: Jennifer Britton is the 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 Friday January 13th at 8am Eastern (2 group calls on Fridays throughout 2017)

2016 Priorities for Group and Team Coaching

For the last several years in early January I've blogged on possible priority areas for group and team coaching. It's become somewhat of an annual tradition. Last week here at the blog I posted on some of the key themes from 2015 we saw in the realm of group and team coaching. Here's the post if you haven't read it yet, and make sure to check out the December blab I hosted as part of my 12th Annual Year End Group Programs call.

Some of the key themes and priorities which I see as being priorities this year include:

1. Clearer definition of group and team coaching competencies. For many years I have written that as sub-disciplines of the coaching profession, we lead from our core coaching competencies (link to ICF Competency framework), AND as the profession becomes more nuanced, there are some important additional skill areas and nuances around the current competencies. Additional skills such as an understanding of group dynamics, process orientation, and a more robust toolkit of resources specific to group and team coaching are some areas. There have been several studies that I am aware of which have started to explore this topic around team coaching, and I'm looking forward to being part of additional conversations which are tackling this important topic area.
What do you see as additional skill sets required for team and group coaches?

2. Continued definition of the field of team coaching - In recent months I've heard a lot of coaches saying that they feel that "team coaching is coming into its own". I fully agree, and just like in the wider coaching profession we need to be vigilant in terms of how we define the field and approaches of team coaching, as well as what it looks like.
I continue to go back to some of the core research which defines coaching as a profession. What is the focus in the work we do around goals, action, awareness and accountability? How does the "intervention' support sustained conversation and change in a team? Who owns the process? How does the team define success? How are we holding the team "naturally creative, resourceful and whole"?
How do you define team coaching with your clients? What makes it distinct from other team interventions?

3. Continued focus and expansion in virtual programming - For coaches and clients alike virtual programming can be a mysterious entity. It does provide so many benefits for clients from greater anonymity, to convenience, and ability to connect with others in a much wider geography. As many more teams become virtual in nature, building our skills in this area will be important. As coaches, the time and cost savings, added to a much larger market reach, continue to be popular selling points.

As someone who has led a bulk of my work virtually for the last 12 years as a coach (and longer than that as a former virtual leader in my earlier career), I continue to work with coaches who are wanting to shift into the realm of virtual programming (Check out the Virtual Facilitation Skills Intensive which will start online on February 4th, or the Learning Lab and Design Studio a longer term group which launches later this month).

What do your clients value - in person? Virtual? What's going to support you in expanding your skills in the virtual domain if it's of interest?

While I think that there are many more areas which are priorities including measurement, engagement approaches, sharpening our skills, I think these three are quite critical for both team and group coaches. I'd love to hear your comments - as always feel free to comment below or join the conversation at the Effective Group Coaching Facebook page.

Have a great first week back to work for 2016!

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 January14th 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
Advanced Group Coaching Practicum - 10 CCEs starting Friday Jan 8th at 10:15 am ET giving you more practice and feedback on your group coaching skills, and exploring topics such as virtual programming, engagement, and activities
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. We'll be kicking off on January 22nd or 29th.

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

2014 Trends in Group and Team Coaching Work

Copyright 2015, Jennifer Britton

2014 Trends in Group and Team Coaching Work

By: Jennifer Britton, All Rights Reserved.

Last month I hosted two year end calls. One a traditional year end phone call (30 minutes), and the second a year end screencast (45 minutes) If you missed them you can View the 45 minute screencast at my From One to Many Resources page (scroll to the bottom of the page)

It's become an annual tradition for me over the past ten years to provide an overview of some of the trends from the past year, and an overview of what might lie ahead with respect to group and team programs. In both calls I shared some of the trends from last year as they relate to group and team coaching, along with possibilities I see for 2015.

Today's post is going to cover the some of the trends from 2014 I have seen around group and team programs, with an emphasis on group and team coaching. My next post will look at 2015 possibilities for group and team programs.

There were a number trends I saw in my work, which was reflected through the hundreds of conversations I had with coaches at coaching conferences I presented at, training sessions I led and peer dialogue. Some of the key coaching trends last year I noticed were:

Group and team coaching becoming more embedded - Group and team coaching became even more embedded in learning processes during 2014, especially in the realm of leadership development. It is much more common today to hear of how group coaching is being used to follow-up with leadership training, or how organizations are turning to team coaching rather a one-off team process. There is still a long way to go, but many organizations are seeing the value of a sustained series of conversations for groups and teams in their organizations.
Questions to consider: Where do you notice coaching becoming an integral part of your client's lives and work? What opportunities does this create?

Time Crunch on the part of our clients. Clients continue to be even more time crunched. Savvy organizations are realizing that coaching (individual, group and/or team) all provide important pause points in a frenetic day. Coaching not only focuses on supporting our clients into action (ICF Core Competency # 9) but also supports our clients in deepening awareness around issues that are important to them and their work (ICF core competency #8). The one hour a week (or every few weeks) spent working with a coach individually, or with peers and a group or team coach, provides a critical pause point for many of clients to stop, look strategically at issues, gain insights and make better decisions.
Questions to consider: What do you notice about time availability on the part of your clients? What types of solutions are they looking to? 

Teaming - Amy Edmonston coined the term teaming in her book Teaming several years ago. the ability for all workers to enhance their competencies in the area of team work, and their ability to move in and out of quickly forming (and disbanding) teams is becoming a reality for many today. Again coaching can provide an important role in supporting teams in creating common visions, and creating sustainable frameworks which they can carry from team to team.
Questions to consider: If you coach teams, what do you notice about the types of teams which exist? What is their life-cycle? What coaching support could they benefit from?

Integration of coaching - The establishment of coaching cultures is becoming embedded in many more organizations today who are looking at many different ways to integrate coaching into their learning and development processes. This enhanced understanding of what coaching is, and what coaching is not, makes our work as internal and external coaches easier in many respects, as organizations can select from a variety of different coaching solutions (internal/external, group/individual/team). Personally I like to look at it as an "and" rather than "either-or" and most of my clients see it that way as well.
Questions to consider  - What does integration mean for you? For your clients?

Partnering  - I included partnering as a trend for 2014 as I am increasingly seeing coaches recognize and leverage the enhanced abilities and impact created through co-faciltation, and other collaborative approaches with fellow coaches and other professionals. I know how important partnering was in creating results for last year, and would like to thank those who I was able to collaborate with!
Questions to consider: What role did partnering play for you last year? What results did you get? What opportunities for partnering exist in 2015?

What trends did you notice last year? What opportunties does this create for you and your clients?

Have a great start to 2015 - and stay tuned in the next few days for my post on 2015 possibilities. You can also listen into what I shared last month at the 11th Annual Year End Group Programs Call which is now at the From12Many ("From One to Many" ) Resources page (scroll to bottom).

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 for a 2015 program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar(6.75 CCEs) starting Thursday January 8th (6.75 CCEs),  the 10 week Virtual Facilitation Skills program starting Thursday January 15th at 11:45 am ET OR one of the Mentor Coaching Groups (for ACC Renewal and ACC/PCC portfolio routes) starting Monday January 12 or Friday January 30th.

 

2014 Group and Team Coaching Priority Areas

In December, during my 10th annual year end group programscall  I shared four areas of importance for 2014 as it relates to group and team coaching. These four areas were: synergy and blending, relationship building, measurement, and business sustainability. Two of these four areas  - relationship focus and measurement - were also highlighted at the start of last year.

Throughout the last part of 2012 and into early 2013 I spent a lot of time in dialogue with group and team coaches as I wrote my most recent book, From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching. In addition to a strong set of coaching skills, these four areas were often  mentioned individually, or in totality by more than the dozen coaches I interviewed for the book. 

As team and group coaches, here are some things to consider as we move forward this year:

1. Synergy and Blend. Coaching is one of many approaches available to individuals, organizations, groups and teams in the process of change and realizing their own potential. Many of you have heard me speak or write over the last several years of the importance of us being able to blend the best of many different disciplines in the work we do. 

As group and team coaches it is essential that we lead from our core coaching competencies (refer to the eleven core competencies of the ICF). Masterful team and group coaches blend additional skills into making their work with teams and group that much more impactful. Some examples of blend include knowledge of a variety of facilitation approaches, and an understanding of team effectiveness, and OD.

For coaches working in the organizational context synergy is also critical. It is very likely that your coaching support are dovetailing into other corporate intiatives. What questions will help your clients also make the connection and link to other leadership, talent management initiatives in an organization? How does your work feed in?

Question to consider: What does blend and synergy mean for the work that you do?

2. Business sustainability is a second area I flagged as a focus area for coaches for 2014. Business sustainability is important in terms of our own businesses (for external coaches), as well as the sustainability of the businesses we partner with. Economies around the world continue to change in interesting ways, and events such as natural disasters (ice storms, for example) are not just events half a world away. Since the early 1990s I’ve been involved in working with organizations, communities and also nations on sustainability issues. My work for more than a decade with the international development community - the UN and other aid agencies - gave me  deep appreciation of the complexity of what sustainability means. I hope that throughout the year we may have opportunity to dialogue and explore what sustainability means, and looks like, for each one of us.

Question to consider - What does sustainability mean for you and your work and/or business?

3. Relationship building/focus was another area I spotlighted again as a key focus areas for coaches during 2014. Coaching has become much more mainstream in recent years, and there are still large pockets of individuals who are not aware of what coaching is and how it can benefit their individuals, leaders and teams. Coaching is also a service which is highly relationship focused, influenced by the relationship, and trust and connection that is creted between coach and clients. 

Question to consider: As you think about relationship building for yourself in 2014 what’s important? Who do you want to connect with? Build relationships with?

4. Measurement was the fourth area I highlighted in my year end call. Organizations and prospective clients are hungry to know more about the impact of coaching and what value it really has. Many of us have opted to utilize tools which are grounded in emprical measurement such as the Team Diagnostic Survey from Team Coaching International. As coaches it is also important for us to have the dialogue with our clients in terms of how they are going to measure success, and what metrics they may be tracking already.

Question to consider: What’s important for you, your clients and measurement this year?

As always I welcome your thoughts and comments. Please feel free to do so below, or at our Facebook page. If you missed listening into my 10th annual year-end group programs call, you can listen to it here approx 50 min).

Have a great start to 2014!

Best wishes,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPCC

Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials

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)

I hope you will join me for an upcoming program to deepen your skills and move your work forward:

Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starts Friday Jan 10 from 12 - 1:15 pm ET (6.75 CCEs). Calls held 1/10, 17, 24, 31 and 2/7.

Advanced Group Coaching Practicum starts by phone on Friday Jan 10 from 10:30 - 11:45 am ET(8 CCEs). Calls held 1/10, 17, 24, 31, 2/7 and 2/14.

Mentor Coaching Group for ACC and PCC portfolio and ACC Renewals - Friday Jan 10 from 9-10 am ET. 7 hrs group calls, 3 hours individual calls. Runs to April 11, 2014.

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!

Why Coaching - Several Benefits

Why Coaching Works infographic by swrightcreative.

This is a great iconograph out from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) which talks about the value of coaching. I thought that I would share it with you today.

Research from the ICF has identified increased productivity, increased positivity and return on investment (ROI) from coaching.

Increased productivity measures include:
Improved work performance (70%)
Improved business management (61%)
Improved time management (57%)
Improved team effectiveness (51%)

Improved positivity measures include:
Increased self confidence (80%)
Increased relationships (73%)
Improved communication skills (72%)
Improved work life balance (67%)

What do you see as the benefits of coaching?

Have a great start to your week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of  Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)
Upcoming programs include the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar (6.75 CCEs starting Thursday March 7 at 10 am Eastern/New York) and the Mentor Coaching Group starting Friday March 1 at 1:30 pm Eastern (for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes - 10 hrs). Join me in Toronto on April 6 and 7 2013 for the Group Coaching Intensive (15 CCEs)

Group Coaching Trends for 2013

What might be in store for trends around group coaching this year? In December I shared 4 trends I see as quite possible for group and team coaching trends this year. If you were not able to join me for the 9th Annual Year End Group Programs Call in December, you can listen to it here (click on the link for the December 14 2012 call).

Here are four trends I see as continued shapers of work in the group coaching realm - as well as team coaching, workshops and retreats:

1. Virtual - I believe that there will continue to be increased appeal for virtual group programs - whether it is a group coaching program that runs for several months or a year, or a webinar type format. As technology continues to evolve rapidly, and connectivity through mobile devices continues to explode, I do believe that more people will feel confident in trying out a virtual offering. Consider Christmas/holiday gifts during 2012. How many of you now have a new tablet or Ipad in your household? These devices increase the opportunity for virtual collaboration.

2. Relationship Based - I do believe that a continued trend or priority area for coaches and those running group programs will continue to be the importance of relationship-based connections. WE often talk about the "KNOW, LIKE and TRUST" factor in marketing. How are you creating opportunities to get to know potential clients, and more importantly have them experience your work so they know if they like it or not?

3. Focus on Measurement - The 2012 ICF Global Coaching Survey pointed to the need for more attention to measurement as it relates to coaching. As a coach, how are you measuring impact (short term, medium term, long term). What are you doing with your organizational partners to measure, or get them to measure impact. Coaches will benefit from familiarizing themselves around measurement. Een if coaches are not the ones undertaking the measurement they should develop awareness around standard practices of evaluation. ASTD has some great resources for trainers. Kirkpatrick's 4 Levels are quite standard in the training industy, and of course ROI measurement. Jack J. Phillip's is considered one of the go-to persons for ROI measurement.

4. Visuals - Hand in hand with trend #1 - Virtual, visuals I believe will continue to play a more important role this year, for in person and virtual programs. With the advent of even more webinar service providers, consider how you can integrate a coaching approach using a webinar platform (making it more two way and conversationally based of course).

What do you see or sense as the trends that will influence your work this year? As always feel free to comment below on on our Effective Group Coaching Facebook page. 

Best regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Connect with me on Twitter | Facebook

Upcoming programs for coaches include:
Group Coaching Essentials - 6.75 CCEs: Thursdays 1030-1145 am ET: Jan 10- Feb 7 or Tuesdays 2-3:15 pm ET: Feb 5- March 5
Advanced Group Coaching Practicum - 8 CCEs - a follow-on to the GEC program, providing coaches with hands-on group coaching practice in the virtual realm
Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals or ACC/PCC portfolio candidates - meets the ICF requirements for Mentor Coaching, and includes 7 hrs small group calls (max 4-5 coaches) and 3 hours of individual mentor coaching. Next group starts Fridays 12- 1pm ET on Jan 12 running to April 12.

9th Annual Year End Group Programs Call - Friday Dec 14 at 11 am Eastern

A quick note to invite you to the 9th Annual Year End Group Programs call which will be held this Friday December 14th from 11-11:45 am Eastern/New York/Toronto. You can participate by phone, and this year there will be a screensharing element for those that enjoy the visual channel.

This year's call will focus on group program trends for 2013 as well as a reminder of some core best practices for team and group programs.

There is no cost to participate other than your own long-distance charges.

To join us on Friday at 11, please follow these instructions:
1. Please join my meeting:
https://www.freescreensharing.com/meetings/282-229-972

2. Join the conference call:
Dial: (559)546-1200
and enter the
Meeting ID: 282-229-972
followed by the # key.

If you are going to be linking in online, you are encouraged to log in a few minutes early to ensure your system can connect.

I look forward to connecting with you later this week! A listing of some of our upcoming year end programs, as well as early 2013 programs can be found below.

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
(416)996-TEAM (8326)

I hope that you will join us for an upcoming program. Upcoming Programs include:
The 2013 Business Planning Virtual Retreat - 11-5 pm Eastern: Monday December 17, 2012
Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals, & ACC/PCC Portfolio Routes: Fridays 12 - 1pm Eastern: Jan 11 - April 12, 2013 (7 group calls, 3 hours individual calls) - 3 spots open
Group Coaching Essentials (6.75 CCEs) - Thursdays 1030-11:45 am Eastern: Jan 10-Feb 7, 2013 - 5 spots open
Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (8 CCEs) - Thursdays 9-10:15 am Eastern: Jan 17 - Feb 21, 2013

8th Annual Year End Group Programs Call - Fri Dec 2 at 12 noon ET

I'll be holding my 8th Annual Year End Group Programs call tomorrow, Friday December 2nd, from 12-12:45 pm Eastern. This has become one of my favorite annual traditions for me. I hope that you will join me and other coaches as we take a look back at 2011 successes, and look at 2012 trends for group programs. I'll be sharing some insights which will be useful if you are undertaking your own work (or planning to) in the areas of group coaching, teleclasses, webinars, or workshops.

Please feel free to join us at 12 noon Eastern (New York/Toronto) Friday December 2nd at 1-218-862-1300, access 503003.

There is no cost to participate other than your own long distance charges to the bridgeline.

Can't make it? I'll be posting the recording over at the Effective Group Coaching Facebook page early next week.

Best wishes as we move into this final month of the year!

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Join us for one of our remaining 2011 programs - the one day 2012 Business Planning Virtual Retreat (Thurs Dec 22nd from 10-4pm ET by phone) and the Group Program Design Virtual Retreat (Friday December 16th from 10-4 pm ET by phone)
Registration open for January's Group Coaching Essentials program - starting Jan 12th (Thursdays 10:30 - 11:45 am) and Jan 24th (Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:45 AM ET). Advanced Group Coaching Practicum will start Jan 24th (Tuesdays 12 - 1:15 pm ET)
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized(dot)com

Coaching on the Rise: 6th Annual Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey

The 6th Annual Sherpa Executive Coaching survey has just been released and can be downloaded here.

Some of the highlights of the survey report include:
-Training budgets for 2011 will be increasing at a higher rate than we have seen in many years (Chief Learning Officer, November 2010)
- After a pull back in recent years, organizations are again offering coaching to all levels of management, instead of restricting services to include only top line executives.
- Demand for executive coaching on the rise
- A vast majority of business professionals see the value of coaching as very high. The creditbility of coaching increases every year.
- Coaching is used more and more often for leadership development as opposed to problem-solving.
Source: Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey 2011, pp. 4

Interestingly, two of the areas they identify as next wave are: team coaching, and coaching skills training for managers, two areas I've done a lot of work in over the past five years here in Canada and internationally. I agree and continue to see great scope for increased growth in these areas.

I hope that you will take a look at the survey results yourself at http://www.sherpacoaching.com/survey.html.

As always, feel free to comment below.

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Group Coaching Essentials (ICF CCE Accreditation: New programs start Feb 8 and 17)
Phone: 416.996.8326