While many of us (myself included) are rushing to head out of town to kick off summer with loved ones and family, it's a great time to take stock of the first part of 2019. Have you built in time to complete your month end reflection AND Mid-year stock taking?

Earlier today I led my monthly month-end reflection session. Each month
I lead a live virtual session to take those interested through a 60-90 minute virtual planning session.

Next month's is scheduled for 12 - 1pm ET on Tuesday July 30th. It will also mark the one year anniversary of the launch of Coaching Business Builder. Bring your planner, and reserve your spot in this live one hour program ($39 US).

As a mid-year treat, I wanted to link you back to the 17 questions I posed a few months ago at the Q1 reflective planning session. You can view that here on YouTube - follow along - grab your pen, and journal, and use the questions to take stock of both the last quarter and/or 2019!

Enjoy,
Jennifer

Pick up a copy of PlanDoTrack (for virtual and remote entrepreneurs, remote workers and leaders) or Coaching Business Builder (for coaches). They are both a 12 month undated planner and self-guided workbook.

Jennifer Britton -Potentials Realized
Let's connect to discuss how coaching (1-1 or group) can move your business forward this summer
Phone: (416)996-8326

One of the topics we explore in the Coaching Business Builder is the topic of program design. As I wrote a few weeks ago, since I became more intentional around noticing where I was spending my time by using my monthly tracker in the Coaching Business Builder, I have been amazed at just how much time I spend every week in program design.
Program design is a core focus in the Group Coaching Essentials program I run as well as the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program (link to both programs at the Group Coaching Essentials sites).
 I go into a little more depth in Coaching Business Builder (pages 71 – 73) but go into a huge amount of detail in my other books (see links below). You can also pick up with the on-demand program – Tips and Tools for your Group or Team Programs which I host over at Teachable.  
Here are 8 specific steps you can take in designing your next program:

1. Consider what focus your clients are looking for right now. What are the things that are keeping them up at night? What have they been asking for more of? What are the common themes that are showing up in conversations  across clients either as an opportunity or a challenge? Make a list of all of these topics.
2. Get more granular about these topics. Make a list of 8 – 10 theme areas that are under each of these topic areas. Putting these in a mind map is a great starting point.
3. What’s the best vehicle for a program with these topics? Is it in-person? Virtual? Live? On-demand? A video-based course?
4. What exercises or elements would you include? For each of the themes you have, map out what would be included or explored at a high level. You could do this in a more detailed MindMap or use the Design Matrices I include in my books.
5. What would the top 3 takeaways or exploration areas be for each of the theme?
6. Is there any pre-work or post-work related to each of the weeks? Any reading or focus?
7. Start writing out the materials or designing slide by slide
8. As you start working on this, notice how you could market it. The bullet points from each session’s focus can frame some of the messaging.  Start drafting out the program description, and/or how you want to position this. Check out similar programs which may exist to get a sense of the price range, and also consider where this fits in your funnel of different products and services.

 
There’s a lot on this list, however, think about chunking it down to focus on each one in a separate sitting. Program design is not a race to the finish, it’s a journey. Great program design is rarely completed in one sitting. It marinates and grows in creative spurts.  
What are the steps you want to take in moving your program ideas forward?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

It's September and the start of a  new month. I've been so excited to receive lots of emails and photos of coaches receiving their copies of the Coaching Business Builder in the mail. Have you cracked open the cover yet?
My guess is - MAYBE.
Well, we are stepping into a new month, and I wanted to make it super-easy for you to get going on the planner.

First, you may know that each month I am starting to host a 60 minute one-hour real-time virtual planning session to create a pause for you to take stock of the "Month that Was" (the one wrapping up), and do some planning for the month ahead.  I call these Month End Reflection Planning Hacks. I hosted one yesterday (August 31st) and will be scheduling these paid sessions each month. During the session I get you to work "real-time" on your plans, capturing them as we go, so you leave the session with your monthly roadmap DONE!

As you step into September I'll invite you to grab an hour (or even 15 minutes!) for yourself to start setting out your plan for the month. With Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner in hand here are five things you will want to fill in, as you step into a new month:

1. Taking Stock - Monthly Reflections (There are 12 of thee in the monthly sections. This page gets you to note some of your key achievement, metrics, projects and items to look ahead for the next month). See page 154.

2. Monthly  Plan for - Use one of these 12 undated pages to start capturing your ideas, thoughts and images for the month ahead. For linear thinkers, bullet out your ideas. For creatives, use it as a mini-tablet for images, drawings, items. This may be your meta-view or 30,000 foot view of the month. See page 147.

3. Monthly Calendar - Note key business (and personal) dates of importance. Again, there are 12 of these in the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner. Use the right hand column to note anything else that is important for the month. See pages 148 and 149.

4. Monthly To Dos
complete this page with all the things you want to, and need to do this month. Refer back to your "Monthly Plan for " page to get inspire. See page 150.

5. Monthly One Pager:
Use this page to capture your top 5 goals, key financial, marketing and relationship goals, Key tasks for each week, as well as habits you want to employ. This one page can help you stay on track and serves as a quick go to. If you prefer more detail you've got the previous four resources to look at! See page 151.

Having a plan is key for business success. In today's ever changing world, it can help us remain grounded and focused on what's important, rather than getting distracted by the many "shiny red objects" which can seek our attention. I hope that you will schedule in a block of time for yourself to complete these pages (20-60 minutes) AND/OR join me for this month's Month End Reflection and Planning Session to work on October's plans!

The Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (CBBWP for short!) provides you with 12 undated monthly sets of planning pages, along with quarterly and annual undated pages, and a variety of content creation tools. Pick up a signed copy directly from me, or you can also order through Amazon.

Have a great start to the new month! As I always ask in my planning hacks - What will WILD SUCCESS look like to you this month?

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Email
Phone: 416-996-8326
Coach and Author of Effective Group Coaching and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching
Interested in more on this topic? Join me for one of the complimentary Virtual Book Club Calls to go inside the book! Next call is scheduled for Thursday September 6th - Business Habits and  Mindsets. Download the upcoming book club call list here.

If you are interested in growing your coaching business this fall, join me for the Coaching Biz Growth Lab, a coaching group for coaches. We meet the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month from 3 - 4 pm ET, providing you the space to focus and accelerate your business actions. More information and registration here.