For many years in my former life and work within the global sector as a Program Manager, I was involved in recruitment and hiring people for projects large and small. At one point in my career I realized that I had undertaken several hundred interviews to fill roles on projects in one year alone! A key part of finding good people for project and work, goes back to being clear on what the role is, and being excellent in communicating that. In building your team, getting better at defining roles and even writing position descriptions is imperative. This holds true for project roles, sub-contracting roles, as well as full time roles. Questions to consider as you go about creating position descriptions are:
Note that job description/position descriptions may vary from location to location and can have different legal requirements. Be sure to reach out to your local Small Business Centers for more information on local level realities. Best wishes, Jennifer PS – A reminder that this month’s 30 days focus in the 1BizStepaDay series is around Relationships. Download a copy of the 1BizStepaDay series here. What are the daily actions you are taking to build your relationships during this month of February? Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author multiple books including the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized Phone: 416-996-8326 Looking for regular support around growing your coaching business? Join me and a small group of other coaches twice a month at the Coaching Biz Growth Lab. We meet on Fridays from 3-4 pm ET (weeks 1 and 3 of the month) to explore topics related to growing your coaching business. February's focus is on Collaboration and Building Community. Coaches take part in 2 group coaching calls each month and have access to a growing resource library of month articles, templates and recordings related to your business.
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There comes a time (or many times) when we are challenged to think about our business models. How is it working? What changes are needed? One of the inflection points you may see in your business is the need to build your own team. I’d like you to return back to your vision for this year. What are the major projects you have planned? Who can help you get there – quicker, faster, better? Building your own team takes effort, especially while you are bringing people on board. You’ll want to consider things like:
I’ll be sharing another few posts around the area of growing your own team in the next month. Next week we turn to creating job descriptions for team members. Enjoy Jennifer PS – A reminder that this month’s 30 days focus in the 1BizStepaDay series is around Relationships. Download a copy of the 1BizStepaDay series here. What are the daily actions you are taking to build your relationships during this month of February? Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author multiple books including the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized Phone: 416-996-8326 Looking to grow your coaching business this year? Check out the Coaching BizGrowth Lab. We meet the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month for 1 hour group coaching conversations. Focus this month is on collaboration and building community. In addition to the group calls you have access to a growing resource library of monthly articles, templates and recordings. Join us this quarter or for the rest of the year! Last week’s post kicked off our focus this month (February) on relationships. This week I’d like you to think about WHO is in your web of relationships. As solopreneurs, it’s very easy to think we are “solo”, or alone, when in fact, throughout the day we may be interfacing with a wide variety of others. For this week’s activity, consider these questions:
Once you capture people you have in your network, then ask: Who else would you like to add to your network? Consider:
Enjoy your relationship mapping work! Jennifer PS – A reminder that this month’s 30 days focus in the 1BizStepaDay series is around Relationships. Download a copy of the 1BizStepaDay series here. What are the daily actions you are taking to build your relationships during this month of February? Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author multiple books including the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized Phone: 416-996-8326 Check out the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series of daily prompts for your work and business over on Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder. “Tasks expand to the amount of time we give them” asserts the Parkinson’s Rule. I remember first reading about this in the Four-Hour Workweek from Tim Ferris. Think about it - what tasks have expanded to the amount of time you have given them? Whether you are a solopreneur or work with a VA or other freelance members, having a variety of tools to manage projects is key. These tools are likely to be virtual so you can share them with others, and you may have different tools for different purposes. In selecting a tool consider:
What are the tools you want to start incorporating into your work this year, to make projects flow more smoothly? Enjoy your week, Jennifer Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author multiple books including the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized Phone: 416-996-8326 Looking for some daily focus around your work? Join me over on Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder for a daily question or prompt as part of the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series. Check out the November 2018 CBB Book Club Call entitled "2019 Planning. Already?". You can view it here. This week our attention is going to shift to quickly explore 5 key skills in project management. Whether you are creating an e-book, designing a new program or deciding on new systems for your business, as solopreneurs we are regularly managing projects as a team of one. In project management, historically, the foundation has been that for any project there is a triple constraint – time, budget and scope. Like a triangle, it is said that these things are fixed (at least in traditional project management). So if my budget gets reduced, it might take a little longer to do things as we now need to do them in-house OR the scope of the project may change given that we no longer have resources to complete a six month project, so instead we may need to do a three month project. With this in mind the first project management skill I think is important is getting good at identifying project requirements.
Spending additional time making sure we have this first step of project requirements right, helps to make the rest of it flow more smoothly (usually!). It was in this phase of project identification that I first became aware of the adage that “10 minutes of planning can save 2 hours of unfocused effort”. So true! With this is in mind, let’s look at five key project management skills that solopreneurs will want to boost:
What do you see as essential project management skills for solopreneurs? Which ones have you been leaning into as a project team of one? Share with us using the comments below. Jennifer Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author multiple books including the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized Phone: 416-996-8326 Check out the November 2018 CBB Book Club Call entitled "2019 Planning. Already?". You can view it here. "The best companies never transform to greatness in one fell swoop. There is no single defining action, no grand program, no one killer innovation, no solitary lucky break, no miracle moment. Sustainable transformations [to greatness] follow a predictable pattern of build-up and breakthrough. Like pushing on a giant heavy flywheel, it takes a lot of effort to get the thing moving at all, but with persistent pushing in a consistent direction over a long period of time, the flywheel builds momentum, eventually hitting a point of breakthrough." (Jim Collins, Good to Great). As you think abut your focus this year, what is the one thing you want to do consistently throughout they year, to start generating the momentum Jim Collins talks about. Perhaps it’s regularly focusing on: Writing – What is the book you have in you that is waiting to get out? Is there a series of articles or blog posts? Photography – Are you looking to share more about what you do, who you are, and the impact your conversations are having through photography? Instagram continues to grow in terms of popularity and video engagement is critical. Building community – Are you looking to host a group this year? Life, paid, or on Facebook? Are you looking to network more and build relationships virtually or in person? What would consistent action in creating community look like for you? Speaking – What could a focus on speaking look like for you this year? What topics would you present on? What would the top 3 bullet points be? Who is your audience? If there was one thing you could do consistently every day this year, what would it be? Schedule it in now, and notice what happens! One thing that I'll be doing this year for all 52 weeks of the year is sharing a weekly focus for your business and professional growth called 52 Weeks of Planning, Doing and Tracking. It's a Compendium to Coaching Business Builder and PlanDoTrack. If you have enjoyed reading the CBB and want a deeper, or more bite-sized dive, this is for you! Check out the kick off of the weekly blog posts here. They will be published on Friday morning over at the PlanDoTrack Blog and will be of interest to readers of both the PDT and Coaching Business Builder. Here at the CBB Blog, our attention this month is going to shift over to annual planning, and project management. Be sure to check out the 1st of two January calls on Creating Your Annual To-Do List at my YouTube channel on the Coaching Business Builder Playlist here. The first call is being held later this morning - January 7th at 11 am ET at my zoom room (270-302-0415). Hope you'll drop in and join us! Best, Jennifer Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author multiple books including the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized Phone: 416-996-8326 Check out the November 2018 CBB Book Club Call entitled "2019 Planning. Already?". You can view it here. We are on the eve of a new year, and at this time of year I love to ask my clients “What is your intention for the new year”. As you think about the new year ahead, what are your goals? Gretchen Rubin, and her sister Elizabeth Craft, challenged listeners of their podcast Happier to create an "18 in 2018 list" last year, and for the coming year "19 for 2019". What are the top 19 goals you want to achieve this upcoming year? Have you written them down? Is it time to grab a new notebook or journal so that it’s all in one place? As you consider any goals you have set for yourself, what do you notice about them? Is there a theme linking them? One year I had a theme of a WATERFALL. At that stage in my business it was important to trust that the successes I had would continue, as long as I was continuing to invest in action. Spending time worrying that things would only work once was costing me a lot of time and energy. Re-framing this to a waterfall which flows consistently helped me start developing new habits and mindsets around my business, trusting that things would continue to flow. Another great exercise to undertake at this time is to also set your intention for the year. Perhaps you have a deck of cards or another tool you like to pull from. Last year I combined Rory’s Story Cubes, and two photo decks to crate an initial story line for my year. It was really interesting how it played out! What’s your theme for the new year? I am grateful for the support and interest so many of you have had in the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner. It was the momentum I needed to bring forward the PlanDoTrack edition for Remote and Virtual Professionals a few weeks ago on December 14th which is also finding its own audience with Virtual and Remote Professionals. I look forward to continuing the conversation into 2019! Best, Jennifer Jennifer Britton
Author of Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Potentials Realized - Supporting Coaches, Businesses, Leaders and Teams Is 2019 your year to take it ahead? Join me for one of our two annual groups - The Learning Lab and Design Studio (focusing on program design) or the Coaching Biz Growth Lab (focusing on coaching business development) Phone: 416-996-8326 It’s almost the end of the year and time to do a systems check and review of your 2018. What have you been tracking this year? If you have a copy of the Coaching Business Builder, pull it out and take a look back at the Content Trackers, and Monthly Trackers you have completed. For each month, or each one, highlight key themes on a separate post it (big ones work well – see photo). Make a cumulative list of all the things you notice about your data as it relates to marketing, clients, revenue, visibility or other items you are tracking. “Systems help us to move forward, to go as far as we possibly can. They enable us to work faster, smarter, and more strategically. A good system eliminates waste, while it also anticipates and removes obstacles. To get the most out of systems, you have to make them a lifestyle not a one-off deal. They must become ingrained in your routine" (John Maxwell on Leadership). It’s also time to do a systems check to see what is working well in your business. Here are the five areas I write about in some depth in the Coaching Business Builder Workbook:
As you think about each one, take note of:
I hope that you may set a timer and get wrapping up your year end tasks. Enjoy! Best, Jennifer Jennifer Britton
Author of Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Potentials Realized - Supporting Coaches, Businesses, Leaders and Teams Is 2019 your year to take it ahead? Join me for one of our two annual groups - The Learning Lab and Design Studio (focusing on program design) or the Coaching Biz Growth Lab (focusing on coaching business development) Phone: 416-996-8326 As we start rolling into the end of the year our work cycle can be filled with planning, and likely a number of celebrations, closures and connecting with clients. Over the last few months I have been enjoying facilitating the Plan.Do.Track™ series of virtual retreats. These four hour programs are aimed to support professionals in quick sound bytes around their own planning for projects (or year end), as well as getting into action and starting to get data around what’s working and what’s not. In that spirit, I wanted to plant two seeds. One, what upcoming opportunities do you have to say thanks? When was the last time you reached out to your community to thank them for their support, or to take the time to reminisce about a 2018 project?Taking time to pause is critical in today’ work space, and we don’t always do it. What is one meeting or celebration with a past client you’d like to add before the end of the year? Schedule that now! Second, I’d like to plant the seed around building in time to take stock before we get to year end. Perhaps you’ll join me for an upcoming Plan.Do.Track Virtual Retreat Thursday November 28 - 1 - 5 pm ET, December 5 - 1 - 5 pm ET, December 20 (1-5 pm ET) OR simply, maybe you’ll use some of these questions to support you in reflecting and taking action:
Enjoy moving these forward! Jennifer As part of my giving thanks for your support, I'm offering a number of specials this week, which will run up to CyberMonday - November 26 2018. It also includes 40% off my annual membership groups which run throughout the year - The Learning Lab and Design Studio (Fridays 845 - 930 am ET: 1st and 3rd weeks of the month), and The Coaching Biz Growth Lab (Fridays 3 -4 pm ET: 1st and 3rd weeks of the month). Savings end 11/26/18. Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author multiple books includingthe Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner (2018), Effective Group Coaching (2010) Potentials Realized Phone: 416-996-8326 Check out the November 2018 CBB Book Club Call entitled "2019 Planning. Already?". You can view it here. Be In my planning virtual retreats over the years, as well as at the Coaching Business Growth Lab, I speak regularly about the importance of taking regular action on our businesses. Whether we focus full time on coaching, or have it as a side gig, spending time to Plan, Get Things Done, and Track is critical. This has led me this fall to launch the Plan.Do.Track(TM) series of programming (next Virtual Retreat coming up today at 1 pm ET!), and also to be releasing an adaptation of the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner as the Plan.Do.Track Workbook and Planner for Remote and Virtual Professionals (coming out in December). Taking consistent action is key, and allows us to manageably, and sustainably, build business. As we step into the month of November, what are your top 3-5 goals? What are the regular steps that will take you towards achieving these goals? For the last six months I've been walking around with a hand-written note in my planning journal. I finally was able to get it professionally laid out a few weeks ago but a trusted designer I use regularly. Even with all the design work I do as an author and instructional designer, I LOVE seeing my scrawls come to life. A big thank you to Jennifer of SecretaryZone in bringing this to life for me! I'm pleased to offer up a free resource you can use to support you in your work - The Weekly Booster For Your Business. You can download it here and try it out. I'd love to see how you use it in action, so take a photo and tag it with #90DaysPlanDoTrack, the current Instagram series I have running over at my CoachingBizBuilder feed. If you enjoy this resource, perhaps you'll join me for an upcoming Plan.Do.Track Virtual Retreat. These are 4 hour virtual planning sessions to support you in taking action on your business. For the next 2 months I'll also be offering a special year-end planning focus during these blocks. Reserve your spot now in one of the upcoming Plan.Do.Track Virtual Retreats: Today - November 1 - 1-5 pm ET Saturday November 17 - 10 - 2 pm ET (yes - that's right - a Saturday program!) Thursday November 28 - 1 - 5 pm ET Wednesday December 5 - 1-5 pm ET Thursday December 20 - 1- 5 pm ET Learn more and sign up now Download a brochure on the Plan.Do.Track VRs. Best wishes, Jennifer Jennifer Britton Author of Coaching Business Builder Potentials Realized Phone: 416-996-8326 Don't forget the November 2018 CBB Book Club Call is on Monday November 5 from 11 -11:30 am ET entitled "2019 Planning. Already?". Hope you'll join me in my main zoom room (zoom room #270-302-0415 - no that is not a phone # but a zoom room #). |
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Mentor Coaching Group for ACC/PCC -Mondays 1230 - 130 pm ET: June 7 - mid-September - Reserve your spot. ACC and PCC for ICF Credentialing Program Design Hack - 45 minutes - $97 - Sketch Out Your Next Program in this Facilitated Process! - Click here to Register Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs) - Next group will start Tuesdays on July 6th. Fridays 10 - 1135am ET: June 4, 11, 18, 25 (4 weeks) Virtual Facilitation Essentials (8.5 CCEs) - Join us for an upcoming one day program! Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum - starts - Tuesdays July 6th (5 weeks) (10 CCEs): Focused on providing you with virtual practice and feedback around your group coaching skills. Team Coaching Essentials for the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World. Kicks off Monday June 14th 60 Day CBB Accelerator - Now as an On-demand Program.Bonus! This month's 1BizStepADayAuthorCoach Jennifer Britton has worked with entrepreneurs across a variety of sectors since the late 1990s, even before she was in business herself. From supporting micro-entreprise and eco-tourism businesses to working with service based entrepreneurs and coaches, her PRACTICAL and TACTICAL approach to business coaching is ACTION focused, with emphasis on AWARENESS as well. Jenn is the author of the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and planner, and 3 others books related to group and team coaching and virtual conversations. She also hosts the Coaching BIzGrowth Lab, an open-enrollment group coaching program for coaches. Jenn founded her business - Potentials Realized - in April 2004. Archives
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