Avoid “the big fail”! Join a group.
As a consultant and coach, I have seen it time and again over my 49 years in business. People and organizations don't plan. Or they plan poorly. Or they don't implement their plan. Or they implement poorly.
That's a shame, because the evidence is abundant that those who do plan and implement well are demonstrably more successful, based on both quantitative and qualitative measures. (Hit me up for the evidence if you don't believe it.)
"The big fail"
I've devoted much of my career to addressing "the big fail" and closing the "planning and implementation gap."
In my past role as President of the Association for Strategic Planning, I learned from the brightest minds in strategy and planning all I could about the virtues of developing and implementing strategy, and about best practices in planning and implementation. I earned my Strategic Management Professional certification just to assure that I knew my stuff and that my planning and implementation practices were top flight.
My firm's vision is built on addressing "the big fail," that my clients are "living their vision of great success." To that end, over many years I have worked with Boards, executive teams and stakeholders to help scores of organizations create and implement strategic plans - and I continue that work.
But, more recently, as I have delved into the reasons for "the big fail," it has dawned on me that the "planning and implementation gap" exists in large part because business leaders don't know how to recognize and make big decisions when they really count.
That's why I began coaching owners, leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals one-on-one, helping them create and implement their plans and meet challenging goals. This coaching works, for sure, but it comes with a financial commitment.
In an effort to get more business leaders engaged in best practices, starting this past January, I have been offering group coaching to a small set of owners, leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals.
The results that my group coaching clients are getting amaze me, to the extent that I am working on forming more groups to benefit more business leaders. (See the end of this article for the details.) Bang for the buck and for the time required, group coaching is a winner for my clients, as well as for me.
I urge you to consider getting a coach, either one-on-one if that's affordable for you or through a monthly coaching and accountability group such as I am now offering.
How it works
A monthly coaching and accountability group will support you in achieving your goals. You get brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting. This support is especially important in helping you succeed in this radically changed business environment and in sharpening your business and personal skills.
The group will help you and other group members achieve success by challenging one another to set strong goals, and more importantly, to accomplish them.
The coach helps the group to dive deeply into discussions of issues and opportunities and works with members to deliver knowledge and skills that create success — as each member defines it.
Working initially with the coach and then with the wider group, you will create or sharpen your vision of great success and design a plan with goals to achieve it. The group and the coach will help you with creative ideas and wise decision making. Then, as you begin to implement your plan, you will bring both your success stories and problems to the group. Success stories are celebrated and problem are solved through brainstorming and collective, creative thinking, guided by the coach.
More benefits
Mutual support. Even with differing goals you’ll be able to lean on your peers for support. Over time, group members will really understand what has been going on behind the scenes, and give you support no matter the result of your efforts.
Differing perspectives. The different views of fellow participants and the coach will enable you to see issues you wouldn’t otherwise be aware of in your business (and, often, in your personal life) and in your approach to your goals.
Resources. Everyone in the group will have access to different skill sets and networks. When you ask for help, these resources can help you make progress in ways you never could have by yourself.
Accountability. Fellow group members and the coach will hold you accountable to the goals you set. Just knowing that you have a regularly scheduled meeting will drive you to make progress: You won’t want to be the only person who reports that you haven’t made an effort to move forward.
Community. You'll be part of an exclusive community of business leaders focused on greater success. The other members need you just as much as you need them, so your perspective, experience and knowledge will be highly valued.
A coach and advisors. Once you are involved in the group, that feeling of "being alone" while running your business will fade away. The coach and the other members of the group will become your trusted business advisors and great supporters.
Cross promotion. When you join the group, you and the other group members will likely find ways to help one other through cross promotion to your respective networks.
Bigger thinking. Being in the group will truly stretch you! You can't help but think bigger and reach beyond your usual boundaries when you are surrounded by amazing people doing amazing things
My new offering
If I have piqued your interest in group coaching, here's my latest offering, with limited seats (10 max). (If the seats fill and you still want to participate in a group, never fear, I will just form yet another group.)
My new “Second Thursday” monthly coaching and accountability group is starting May 14. We will meet on Zoom from 8:30 am - Noon Eastern time. In between sessions, members will be teamed up as accountability partners who offer support in weekly calls.
Group members will be on-boarded by completing a questionnaire addressing their business vision, goals and current situation, as well as what they want from the group sessions. I will meet (on Zoom, of course) with each member before the group starts meeting to understand and help them sharpen or revise their vision, goals and situation.
I would love to have you join me and the rest of the group!
Learn more here: https://www.forrestconsult.com/newcoachinggroup
