Key Points About the CoachVille Study Groups...


1. Any CoachVille member may host a CoachVille Study Group after attending an orientation.
We're going for open architecture and an open door.  There are groundrules and a licensing/use agreement to sign and some basic understandings, but it's not onerous. So, it's a bit similar to how some of the larger ICF and Coach U chapters conduct their meetings, but I see these study groups as more intimate/smaller, and 75% training/learning/growing oriented instead of "chapter business" type of stuff or just having speakers.  Everyone would be welcome, not just CoachVille members. Folks who aren't CoachVille members could join on the spot if they wanted to (hosts would have membership forms), but no pressure.  Anyone could become a study group host and I could see something like 10 or 20 study groups in Chicago for example.  Some by geographic area (see north shore in the graphic above), others by focus like executive coaches, etc. 


2. Hosts select from a range of topics and lessons, provided by CoachVille.
After all, these are the CoachVille Study Groups, not the Coaching Study Groups.  Our brand is in play here, so as flexible as the meeting focus can be, we are going to make sure they don't devolve into a political/business meeting type of format which is a snoozer for most.  The Study Group is targeting coaches who wish to master their craft.  This makes the CoachVille Study Groups distinct from other options that coaches have, and reinforces the innovation/learning/success branding components of CoachVille.  The local host would have a bank of 'lessons' or discussions or client case studies to present, much like a minister can pull from a bank of talks and adapt to fit his/her congregation.  And/or perhaps there would be several strong local folks in a study group who would pick their own topics that meet the needs of their local coaches and/or bring in expert coaches to share their expertise in a particular area.


3. Each study group session will focus on a specific topic or lesson.
We've debated about keeping the foci just about coaching skills and decided to open it up more to include these categories:
Coaching Skills Training, lessons and interactive experiences.
Coaching Demos and Critiques as a way to learn and improve.
Case Study Discussions as a way to expand ones client/situational strategies.
Corporate Coaching Situations to prepare coaches for different types of corporate coaching.
Client Coaching Program training on Clean Sweep, Personal Evolution and the like.
Coaching Competencies with examples and exercises.
Full Practice Strategies with a mutual sharing of what works.

As you can see, this is quite a collection of categories and topics.  And given rich content is what CoachVille is known for, we figured that we'd share some of this content with those attending the Study Groups and that this rich content would be a magnet for the coaches who really want to learn.  And having this prepackaged content will make it EASY for Study Group Hosts to 'run' the sessions.


4. The content/tools for the study group sessions will be actual audio tapes and CDs and RealAudio clips from publicly available products that CoachVille currently offers and will offer to members over the coming year or two.
We suggest that you start off  virtually all sessions with an audio component, either a demo, a critique, instructions or a catalyzing introduction to a discussion.
You can play these Audio clips from your computer (RealAudio) to your group.
We have developed a simple instructional guide on how to conduct a MicroModule.


5. There is plenty of time during the Study Group sessions for networking, brainstorming, collaborating and just plain fun.
Most of the MicroModules we'll make available run 45 to 60 minutes and given most meetings will run about 2 hours, there's plenty of time for the group to meet its other needs, as they define it.


6. One of the understandings for Study Group Hosts is that they will support other hosts in their geographic area.
There will be literally HUNDREDS of learning topics that hosts can select from for their groups, so there could be many local Study Groups, based as much on topic as on ZIPCODE.  And, there will be options for a group to string together 4 or 8 or 12 lessons along a theme to provide continuity and mini program if desired.  We'll also ask the hosts and groups to maybe get together once a quarter in their city or state for a special event so that every one can meet each other and perhaps bring in a guest speaker.  Given most study groups will range in size from 5 to 15, getting together once a quarter will have the study groups operate as a quasi chapter, without getting into the sometimes cumbersome chapter stuff.


8. Study group hosts may charge a small fee if they wish.
This to cover refreshments or room rental, etc.  Like a maximum of $10 or something.  CoachVille gets no part of this fee.  However, if a study group host wishes to conduct a formal workshop or training based on our materials, they'll pay a nominal use/license fee. 


9. There will be Study Groups in every major city in the U.S. and in 50+countries by the end of 2002.
And, as mentioned earlier, most cities will have more than one study group.  One of the benefits of our open architecture approach is that if you don't like how a Study Group Host runs their group, you are most than welcome to start your own group and do it your way.  This provides maximum flexibility and we'll let Darwin decide which study groups/hosts are effective and which are not.


10.  Study Group Host may attend a monthly conference call.
This to swap stories and to learn the newly available programs/lessons.


11.  People can find you and your study group by using CoachReferral.com.
All Study Group Hosts must have a listing at www.CoachVilleReferral.com (listing is free for CoachVille members).  When you create your listing (or update it), you can check the box called I am a Study Group Host.  And folks visiting the site can search for study group hosts in the city of their choice.


Interested?

If you would like to become a CoachVille Study Group Host in your town or area, or if you just want to be kept informed about this new project, address an email to subscribesgh@coachville.com.  That will get you on the announcement list so you'll get the latest news, trainings, host only access passwords, etc.  (You will need to send from a non AOL email address for our system to accept your subscription request.)