Business Lessons Learned as a coaching business owner

This April I celebrated eleven years as a business owner. At this stage in my work I think would find it really hard to ever go back and work for someone else. I enjoy the flexibility and creativity that it requires.  Each year I reflect on some of my key lessons learned as a business owner, and share them in my newsletter. In case you missed these last month, I thought it would be interesting to share again:

Lessons Learned from Eleven Years of Business Ownership
Originally published in the Group and Team Coaching Ins and Outs newsletter.

As I move into my eleventh year of business ownership I have come to recognize this time of year as a reflective one looking at what has worked and what hasn't in my own journey. Each year I like to share these reflections either at my blog or this newsletter. This year is no different. Rather than dedicating a lesson a year, I am going to practice my lesson #1 - Keep it Simple - and go with just five.

#1 - Keep it simple. There can be many moving parts in any business, and keeping things simple, systematized, and streamlined for yourself will allow you to extricate yourself from what can become endless hours of admin so that you can coach. The addition of which systems or support would free up some of your time? 

#2 -  Lead with your passions and strengths - as coaches we spend a bulk of our time supporting clients - individuals, groups and teams - to idetnify and lead from their passions and strengths. We see for many of our clients how owning, and fully stepping into their own strengths can be difficult. Why expect anything different from ourselves? While it may not be a direct path to tomorrow's activities and revenue flows, consider how you can be bringing more of your own passions and strengths to the table in the work that you do. What passions and strengths do you lead from, or want to lead from?

#3 - Embrace and reframe failure to "it just didn't work" - Business ownership is not for the faint at heart. Things work, and others don't. The business context today changes so rapidly that whether we are leaders or business owners (or both) we need to be comfortable and keep moving when things done work out.  Innovation requires ongoing iteration where we learn from our experience, tweak and try again. What recently hasn't worked well for you? What is the learning behind this?

#4 - Love the Ones You Are With - For many years CSNY's song "Love the One You Are With" held a special place in my heart as I spent many holidays separated from family and loved ones. In fact, those people who originally were strangers became my second, and third, family and networks of friends. As coaches it is so important that we enjoy, and even, love the people (teams, groups and individuals) we are working with, holding the space for possibility, and excellence. What do you love about your current clients? Who else would you really LOVE to work with?

#5 - Get out of your comfort zone - As professionals we all have our own comfort zones. Every once and while it's important to continue to stretch these to learn new things,  and explore new perspectives. What's going to stretch your comfort zone this month?"

Regardless of how long you have been in business yourself, what would you say are your top five lessons learned?

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)
Upcoming programs include: Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio (Thurs 12 - 1 pm ET) and the Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (10 CCes) - Thursdays 1015 -1130 am ET starting May 28th - July 23
(416)996-8326
 

Using the Accordion in support of your group/team coaching design

In the last few weeks I've been supporting a number of coaches who are looking to sharpen their program designs. Given that there is always an inherent tension between pre-design and letting in all go as you hear about what your group members want and need in each coaching conversation, it can be  useful to design keeping the principle of the Accordion in mind. I write about this further in my latest book, From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, as well as my first book.

As you consider your next group or team coaching conversation, what are the components that can be contracted (shortened) if the group or team also wants to spend some time looking at additional areas? Perhaps the focus of that week's conversation is having the team develop some Team Agreements around how they want to operate with each other, what they can depend on from each other and what their commitments are around other behaviors. Perhaps as the session starts it's apparent than an additional theme of managing in a changed priority realm is also key to the conversation. Keeping the Accordion principle in mind, you may already have something in mind around what can be shortened (or an alternative approach to working ith Team agreements that takes less time).

On the flipside, there may be instances where you want to take a deeper dive in service to the group or team. Thinking of those expansion points are also useful.

For those co-facilitating or co-leading, the principle of the Accordion can be a useful dialogue point so that you together can have a game plan or shared agreement of how you want to "dance" together.

As you consider an upcoming team or group program, consider what your accordion could look like. What are the segments that could be shortened? How might you do that? What segments could be lengthened?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT
Potentials Realized
Upcoming programs include the 15 hour Virtual Facilitation Skills Intensive program (5 weeks x 3 hours) - Tuesdays 5-8 pm ET/Wednesday morning Syndney/Tuesdays 2- 5 pm PT: June 1, 8, 16, 23, 30, 2015. This 15 hour program is an online train-the-trainer, supporting you in boosting your facilitation skills, tools and also confidence in working in the virtual environment. While the platform is virtual we will also be exploring tips for in  person facilitation as well. 5 spots open.

Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar (now approved for 8.75 CCEs) starts Friday May 1st at 9:15 am Eastern - 2 spots open

What's the Difference Between Group and Team Coaching?

A common question I often get asked what's the difference between group and team coaching? How are

they different and how are they the same.

I like to call group and team coaching related siblings, and the good news is, many of the skills are the same. What is different is how you might work with each "grouping". There are several key differences in terms of the role of relationships, leadership, how the process is sustained between conversations, and also what's at stake.

An article of mine on these differences between Group and Team Coaching was recently featured at Choice Magazine in the spring edition which spotlights Group and Team Coaching. For practitioners, it's a must read-edition, with other authors included such as Marita Frijohn of CRR and ORSC and David Clutterbuck, author of Coaching the Team At Work.

You can download a copy of my Choice Magazine article over at  the Resources page of the From One to Many website.

You might also find the two digital chapters on case studies which accompany (but are not part of) the From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching book. You can download these two chapters here (use code 4411 when prompted).



What do you see as the differences between group and team coaching? What different approaches do you use with each grouping?










Have a great start to your week,
Jennifer



Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials
(416)996-8326
Join us for an upcoming program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar, a five week program which explores the foundations of group coaching. Next group starts Friday May 1st at 9 am Eastern - being renewed for 8.75 CCEs with the ICF.

The Power of a One -Page Plan

Supporting our clients with goal setting is a critical part of any coaching conversation, whether we are working with individuals, teams or groups. Support for goal setting at both the macro- or Meta levels (the big picture of our life and work) as well as at the micro- or more immediate level, can serve as the frame for our conversations

Over the years whether I have been coaching professionals and leaders individually or in groups, I've become quite fond of getting my clients to develop a one-page plan. I should preface this with the fact that many of my clients operate in data and file overload and that anything we add on should serve to simplify, rather than expand. This makes the popularity of a one-page plan quite consistent whether I am working with emerging leaders, new business owners or authors.

Prior to the start of our first coahing  onversation (whether it's a first group coaching call, or an individual intake session) I ask clients what are their top 3-5 goals for our work toether. This usually gets people thinking. I get them to elaborate on this fruther in our first conversation, and usually ask them to complete the first draft of their One Page plan (see photo above) between session 1 and 2.

Part of our focus in a second group coaching call is usually a sharing of these one page plans amongst group members. I ask group members to bring this with them to each of our group coaching conversations and will often ask them to make reference to how they are proceeding with their plans specifically at the start of each session. Having group members share their plans (in the confidential forum) can be very empowering and it can add onto the peer accountability mechanism as well.

Questions to consider:
What do you do to support individual goal setting and tracking in your coaching work?
What frameworks do your clients enjoy?
How do your clients track their progress?
What tools would you recommend to others?

As always, please feel free to comment below and let us know your thoughts.

Have a great week, What's your most important goal this week?

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
Goal setting is something we explore in the Mentor Coaching Group for ACC Renewals and ACC/ PCC portfolio - next group starts Monday April 20th at 10:30 am ET. 3 spots still open.

April 2015 Upcoming Programs: Advanced Group Coaching Practicum, Group Coaching Essentials, Mentor Coaching

It's a new month and a busy one for us at Potentials Realized and Group Coaching Essentials. I've got a number of upcoming programs which you might be interested in:



Group Coaching Essentials (CCE renewal in process - 6.25 - 8.25 hrs) - 3 spots open
Thursdays 10:15 - 11:30 am Eastern/New York: April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 14, 2015
Looking to boost your toolkit in the foundations of Group Coaching? One of our flagship programs, this five week teleseminar covers practical tips in the areas of designing, marketing and implementation of group coaching programs. Weekly assignments support you in moving from vision to a draft of your own program. Registration includes the 5 group calls, weekly 15 minute lazer calls with me, and weekly module notes (15-20 pages of content and resources). Cost: $425 US.  Click here to learn more and reserve your spot.

Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs - including 9.25 hours of Core Competencies)
Thursdays 1:30 pm Eastern - 2:45 pm: April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 14 and 21, 2015- 3 spots

Looking for more practice in group coaching and getting a deeper understanding of group coaching? Geared for coaches, the program includes 6 x 75 minute group calls, 5 individual 15 minute 1-1 calls with me, along with weekly module notes full of more ideas, templates, and resources to support you in your work, along with audio and video tips.

Through practice and dialogue we take a deeper dive around group coaching topics including:

- Core skills and techniques in group coaching

- Tricky issues in group coaching

- Engagement, systems and support for group coaching

- Virtual programming best practices (webinars, teleseminars/teleclasses, group coaching by phone)

- Co-Facilitation and Co-Leadership

- Advanced Issues in Marketing Group Coaching

- Advanced Design Issues in Group Coaching

Each coach will have at least one opportunity to lead a 25 minute group coaching session as part of our class, and will receive written and verbal feedback on their skills. This will give you an opportunity to see different styles and approaches for group coaching at play. We will also hold our calls in different virtual environments so you get to experience them for yourself - bridgelines, skype, Google Hangouts etc.

Cost: $495 US or $495 CDN (plus HST)

Here's what past participants have said about the program:

"I highly recommend the Advanced Group Practicum with Jennifer. It provided me with tools and insights to be able to develop and implement my own group coaching program. The materials and content over delivered so the value enormous. The practicum was awesome and it gave me a safe space to try a group coaching and to receive feedback.  I would do it again!”

Cindy Hooker, CPCC, ACC,Gold Dog Consulting,www.golddogconsulting.com

 

 "The Advanced Group Coaching class created an environment where I finally gained the courage to try it out! I was fully supported by the wonderful leadership of Jennifer Britton, equipped with great planning tools, a safe space to explore new technology, freedom for creativity, wonderful collaborative learning, and a very positive environment to grow ~ a true gift! Truly life changing for me :)"

- Coach Michelle Mullins

Mentor Coaching Groups for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC (portfolio Routes and ATSCH)
Mondays 10:30-11:30 am Eastern: April 20 - mid July 2015 - 4 spots open
 
This ten hour program meets the requirements for ICF mentor coaching for those working towards their ACC or PCC portfolio/ATSCH or ACC Renewals. The program is geared to support you in sharpening your skills as a coach, while deepending your understanding of the 11 core competencies of the ICF. You also receive feedback on your coaching skills as demonstrated in the coaching lab. 7 of the hours are in small group setting (3-5 coaches typically) and 3 hours of individual mentor coaching are scheduled with Jennifer. Cost: $1000 US or CDN (plus HST)
Click here to learn more and reserve your spot in one of the spring group.




I do hope you will join us this spring!


Questions? Please contact me by email or phone.


Have a great start to April,
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

Creating Shared Expectations and Shared Agreements Early on is Key

Over the past few weeks I've been leading a lot of in person programming - from coaching skills training

for leaders, to team coaching engagements and leading facilitation skills training. What's been so important for success in all of these engagements has been working with each group and team around creating shared agreements and creating shared expectations early on in our work. Checking in to see  how we are doing along the way has also been critical in creating the space for WOW programming.

Whether you are coaching, training or facilitating it is important to have dialogue with the groups and teams we are working with around how we will operate. What is, and what is not, acceptable. For example, what agreements are around phone and technology use, start and tend times, as well as respect for the differences which inevitably exist within a group or team of individuals. Confidentiality is another area which will be important to define.

Our ability to walk our talk - returning back from break early ourselves and starting as we said we would or putting our own phone away - is part of the equation as well, and is inherent in building trust.

Questions to consider: What are the shared agreements the team/group you are working with wants to create? Where will you build in time for this conversation? How much time do you think it will take?

A related area for group connection is creating shared expectations with you and with each other. What can your group or team members count on from you? From each other? Expect from you/each other? Are you a diplomat, or a on-the-table truth teller. Really, what can people expect. As coaches it is critical to be ourselves and also to let people know what they can expect.

Questions to consider: What can groups or teams expect from you? What can they count on you for? What can they count on from each other? What strengths do they each bring? What is the role you find you comfortably play? What are your biases?

As you go to launch new programs consider how you want to support the group in creating shared expectations and shared agreements early on.

Have a great week,
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 spring program -
Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (now 10 CCEs with the ICF including 9.25 hrs of core competencies): Thursdays 1:30 - 2:45 pm ET starting April 9th
Group Coaching Essentials - Thursdays 10:15 - 11:30 am ET starting March 26th
Mentor Coaching Group - for ACC Renewals, ACC/PCC portfolio - Thursdays 9-10 am ET starting March 26th or Mondays 1030-1130am Eastern/New York starting mid-April 
OR join me in Toronto (in person or virtual) the weekend of April 11-12 for the Team and Group Coaching Intensive (being renewed for at least 15 CCES)

Join me Thursday and Friday for a two day train-the-trainer - In person or by skype

I'm so looking forward to innovating with several of you later this week as the Facilitation Skills Intensive program goes virtual and in-person at the same time. For most of us across North America this winter we've been pummeled by snow, record breaking cold  AND the show must go on! This Thursday and Friday I'll be opening the Facilitation Skills Intensive program, a two day in-person train-the-trainer, to skype participants.

Over the course of the two days we'll be:

• Looking at creating powerful, and engaging, group and team processes
• Identifying how our skills stack up as facilitators
• Building our toolbox! Exploring more than 2 dozen facilitation techniques to help groups gain consensus, prioritize, problem solve, plan etc.
• Discovering key tips for making any presentation or learning event more impactful
• Experimenting with how to create rich learning environments when blending in person and virtual participants - through our own experience!!!!

The program will be held from 830 - 4:30 pm Eastern/Toronto Thursday and Friday February 26 and 27 in downtown Toronto (College and Yonge). Can't join us in person? Join via skype for the two day program and you'll be able to participate in small group discussions, and even lead us through dialogue!

In addition to a 100 plus page binder, the two days of training, and a group follow-up call, you'll get to connect with a variety of other professionals undertaking this work in organizations and communities.

Download a two page program description here. Cost for the program is $850 CDN plus HST. Joining us via skype? Benefit from a great US/Canadian exchange rate! Register with a colleague and each save 15% - Payment links here.

Hope that you will join me later this week!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Questions? Contact me at (416)996-8326