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| Greetings! | |
Welcome to the April 2010 edition of Group Coaching Nuggets, a newsletter geared for coaches, trainers and other group facilitators.
Once again, welcome to all new subscribers! I've had a lot of fun "meeting" new coaches during recent speaking engagements at the CoachingToys Unboxed Brain Series, as well as to the ICF Heartland Coaching Assocation. I joined both groups virtually. The recent travel disruption globally due to the volcano in Iceland has once again pointed to the importance and need for more virtual work. You can read my post yesterday on Volcanos and Virtual Learning in this month's blog section below.
This month's newsletter includes:
- Links to blog posts which include tools you can bring into your own programs to work with styles, to virtual learning;
- A call for Guest Bloggers to join me at the Group Coaching Ins and Outs blog over the summer;
- Upcoming programs announcements including the Group Program Virtual Intensive (Friday May 7 and 14 1-4 pmET), Group Coaching Essentials (starting May 11th) program, as well as the 90 Day BizSuccess program starting Friday June 4 (12 - 1 pm ET).
- An excerpt from Effective Group Coaching: Systems Supporting Your Growth, Productivity and Efficiency
Looking forward to connecting again next month!
Warm regards,
Jenn
 Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CPTGroupCoachingEssentials.com
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| Blog posts and Calling all (Potential) Bloggers!
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I hope that you will enjoy some of my recent blog posts:
What's Style Got to Do with It? Styles and Group Coaching : Part 1 and Part 2
Calling All (Potential) bloggers!
If you are a blogger yourself, or are interested in gaining some exposure, and would like to contribute a blog post related to group coaching, program design, marketing, or business issues for coaches, please contact me. I am hoping to have some Guest Authors join me at the Group Coaching Ins and Outs blog over the summer and into the fall. You can email me at info@potentialsrealized.com if you are interested. Blog posts should be 500 words or less,be practically focused, and value adding, on issues of interest for coaches, trainers or other group facilitators.
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| Upcoming Program Dates - May/June 2010 |
Group Program Design Virtual Intensive : GET FOCUSED!
Friday May 7 and 14 (1-4 pm ET) : By Phone
Are you looking for an intensive focused structure to support you in taking concrete steps forward with your group program ideas? Join me for this 6 hour Virtual Intensive which is designed to have you take action real time around your group program ideas - implementation, design and marketing. Each hour of this phone based retreat has a different focus, aimed at moving you forward and enabling you to leave the program with foundational groundwork undertaken on your next program.
Past participants have left the program with:
* A clearer vision of their program
* Session outlines completed
* Research done on other exercisees they could incorporate
* Venue (virtual or real) identified and booked
* Participant handouts drafted
* Marketing materials fleshed out - website, blog posts, other announcements
What would you accomplish with 6 hours to focus on your next program?
Here's what Coach Tanya Smith said about the program:
" Jennifer has offered a great and invaluable program that was right on time for me. I was looking for something to kick me into high gear in launching my group coaching model, and this was just what I needed. Thanks to the intensive, I actually created a work space that let me take the action I needed without interruptions or distractions. - Tanya Smith, http://www.mbawoman.com.
Cost: $150 US. Click here to register or for more information.
Group Coaching Essentials
New Programs start on Tuesday May 11th (Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:45 am ET).
Designed as a practical, resource rich program to support you in the design, marketing and implementation of your own group coaching program. Packed with tools, exercises and ready to use templates, the program covers the a-z of group coaching issues. Most coaches complete the program with their own programs drafted and ready to market. Imagine having your own program launching this spring and summer
May 2010:
Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:45 am ET:
May 11, 18, 25, June 1 and 15, 2010
June 2010: (NOTE NEW pricing comes into effect):
Mondays 12 - 1:15 pm ET:
June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 14, 2010
More information and links to register can be found at the website. Cost $275 US or Canadian (plus GST). Note that pricing will increase in June 2010. Both currency links are available online. Space is limited to 6-8 coaches per session. Click here to register for the Group Coaching Essentials program.
The Group Coaching Intensive Training
Join me in person for a 2 day intensive group coaching skills training program. You'll leave the program with real-time hands-on practice and receive feedback around core group coaching skills, as well as dozens of practical tools and resources you can use to design, implement and market your next group coaching program.
Upcoming Dates include:
July 15-16, 2010 - Huntsville, Muskoka (where the G8 meetings will be held in June)
October 1-2, 2010 - Greater Toronto Area
If you can't make it to Toronto and you have a group of 10 or more who are eager to acquire or refine their own skills, we can come to you. This is a 15 hour skills training program.
NOTE: If you are looking to enhance your group facilitation skills I will be offering a Facilitation Skills Intensive on June 10 and 11, 2010 in the Toronto area focusing specifically at enhancing small group faciltiation skills. Email us at info@potentialseralized.com to receive more information.
Advanced Group Coaching (By Phone) starts Tuesday May 4th at 12 noon ET and will run May 4, 11, 18, 25, June 1 and 22, 2010. This program is geared for experienced group coaches wanting to take their skills to the next level.
90 Day Biz Success Program: the ever popular business development program start up again in June. Join me this summer on Fridays from 12 -1 pm ET as you focus on taking your business to the next level through bi-weekly exercises, focus and discussion. Calls will be held on Fridays 12-1 pm ET: June 4, 18, July 9, 23, August 6, 20 and Final Call September 17, 2010 If you would prefer to register offline, or if you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (905) 235-TEAM (8326). You can also drop me an email at info@potentialsrealized.com with your questions. I look forward to hearing from you! |
| Potential Pitfalls of Leading Virtual Programs |
An entire chapter of the Effective Group Coaching book focuses on Tips for Delivering Gropu Coaching in both live and virtual environments. This month I wanted to share with you some of the pitfalls group facilitators can encounter in the virtual envrionment, and some strategies to deal with these issues.
1. No one talks - Be directive for asking participants for input. Have clients check in at the start of a call and use this as the order in which people will speak.
2. Everyone talks at once - As a group in your first call, discuss the process you will use (i.e. round robins etc)
3. Bridgeline does not work - Always have a backup bridgeline which you can revert to. Make sure that it is with another bridgeline service provider as when one line goes down, they all will.
4. One person dominates the call - It's pretty common to have more vocal participants on phone based programs, and as a facilitator you want to make sure that everyone has equal air time. Practice your coaching skill of intruding, and ask all clients to bottom-line, or get to the core of the topic.
5. Silence seems to drag on, and on - Silence is good, within moderation. Create a "silence is a golden rule" so that people know that after 10-15 or so seconds that you will be moving on if you do not hear anyone reply.
6. Callers arrive chronically late - Discuss in your first call, expecations around start time. There never usually seems to be enough time for discussion so you are likely going to have to start without everyone there. Starting 1-2 minutes after the hour is typcially "acceptable" within the industry, as long as a majority of participants are available.
Questions to consider:
What are your biggest questions about leading virtual programs?
Which of these pitfalls do you want to make sure you avoid?
What do you do well in terms of virtual facilitation? What can you do to get more practice?
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