Group Coaching: The Group is often it's greatest own complexity

In any group work - coaching, retreats, training - the biggest complexity is often the group itself. For

years I've been talking about the importance of keeping things simple as the multitude of variables involved in group work can be what makes the work that more complex. The last few weeks have been chock full of group and team work for me - with both corporate and public programs, in person and virtual events. I've seen the complexity and fluidness of groups and teams play out with:

Last minute date and start time changes (a couple of times now in the last 2 weeks!)
Key players not being available as needed or being pulled out for other strategic priorities
Logistical glitches leading to last minute adjustments needed or phone lines being severed
Critical issues being top of mind for groups/teams that led us in entirely new directions
and of course, life and work happening for group members, and myself

Amongst all the changes I have to say it's been a really fun few weeks and as always when working with groups and teams, rich with learning!

What's helped move through the fluidness is to remember something that one of my graduate school supervisors told me decades ago which was to "embrace the chaos". In chaos theory, now known as complexity theory, it's easier to embrace and flow than to fight it. My travels over the last few weeks actually reconnected me with a couple of professionals I worked with in the early part of my career more than 20 years ago. It was so interesting that for one person who I reconnected with one of the things that had stuck out for her was my adage of "embrace the chaos". She herself has been applying it in her work over the last  two decades. We never know what mark we will make - for the positive and negative. Don't underestimate it!

 I have to say it takes a certain level of trust and groundedness not to get thrown by some of the changes that come our way.  Pre-preparation is essential. As is our own self-management and presence.

What have you been learning this year about fluidness in our work? What's helped you remain flexible?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton

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)

About Us: Jennifer Britton is author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) andFrom 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 and Team Coaching Intensive in Toronto - Nov 12-13 (19 CCEs)

A quick note that we still have a few spots open for the upcoming Group and Team Coaching Intensivee

which will be held on the weekend of November 12-13 in downtown Toronto. The program is approved by the ICF for 19 hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCES) including 17 hrs of core competencies.

During this two day programs we explore both group and team coaching - best practices, approaches, and we will give you several opportunities to practice leading group and team coaching conversations over the two days.

We will be exploring questions such as:
* What is group coaching? Team Coaching? What's the difference?
* What creates the optimum foundation for group and team coaching?
* Core best practices for designing, marketing and implementing group and team coaching
* Building your toolkit - more than 2 dozen tools, approaches and techniques for coaching groups and teams
* Essential components of team coaching and group coaching engagements - and they are different!
* Considerations for virtual programming
* Considerations for corporate/organizational programming

Cost for the two day program is $1095 CDN plus HST. Register with a colleague and each save $200. Click here to learn more or to register.

Listen in as I talk more about the program and what you can expect to get out of it

And here's what past participants have said about the program:

Your registration includes:
The two days of learning - Saturday 830-430, Sunday 830 - 4 pm ET
A resource manual of more than 100 pages which we'll use during the training
A group follow up call in early December to check on your progress and implementation of learning
A pre call with me

I hope that you will join us and grab one of the remaining spots. The proram will be held in downtown Toronto accessible by car, public transit, and close to the Billy Bishop Airport.

Questions? Email me or call at (416)996-8326

With 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)
Upcoming programs include: Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio (Mondays 9-10 am ET starting October 31), and the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting Thursdays 10:15 - 11:30 am ET starting October 20th (8.75 CCEs)

Virtual Facilitation Tips - Leading more engaged and effective virtual events

Many coaches today are tasked with leading virtual events. Whether it is a virtual group or team coaching session, or a webinar or teleclass, it is important to avoid the Death By Conference Call experience.

Recently, over at the Teams365 blog which I also host,  I have done a series of posts on Virtual Facilitation Tips. I thought it would be useful and interesting to share these with you there as well. As you review them, consider what tweaks you want to make in your own virtual programming.

Tip - Each person adds an exponential layer of complexity
It is important to note that as we add one member of a group we are adding a whole web of relationships, perspectives, insights and beliefs. Consider how growing group size impacts the webs. Read this Teams365 post here.

Tip - Small Is Beautiful
Part of the challenge of virtual events is to support group members in feeling connected and supported by each other. To facilitate this, consider how smaller group size can create more of a connection. Read this Teams365 post on Virtual Facilitation Tip #3 here.

Tip - Use Breakouts Liberally
one of my favorite posts so far explores the use of breakouts. Many virtual facilitators shy away from breakouts and lose the opportunity they present. Take a look at how you might consider using breakouts in your programming. Click here to read this post
 


There are many other posts available to you at the Teams365 blog which I hope you will check out and I have many more posts planned for this month and next .

This November I'll be launching our newest Essentials program - the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program. We'll be exploring core best practices for designing and leading engaging virtual events, along with building your toolbox and exploring the technologies. This course will cover the foundations of virtual facilitation, with the Virtual Facilitation Skills Intensive - our 15 hour virtual train-the-trainer being offered again in January for those who want an even deeper dive.

Join us in November on Fridays from 10:15 - 11:30 am ET: November 4, 11, 18, December 2 and 9, 2016. Click here to learn more about the program and reserve your spot. Class size is limited to 8. Cost: $450 US. Reserve your spot today.

Have a great week,
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)

About Us: Jennifer Britton is author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) andFrom 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)