Group Coaching Course on Network Capacities
Collective Mind’s Group Coaching course focuses on the seven capacities needed to ensure that networks are effective and impactful.
What: 8 two-week modules on network capacities*
Why: in-depth learning and peer knowledge exchange to address real-time challenges
Who: small peer groups assigned based on diversity of experience and time zone
How: each module consists of a background reading, a moderated 1-hour group session, and related learning exercises
When: over 16 weeks from October to March with a time commitment of 3-4 hours per module
*Collective Mind defines network capacities as the set of competencies and attributes that are both the ingredients that make a network a network and what’s required to help a network achieve its mission. The seven network capacities include: shared purpose, membership, leadership, culture, infrastructure, resources, and measurement. Read more about network capacities here.
Cost of Group Coaching
The cost of this 8-module coaching course is $600. The price includes background readings, moderated discussions, and learning exercises for all eight modules.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
What is Group Coaching?
Collective Mind’s Group Coaching course consists of eight modules over 16 weeks. The first seven modules will focus on each of the seven network capacities. The final module will focus on overarching reflection and action planning across all capacities.
Group Coaching participants will be assigned to groups of network managers with diverse experiences to enhance peer learning. Each group will comprise no more than six to seven participants.
Why Group Coaching?
The Group Coaching format allows colleagues who work with or for networks to gain new knowledge and understanding to address real-time challenges. The course is designed around the core principle that experience is the basis of learning and the learning is based on real-world situations and immediate relevance of skills and knowledge to daily tasks. The approach is problem-centered rather than content-oriented: within the framework of the seven network capacities, learning will be structured to focus on solving for problems that are regularly encountered and integrating content to build necessary skills and knowledge. The Group Coaching’s format also allows for peer learning, sharing of experiences, and joint problem-solving within the peer group.
Who should join the Group Coaching?
The Group Coaching is for those working with and for networks who want to deepen their understanding of networks and bring new approaches to bear to improve their practice and increase the effectiveness and impact of their network.
How is the Group Coaching structured?
We anticipate multiple groups and will assign participants to groups based on time zones as well as based on the diversity of their experiences to enrich the learning process. Specific times for the group coaching sessions will thereby be set when participants are assigned to their groups at the outset of course and with input from the participants to come up with a consensus time for the group members.
For each module, participants will:
Review background reading on the network capacity
Participate in a moderated one-hour group discussion via Zoom
Complete reflection and planning exercises for that network capacity
Each module runs for two weeks. In the first week, participants will review the background reading and begin the exercises. In the second week, participants will participate in the group discussion and complete the exercises. The overall time commitment is approximately 3-4 hours per two-week module.
What’s the schedule of the upcoming Group Coaching?
The full schedule is as follows:
(the exact day and time for each group session will be set once we know time zones for all individuals within a group)
Module 1: Shared Purpose
Week 1 (week of October 26): Review background reading; join a 1 hour intro session with your group
Week 2 (week of November 2): Join the 1 hour group discussion session; complete the exercises
Module 2: Membership
Week 3 (week of November 9): Review background reading
Week 4 (week of November 16): Join the 1 hour group discussion session; complete the exercises
Module 3: Leadership
Week 5 (week of November 23): Review background reading
Week 6 (week of November 30): Join the 1 hour group discussion session; complete the exercises
Module 4: Culture
Week 7 (week of December 7): Review background reading
Week 8 (week of December 14): Join the 1 hour group discussion session; complete the exercises
----break for the holidays----
Module 5: Infrastructure
Week 9 (week of January 11): Review background reading
Week 10 (week of January 18): Join the 1 hour group discussion session; complete the exercises
Module 6: Resources
Week 11 (week of January 25): Review background reading
Week 12 (week of February 1): Join the 1 hour group discussion session; complete the exercises
Module 7: Measurement
Week 13 (week of February 8): Review background reading
Week 14 (week of February 15): Join the 1 hour group discussion session; complete the exercises
Module 8: Reflection
Week 15 (week of February 22): Review, complete reflection and planning exercises
Week 16 (week of March 1): Join the 1 hour group discussion session; finalize the reflection and planning exercises
Here's what participants from our group coaching pilot earlier this year have to say about the experience...
What specifically was most useful about the content?
What was most valuable about Group Coaching?
“I really loved the readings and found them informative and helpful. I also loved getting to hear the challenges and learnings from other network managers.”
What was your overall experience of the Group Coaching?
“I enjoyed the group and benefited from their insights and suggestions.”
“There were a lot of very actionable suggestions from each of the readings. I took away a lot of ideas about areas that could improve in my network and felt like I could pretty easily turn around and generate some ideas for how to implement some practical changes.”
What was most useful about the reflection and planning exercises?
“I loved it. I wrote a ton of notes and learned a lot; I plan to reference my notes often and I will encourage other network managers to participate when the formal program launches.”
“It was helpful to think about concrete ways to apply the ideas in practice.”