Mentor Coaching Group starts Friday August 9

The Mentor Coaching Group is designed for coaches who are renewing their ACC, or are undertaking

the ACC/PCC portfolio route for ICF credentialing. The program consists of 7 hours of small group mentoring calls (max 6 coaches) and 3 hours of individual coaching over a three month period.

The program explores the 11 ICF Competencies, encouraging coaches to consider what these skills look like in their work with individual, team and/or group coaching clients. Each coach will also have the opportunity at least once during the course of the program to coach and receive feedback on their skills. 

The next Mentor Coaching Group starts by phone Friday August 9th at 12 noon Eastern with calls being held Fridays 12 - 1 pm Eastern/New York on August 9, 16, 23, September 6, 13, October 4, November 8. Cost for the program is $1000 US and can be paid in one installment, or monthly installments.

In addition to the 10 hours of mentor coaching, group members receive session module notes (with resource links and worksheets), recordings of each call, verbal feedback on their skills and a letter confirming their completion of the mentor coaching process.

Here’s what coaches have said about the program:

"Done as Jennifer does it, I would only ever recommend Mentor Coaching in a group setting (barring the 3 hours of individual hours required). It opened me to considering new ways of providing coach work in the world. Jennifer's way of working with the group modeled best practice for group coaching and facilitation. She is a professional through and through, showing up authentically with felt presence. She provided a space that allowed for the experience to be effective, compassionate and inspirational" - Kathy Igoe, PCC

 

For more information and to register for the next Mentor Coaching Group please visit our website.

With best wishes,

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC

Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials.com

Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many:Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)

Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

The Benefits of Group Coaching

I recently wrote an article for the CoachingTools site on the Benefits of Group Coaching which grew out
of questions from coaches, prospective clients and organizations around what are the benefits of a group coaching process. I hope that you will read the article here.

As I wrote several years ago in my first book, Effective Group Coaching, benefits for coaches include the ability to work with a larger number of individuals, offering a range of services at different price points. Many coaches may also appreciate how group coaching can leverage their time and impact.

Coaching clients, or participants of the group often comment on how powerful the peer learning process really is, as well as the different pace a group coaching process offers. Many clients may find it more comfortable to have more time to reflect and learn from the insights of their peers. The lower cost of a group coaching process can also be a great attractor.

I have written on the benefits of group coaching for organizations before (see earlier blog posts). The cross-functional fertilization that happens between group members is increasingly important in today's collaborative workspace, where today's business challenges require new approaches. The scalability of a group coaching process, also enables  more individuals to benefit from a coaching process, at a lower cost per capita. One of the more intangible, but important benefits of a group coaching process, is the relationships formed across, and within an organization.

For those interested in reading further about group coaching benefits I hope that you will:
Read the recent article I wrote for Coaching Tools here. 
Refer to Chapter 2 in Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Refer to the Chapters on Group Coaching and Team Coaching in my newest book - From One to Many, Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, just released by Jossey-Bass. 

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized - Leadership, Teamwork
Join us for the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting August 1st (Thurs 10-11:15 am ET) - 6.75 CCEs
Phone: (416)996-TEAM

The value of pre-program calls in group and team coaching

Many of you have read how pre-program calls are more the norm, than not, for most of my group
coaching programs, and sometimes also with my team coaching work. These pre-calls provide an important opportunity to get to know group members before we start our work together, as well as identify additional interest areas for participants. It also provides a key opportunity to clarify
expectations, review logistics, and make sure that the program is a good fit for each person.

I usually try to keep my pre-program calls to 10 or 15 minutes and most group coaching calls focus on:

• Who is the person? What has brought them to the program?
• What are they looking to get out of their involvement?
• What key goals do they have? 
• How will they measure successful participation from their perspective?
• What should I know about their learning style and how they will get the most from the program?
• What questions do they have?

These pre-programs will give you an opportunity to get a high level snapshot of some of the initial interest areas of the group. It also may point to particular themes which may be of interest to the group which you had not anticipated.  Just like the photo on today's post, these calls help you see the connections.

I continue to hear how group members enjoy these calls as well, and find them an important part in feeling part of the group, and connection with me as the coach.

I go into further detail into team and group coaching pre-programs in the chapter on Engagement in my new book, From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, which has just been released by Jossey-Bass/Wiley.

Questions to consider:
What type of connection do you want to create with group, and team members before the start of a program?
What format do you want it to take?
What can you do to build connection with group members, and amongst group members, with your programs?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, BCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) & From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)
Email: info(at)potentialsrealized(dot)com

Coaches: What summer projects are you focusing on?

Summer is a terrific time for coaches to undertake projects. For some, the summer may be a quieter time, You can listen into it here. It is a 6 minute recording.
and for others you may find it filled with requests from new individual and organizational clients. Last year I did a short recording on some potential summer projects you might want to undertake. If you didn't catch it last year, here it is again:

Some additional ideas you might want to consider are:

1. Reviewing and updating business components (i.e. Coaching Agreement, Welcome Letter, Intake Questionnaires)
2. Blocking off 20-30 minutes three times a week to write articles or blog posts which you can queue for the rest of the year
3. Looking into a new system for your business (i.e. online payments, coaching client tracking)
4. Working on a new product (e-book, app, or something cool like you can find at the CoachingToys site)
5. Tackling the filing on your desk, in your computer. Clearing space to make room for more great work!
6. Reading the books you have purchased and have not yet read. Make a list of the books that are gathering dust (or taking space on your e-reader).
7. Revisiting your marketing and/or business plans. What's working? What's not? What needs an adjustment or tweak? What do you want to add? What needs to be taken off?

What summer projects are you going to undertake this year? What time are you going to dedicate to them?

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)

My newest book - From One to Many: Best Practices for Teams and Groups (Jossey-Bass, 2013) is going to be released in the next few weeks. Receive 5 hours of bonus audios when you purchase direct from our site.  Also take advantage of special bundle pricing when you purchase both books and the Group Program Toolkit.

Join us for an upcoming program including the Mentor Coaching Group (for ACC renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes- Tues 10:30 - 11:30 am ET) and the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar (6.75 CCEs starting Tues July 16th at 12 noon ET.

One month to the Group Coaching Intensive: July 11-12

We are a month away from the third annual Group Coaching Intensive which will be held in Huntsville, Muskoka, CANADA on Thursday July 11th and Friday July 12th. It is an opportunity for two-days of hands-on training in group coaching for coaches looking to add teams and groups to their mix. The program is approved for 15 CCEs with the ICF (including 13 hours of core competencies).

For information on more than 15 topics we will cover, please visit our new GroupCoachingIntensive site. We will be exploring topics including group development, program design, marketing, resources and exercises for group coaching, evaluating programs, tricky issues, virtual programs, corporate programs, public programs, engagement and building connection in groups.

You can also view a short 3 minute video about what we will be looking at during the program. 

Regular pricing is $950 CDN plus HST (payable in one or two installments). For those registering with a colleague you will both save $150 off the registration rate. Register here or you can contact me directly at (416)996-8326 if you are registering with one or more colleagues.

A special room rate is available at the hotel we are holding the program.

Registrants will receive:

• A copy of the Effective Group Coaching Book (Wiley, 2010)
• A copy of my newest book - From One to Many (Jossey-Bass, 2013)- being released July 2nd!
• A 75+ page manual full of templates and resources
• A light lunch both days
• A group follow-up call after the program
• A pre-program 1-1 call with me (15 mintues)

Please phone me or contact me at info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com if you have any questions.

I look forward to having you join us!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Phone: (416) 996-8326
Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

The Role of Fieldwork in Group Coaching

Coaching is a sustained conversation, usually over multiple touchpoints. When you work with groups as a coach, fieldwork (or homework) can play a key role in keeping the conversation going (a topic of a recent blog post).

Field work may include:
1. A coaching request - which people have the opportunity to say "yes" to, no to or make a counteroffer
2. An inquiry - a "big" question that group members think about.
3. A coaching challenge - something that will stretch individuals more than an request.

As always, your group members, or group "clients" should be the ones indicating what field work is useful, or most useful, to them.

Field work may also include
- an assessment such as DiSC, Team Diagnostic, StrengthsFinder 2.0
- Readings - online or books (related to the themes you are looking at)
- Tip sheets
- Connection with accountability partners/learning partners
- Journaling

Consider what fieldwork will benefit the collective of the group, and ask individual members what individual fieldwork will best support them with the action and awareness planes of coaching.

As you consider an upcoming group or team event, what possible fieldwork will support them - individually? Collectively?

Have a terrific week!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
GroupCoachingIntensive (New site): Join me July 11-12 in beautiful Muskoka for the 3rd Annual Group Coaching Intensive (approved for 15 CCEs by the ICF). Special room rates available for coaches coming in from out of town.
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

Keeping the conversation going: group programs

"Keeping the conversation going" between group members can add tremendous value to the connection,

learning and trust amongst group members. Whether you are running a group coaching program, offering a teleclass/teleseminar or webinar, how do you keep the conversation flowing between touch points?

You may want to consider incorporating into your work some of these options:

1. Structured assignments/fieldwork between sessions which individuals share insights by email to each other
2. Journalling assignments group member share  using a platform like JournalEngine
3. Learning partners or triads which meet in between sessions (with formal or informal assignments)
4. Tips sent out by email or posted a group site (for example if you are working on busienss development issues, providing group with links to articles written/online resources)
5. Quotations sent out by email or posted to a group site (generated by you as leader/coach or the group)
6. Audios or videos for group members to tap into
7. Private Facebook page

In today's busy world it is easy to lose focus and get pulled into many other areas. What can you do to support accountability, learning, insights, and engagement, with your group members between touchpoints?

Have a terrific week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-8326
Join us for the 3rd annual Group Coaching Intensive in beautiful Huntsville, Muskoka this July (Thurs/Fri July 11 and 12). 15 CCEs with the ICF (including 13 hours of core competencies)!