Group Facilitation Tip: Creating Ground Rules with Your Group

Building in time at the start of your next group program (workshop, retreat or group coaching program) for the group to create some groundrules, ways of working, or terms of engagement, creates a safe and even playing field for all group members.

I typically spend 5-10 minutes with each group I am working with in creating a group charter or set of ground rules which we will all follow for the time we are working together. It is very similar to designing the alliance in an individual 1-1 coaching session, however, in the group context it facilitates the design of a group alliance. I use this exercise with groups that are just forming, as well as intact teams that may be joining me for a half day program or longer.

I like to have the group come up with their ways of working - how they will be together. Some of the ground rules I will propose for the group to consider include:
* Starting and ending on time
* Respecting each other's ideas, thoughts and opinions
* Respecting confidentiality (so what is discussed in the room, stays in the room)
*Agreeing to play fully during the course of the program

It's also amazing to see what group's come up with as well -- often suggestions like only having one person speak at a time.

Some of these guidelines/ways of working may seem very basic, but people are people, and groups are groups. I will post the Group Charter/Ground Rules/Ways of Working in the venue setting so we can refer back to them as we move forward with the program. It's interesting to see how we sometimes need to refer back to them even six weeks into a multi-week program.

You can also facilitate this process in a virtual environment during teleclasses or teleseminars.

What are some of the ground rules you usually propose, or have seen with groups. Feel free to share your comments below.

Have a wonderful week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Team Building Resources

I've spent part of the morning putting some of the finishing touches on a one day program I am running for a team in a few weeks time. I work with this team on an annual basis and so they have already experienced some of my favorite exercises for exploring team relationships, team possibilities and business planning.

As I always say, the Web is a great resource for juicy team building resources. If you haven't checked out these sites already, I hope that you will -- they are jam packed with great exercises you can adapt for the different teams you are working with - whether you are wearing a coaching, training or facilitator's cap.

Teach Me Teamwork - Tom Heck's Amazing Site
Wilderdom.com - Great site out of Australia -- I love the outdoor experiential slant as these are my own roots from the late 80s.
Business Balls - always getting updated, business balls has been a site I've enjoyed for the last 6 years -- always gives you some great ideas.

And of course I will be bringing in some of the great relationship systems coaching tools from the Center for Right Relationship.

What are some of your favorite team building resource sites? Feel free to comment below.

Have a great week,
Jenn

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials

Creating Time to Plan

Did you know that for every 10 minutes of planning you can save 1 hour of unfocussed effort? How often do you spend time on a weekly, or daily, basis making a list of what you need to get done and what's a priority?

As business owners it is pretty easy to get swamped by the juggling of multiple contracts and clients, and planning falls by the wayside. And what's the cost? To you? Your business?

As many larger companies are moving into their planning phase for 2008 (if it's not done already), how much time have you dedicated towards creating your Business Roadmap for 2008? What are your major goals for next year? How much will you grow? What will be your priorities?

I will be offering two different programs in the last 6 weeks of this year to help coaches and other business owners to focus on their business plans or group program plans for 2008.

Group Program Design Virtual Intensive (Monday November 19 and 26th from 7-10 pm EST both evenings by phone): For coaches, trainers and other professionals wanting to create the space to plan and act on their plans for 2008 group programs. Cost $125 Cdn. Includes the reteat, a group follow up call and virtual retreat manual.

2008 Biz Success Virtual Planning Retreat: A virtual business planning retreat for small business owners and solopreneurs. (Held by phone)
Offered over the course of two evenings:
Monday December 3 & 10 (7-10pm ET) OR
Tuesday December 11 &17 (7-10pm ET)
Cost: $150 Cdn or bundled with individual coaching sessions. Also includes a group follow up call and a business planning e-manual.

Imagine the payoff of 6 hours of dedicated time to focus on your business and its goals. At very least, I hope that you will take up the challenge of creating time in the coming weeks to close your door, turn off the phone and do some visioning of what you want to create in 2008.

If you'd like more information on these programs, I hope that you will check out the links, or feel free to call me toll free at 1-866-217-1960. Space is limited in both programs so please register early.

Have a great start to the week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960
Email: info{at} potentialsrealized{dot}com

Great magazine for Coaches - choice Magazine

If you are looking for a great magazine to stay abreast with our profession, check out choice Magazine, the magazine for professional coaches. Published quarterly, choice is full of useful articles and resources to keep you ahead of the curve. Now in it's fourth year of publication, choice provides essential insights and perspectives on the coaching profession.

To find out more visit http://www.choice-online.com/. Choice has had some terrific editions out lately including one on the important difference between coaching and therapy. Upcoming editions include Coaching and Youth, and Corporate Coaching.

If you are going to the ICF Conference this week in Long Beach, check out the choice booth - I'm sure that publisher Gary Schliefer will be there. The subscription is a great investment!

What's been your experience?

Have a great week,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT

Potentials Realized

Group Coaching Essentials

Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Email: jennifer@potentialsrealized.com

The last Group Coaching Essentials program for 2007 starts next week (Mondays from 12 - 1:15 pm EST) and will be held on November 5, 12, 19 and 26th, plus a fifth call in January. If you are looking to launch your own group coaching programs for early 2008, now's the time to get moving on them. For more information on the program click here. I hope that you will join me. Space is limited to 6 coaches this session. You can register online at the links above, or by calling me toll free at 1-866-217-1960.

Join Me Friday for the Tips and Tools for Your Workhshop or Retreat Teleseminar

Are you looking for some quick tips and tools for your next workshop or retreat program? Join me this coming Friday, October 26th from 12 - 1:30 pm (EST) for a 1.5 hour teleseminar. During the program we will explore 10 tips and tools to amp up your next group program.

By the end of the program, participants will:

• Explore common challenges for group program leaders, and what to do to navigate them;
• Acquire a basic understanding of adult learning principles;
• Have a framework to "Know Your Client"
• Brainstorm ideas on marketing and promotion for your next event
• Learn how to not reinvent the wheel with your group programs and other service offerings
• Get ideas about engaging exercises to include in their group programs
• And learn about two of my favorite best practices

This is an interactive, intimate teleseminar, with space limited to 8. Participants are encouraged to bring any, and all, questions you have about group programs to the call. You'll also receive a 20 page workbook to take forward for your own group program development. The cost of the program is $45 US.

To reserve your spot and pay by PayPal, please visit: http://www.groupcoachingessentials.com/pages/workshoptipsandtools. If you have questions or would like to register by phone, please call me toll free at 1-866-217-1960.

I hope that you will join me on Friday for an action packed hour and a half!

With best wishes,

Jennifer

Action, Action, Action in Business

Moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone. What's the amount of moss surrounding your business these days? How much action have you been taking in the last few months? What action has been showing measurable results? Are you keeping track?

I am a real proponent for strategic action based in solid planning and vision for business owners. However, what often happens is that we get so caught up in the planning and visionning, that we don't actually move into the action phase. It may be because we feel we don't have enough information to get into action (ie. we need more education/more networking/more courses), we are not prepared enough, we're scared, we're not good enough. These are often the things we hear from our clients when we look at limiting beliefs.

What limiting beliefs are you setting with your business? What action are you shying away from? What excuses are you making?

On the flipside, sometimes we can't get into action, because there is so much on our plate. When was the last time you took time to strategically look at what your business priorities are, what's paying off, and what is becoming dead weight?

I would challenge each one of you to take a look at where you have been spending your time and energy, what the results are, and what might not be serving you any more. The "not to do" list can often be just as powerful as the "to do" list.

Lots of food for thought!

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials

Having essence infuse your group program development

I've been developing two new retreats for 2008 with colleagues in the last few months. One of my biggest lessons learned from this is process the realization of what an impact defining the essence you want for your program can have.

Both retreat programs I am working on right now are targeted to couples and as such draw on very similar concepts and exercises, yet have a very different feel. Last night we had a major breakthough with one of the retreats when we decided to look at the question: "What's the essence we want to create in this program? How is it different than other programs?"

To help us get really clear on what we wanted to create, we asked questions like:
* What's the energy we want to create?
* What's the ambiance?
* What colours come to mind with the program?
* What are some of the metaphors which would represent the program?
* What's the feel we want to create?

Keep in mind that we had already drafted the program and objectives. By getting really clear last night on the essence we wanted to create, it gave us a new strategic focus and made it really easy to start developing our marketing message. I have no doubt that the work we did last night is going to shorten a lot of processes in lead up to these programs, as well as help keep us grounded to what we want to create.

What's been your experience in coming from a place of defining your essence for a program in addition to defining your content? What results have you seen? I'd love to hear about your experience and any other questions you might want to add.

Have a great week!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CHRP, CPT
Group Coaching Essentials
Email: jennifer@potentialsrealized.com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960