Friday, April 15, 2011

11B- Success Groups

This weeks topic will be the Law of Attraction.  Join me tomorrow to read more!

Hello everyone,
I know some of you may be wondering how a Success Group can work for you.  If  you are a stay at home Mom in need of "Mommy Support", or if you are starting your own business and in need of "Small Business Support", or you are a working Mom/Dad in need of "Balancing Support", you could benefit from a group of like minded individuals that help you on that path.  No matter what your needs are, I am sure there are people around you with similar needs.  With a Success Group, each member brings their own unique challenges and solutions to the group and you get focused attention on what you are going through with tons of great input.  Everyone needs support and what a great way to get it!  

If you are interested in starting a Success Group, you need to find the best members for the goals you want to accomplish.  Ask if they are interested in joining and see if they know anyone they think may be a good addition.  By having others reach out too, you are expanding your network and hopefully adding some additional knowledge to the group.  Remember to keep it to 4-6 people so everyone always feels like they are an integral part of the group and everyone has a chance to share and grow. 

Things to consider when starting the group are where and when you will meet.  How long each meeting will be and how much time you want to allow for each person to speak.  You will need to decide how formal you want the group.  Do you want a moderator/timekeeper that keeps the meeting on track?  You and your group can create anything you need this to be.  Decide on your group goals and cater the group to meet those goals.  One main goal should be to get more accomplished than you each would on your own.  Make sure to check in regularly to make sure all of your individual needs are being met and to make sure everyone is getting the benefits of the group environment.  If not, work together as a group to create a solution.  Really look at each individuals goals and work together to help each other accomplish those goals!

Questions:
Either journal about these questions or spend some time thinking about your answers.
- Would a Success Group work for you?
- What do you want the groups focus to be?
- How many people do you want in your group?
- How will you find members?
- When is the best time to meet?
- How long will your meetings be?
- What format will work best for your group?
- What are the goals of the group? 
- What are your individual goals?

Fieldwork:
If you have done the fieldwork earlier in the week and done the bonus challenge, you are ready to start a Success Group of your own.  Be ready to share your short and long term goals, any recent successes you have had, any big challenges you face, what you want from the group, and what you bring to the group.  Also consider any other information you think will help the group best support you.  Make a list of this and ask each member to do this as well.  I want each of you to have all of the success you need so you have your perfect life and your perfect balance!

If you have questions about how a Success Group can work for you, email me and I will be glad to help!  Also, remember you can email me any coaching questions you have and I will support you along that path as well!
coachgaye@redefinebalance.com
Enjoy the journey! 
Coach Gaye

Monday, April 11, 2011

11A- Success Group

Thursday blog posts are moving to Fridays!  See you tomorrow.

Hi everyone,

Many of you may have seen the topic Success Group and wondered what it is.  A Success Group is a group comprised of 4-6 people that meet regularly to support each other, provide each other motivation and to hold each other accountable.  It is a great place to work through struggles or to get insight to help with ideas you may have.  The group will also be great at helping you with personal goals, family goals or goals for your business.  Depending on what your needs are, find a group of like minded people who want results similar to yours.  The goal of the group can be focused on your unique needs and wants and you can cater the groups structure to best fit the group involved.

A Success Group is beneficial because it allows you to work on your individual goals and it allows you to focus on what is most important to you, with the groups support.  By creating the group dynamic, it opens you up to challenges you may not have taken on your own.  You may step outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself and accomplish goals at a faster rate than if you were alone.  It can really provide great benefits!   

I recently started a Success Group of 5 women that are in circumstances similar to mine.  We are all "stay at home Moms" working on something outside of the home too.  I really wanted a group of goal oriented individuals that also have a strong sense of family.  Because we come from similar backgrounds, we are able to be more understanding of time constraints and we can be more flexible with the structure we have put in place.  Since we are such a new group, we are building the group to be what is perfect for each of our needs.  It is great to have a sounding board for new ideas and it is great to get input from others.  Of course, as a coach, I really love the accountability we offer each other too.  At each meeting, we set goals for ourselves and when we meet again, we check in on our progress.   I am really looking forward to the goals we will be able to reach with the positive energy and support of the group!
 
Starting the group has been so exciting.  The positive feedback and sharing is such a great experience.  As we make progress in the group, I will continue to share.  Also, on Thursday, I will go more in detail about setting up your own Success Group.

Questions:
Either journal about these questions or spend some time thinking about your answers.
- Could you accomplish more if you had a group to hold you accountable?
- What types of goals are you interested in setting for yourself?
- Who would make up your ideal group of 4-6 people?
- What skill sets would the individuals have?
- What skills do you have to offer others?
- Would a Success Group be beneficial to you?

Fieldwork:
Think about your ideal Success Group.  What would it look like?  Who would be in it?  What would you help each other with?

Topic 11 Bonus Challenge:
Start your own Success Group and see where it takes you! Check back Thursday for more tips.

Quote: Margaret Mead- Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can chage the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.

Enjoy the journey!
Coach Gaye