What? So What? Now What?

I started my work with groups and teams more than 2 decades ago as an experiential educator. Leading What? So What? Now What? framework of debrief.

Photo: J. Britton, 2013

groups through Algonquin Park, and working with my own team of Aquatic Instructors, one of the first question and debrief frameworks I learned in those days was the

This past weekend I spoke at  beautiful Lake Junaluska in the mountains of North Carolina at the CCI 2013 conference. My topic, of course, was about group coaching. What caught my eye on the first day were these great What? So What? Now What? building blocks (pictured above).

Whether we are coaching, training or facilitating the What? So What? Now What questions are very powerful in supporting our group (and team) members to explore their experience (the WHAT?), what's important about it and what the learning is (the SO WHAT?), and finally, what they are going to do about it (NOW WHAT?).

The What? So What? Now What? framework can be used in any group or team coaching context. Here's an example of using it in the one on one context with a leader:

Coach: Tell me about your staff meeting this week.

Leader speaks

Coach: What did you notice about how you led the session. (Focus on what?)

Leader speaks

Coach: What skills did you use to keep the meeting on track? (Focus on what)

Leader speaks

Coach: So what did you do for the greatest impact? (Focus on so what)

Leader speaks

Coach: So what's important about that?

Leader speaks

Coach: So what's possible....

Leader speaks

Coach: Now what do you want to do more of in your meetings?

Leader speaks

Coach: Now what do you want to do less of? OR What do you want to build capacity around?

Leader speaks

Coach: Who do you want to be accountable to? or How will I know? Will you let me know how it goes in our next call?

For more info on how you might use them you may also want to refer to From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (page 73) or Effective Group Coaching.

How do you use the WHAT? SO WHAT? NOW WHAT? questions in your work? As always, please feel free to share below.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, BCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
(416)996-TEAM

Team and Group Coaching Tips - Coaching Many

Over the past few months I have been posting regular Coaching Many tips over at our Facebook page. I recognize not everyone is on Facebook or follows it regularly. Here are some of the recent Coaching Many tips I have posted:

Which of these tips is most important to your work right now? What's a priority?

Finally, what are you noticing about how your group and team coaching work is evolving? What are similarities across groupings? What is different?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

Join me for an upcoming program including:
The Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (8 CCEs) - By phone Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:45 am ET: October 29, November 5, 12, 19, December 3 and 10 - 3 spots open
Mentor Coaching Group (For ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC Portfolio) - by phone Tuesdays 12 - 1 pm ET: October 29 to January 29 (10 hours - 7 hr group calls, 3 hour individual calls) - 3 spots open

Coaching Business Builder - Every Action has a Reaction

Today's Business Builder post is a reminder of a basic scientific principle "Every action has a reaction".

What action have you been undertaking in your work? What reaction are you getting? 

A sub-component of the ICF's core coaching skill of Designing Action is "Do it now!", supporting clients in taking action in the moment. What is the action you could take right now? What have you been putting off? What's the cost of this?

This month I will be speaking in both Michigan (ICF Michigan Statewide Fall Forum) and North Carolina to groups of coaches, many of whom are building their own coaching businesses. For those that might not be joining me for these presentations I wanted to point back to some of my favorite coaching business builder posts including:

Consistency and Tracking
Four Essential Systems for Any Coaching Business
Do they Know, Like and Trust You?
Notice Your Time Suckers

What's the action you want to focus on this week?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials | Potentials Realized
Author of Effective Group Coaching and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching 

Upcoming Programs include:
Mentor Coaching Group (for ACC renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio) - on now, and starting October 29
Join me November 2-3 in Toronto Canada for the Group Coaching Intensive (15 CCEs) - two days of hands-on training in group coaching - 3 spots sill open
The Advanced Group Coaching Practicum (8 CCEs) starts by phone on October 29th (Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:45 am ET) - 3 spots open