4 Strategies to Keep Your Groups and Teams Strong between Sessions | by Jennifer Britton

Originally Posted on The Coaching Tools Company as 4 Strategies to Keep Your Groups and Teams Strong between Sessions | by Jennifer Britton

The power of a group process is multi-layered. The impact and insights created by the coaching process extend well beyond the time you have together in a room, physically or virtually. And group members may form strong connections between themselves both during and beyond your coaching together.

This article explores four different ways to keep insights happening and groups going strong, beyond their individual or collective fieldwork and accountability commitments.

Here are 4 ways to keep your groups strong between your coaching

Consider these strategies as you design your next program:

1. Create peer partners

Activating peer partners who meet between conversations can be a game-changer for many. Consider pairing group members (or creating triads) to discuss what they’re learning, what they’re applying and/or what they’re changing in terms of their actions and behaviours.

Pro tip: Let people know before the start of the program that this is part of the process. Be clear on how much time people can expect to earmark for these peer conversations.

2. Set up a “Mighty Network”

For many years, Facebook Communities and Groups have been a great go-to for keeping the conversation going. Now there is another platform that offers just as much, and possibly more—Mighty Networks. You may have already joined us inside the Conversation Sparker Zone ¹ at Mighty Networks for ongoing dialogue.

Many of the cohorts I work with are able to connect via a “SECRET” cohort group so it remains private and unsearchable from the external world. Many groups use this regularly to keep each other updated on resources, ideas and questions.

Pro tip: Consider sparking the conversation with a fun question or poll for the group on a regular basis.

3. Add ‘special’ calls

Many group members LOVE the immersive experience a group process can entail. What special, related calls can you provide for them?

Consider an opportunity for people to work real-time on programming. For example, at the Learning Lab and Design Studio, we include:

• Special design sprints
• “Get It Done” afternoons
• Quarterly and mid-year planning sessions

Other special formats could include Laser Coaching sessions, Ask Me Anything sessions or other implementation processes.

Pro tip: Consider the purpose of the group and what people really want out of their experience. Is it action? Connection? Reflective time? Planning? Then create special calls based on your clients’ needs and expectations.

4. Offer one-on-ones with you

The hybrid space doesn’t just refer to hybrid working. It also can mean a blend of group and individual coaching calls. Clients continue to appreciate the deep dive of a one-on-one coaching conversation.

Consider incorporating short one-on-one coaching calls with you on a regular basis. In my work, one-on-ones are only 15 minutes, and individuals are ALWAYS amazed at how much ground they can cover.

Pro tip: Review what people can expect from a one-on-one and what they will need to do to prepare for it. Is it a coaching call? An opportunity to have questions answered? A mentoring experience? Consider scheduling these automatically with a program like Book Like a Boss or Calendly, two we use at Potentials Realized.

Questions for you to consider

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you think about how you might apply these four strategies:

• What are the specific things people value about joining a group? Is it accountability, connection, expedited action, new perspectives or something else?
• What are you thinking about adding to keep the conversation going?
• What questions or prompts will keep things moving? (Write them down or create a brief mind map around possible ideas—you’ll find it useful to keep the process moving for yourself.)
• What’s going to be easy for you to implement? What will be easy for your clients to use/do?
• What else might help support your clients’ continued focus?

References 1 Jennifer’s Conversation Sparker Zone (for group and team coaching, virtual and remote teamwork, virtual conversations!) on Mighty Networks here. Share what you do to keep the conversation going. And try any of Jennifer’s programs to both learn and get a firsthand experience of Jennifer walking her talk!