Groups provide an exceptional framework for personal and professional growth. Early in the development of Peer Insight, we noticed that highly functioning groups were special. They were serious, yet included timely doses of laughter. They discussed best practices, yet were open to discussing their vulnerabilities. They told stories, yet were prepared to receive open and honest feedback. Peer Insight helps bring the intelligence and knowledge into a safe space where real learning can occur and new insights are embraced. is

1. The Group Coaching Handbook
using PEER INSIGHT

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3. Group Coaching: a dialogic process that
leverages insights and experiences of group
members to attain individualized
personal and professional growth
Peer Insight: a research based Group Coaching
methodology that leverages the power of social
interaction and group knowledge to drive
personal and professional growth
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

4. 3 Reasons Why
Group Coaching and Peer Insight
#1 – Time For Money
1a. Numerous studies verify that organizations would like
to increase the availability of coaching services to their
employees, but are limited by budgets, and the number of
approved coaches. Group coaching offers a viable
alternative when demand for coaching services exceeds
available resources.
1b. Peer Insight virtually eliminates the time a group coach
would normally spend preparing for a group coaching
session. Peer Insight achieves this by building the
expert-knowledge into each topic deck, while
incorporating a defined process to facilitate discussions.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

5. 3 Reasons Why
Group Coaching and Peer Insight
#2 – Increase Impact
Individual and group coaching should facilitate deep,
transformational development with participants. Although
each participant gets less one-to-one attention, the power
of the group more than compensates. The social learning
that occurs in a group environment from listening to other
participant stories, ideas and concerns is a powerful mirror
for an individual’s personal growth. Participants also
receive candid feedback from multiple sources, which
speeds the development process.
Plus, a Group Coach is positioned to increase his or her
impact across an organization.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

6. 3 Reasons Why
Group Coaching and Peer Insight
#3 – Personal & Professional Growth
Groups provide an exceptional framework for personal and
professional growth. Early in the development of Peer
Insight, we noticed that highly functioning groups were
special. They were serious, yet included timely doses of
laughter. They discussed best practices, yet were open to
discussing their vulnerabilities. They told stories, yet were
prepared to receive open and honest feedback. We realized
that Peer Insight enabled participants to BeBRAVETM.
In BeBRAVETM groups, participants have the ingredients in
the group that are essential for personal & professional
growth.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

7. The Group Formula
What is a BeBRAVETM Group?
Inside a well-run group coaching session, something
special happens. Individuals and emergent leaders
learn how to BeBRAVETM. It isn’t an accident. It
happens because we’re hardwired to value, trust and
desire group membership.
The Peer Insight Group Coaching process inspires
individuals and emergent leaders to BeBRAVETM, to
become the leaders they want and need to be.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

8. The Group Formula
The Simple Formula
Effective Group Coaching sessions possess these key
characteristics.
1. 7 – 12 compatible individuals that share similar
interests and focus, i.e. leadership development, etc.
2. Time: 90 – 120 minutes per session. Most groups
have a recurring monthly schedule format
3. A structured group coaching methodology that
manages the interplay between safety and challenge
inside a group
4. Facilitated by a coach that manages the discussions
and energy of the group
5. A process that encourages deep learning during and
following each session for each group member
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

9. The Group Formula
The Peer Insight Solution
Peer Insight utilizes a stimulating card-game
facilitation method during which participants explore
their responses to randomly selected, thought-
provoking statements on a number of topics. The
process creates a rich and structured learning
environment, while providing the stimuli essential for
deeply reflective, and interesting discussions.
Plus, Peer Insight provides the structure necessary to
keep groups engaged, the learning environment safe
and the dialogue moving forward.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

10. How Peer Insight Works
1. Peer Insight Structure
Each Peer Insight Deck contains two types of cards.
The first card type being, the “Praise or Concern”
cards.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

11. How Peer Insight Works
Insight into
the Praise or Concern Cards
The “I have a Praise about…” or “I have a Concern
about…” cards are a distinguishing characteristic of
the Peer Insight methodology. These two phrases
achieve several objectives flawlessly, a few of them
being:
1. It positions the individual to immediately speak
from the 1st person perspective, which is unusual
in most meetings and conversations.
2. It provides the card holder permission to speak
their thoughts openly, which often leads to
unique and unknown perspectives.
3. It encourages reflective thought, which is a
powerful conduit to improving critical thinking
skills.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

12. How Peer Insight Works
2. Peer Insight Structure
The second card type is the topic card. Each card in a
topic deck has a provoking statement that stimulates
thought and reflection around a specific topic, i.e.
Agility, Conflict, Diversity, Employee Feedback, etc.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

13. How Peer Insight Works
Insight into
the Topic Card Deck
Each Topic Deck contains 30 statements, thereby
providing 60 statement combinations in each deck
(each statement is answered as a Praise or Concern).
Utilizing this structure, the intelligence is built into the
process. This enables the group coach the bandwidth
to facilitate group discussions across a variety of
topics without being a topic expert.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

14. How Peer Insight Works
3. Peer Insight Structure
Taking turns, each member will pick a “Praise or
Concern” card and a “Topic” card, creating a Praise
Statement or a Concern Statement. The participant
that drew the cards will answer the statement,
frequently presenting a personal story or referencing
a recent experience.
Once the participant answers the statement, the
facilitator can encourage the group to discuss further
or ask other participants to provide a personal
perspective. This brings multiple perspectives to the
topic, while encouraging a collaborative learning
environment.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

15. How Peer Insight Works
The Process
The Peer Insight Group Coaching process is easy to
learn and simple to implement. The Group Coach
initiates the process by:
1. Introduce the topic.
2. Hand the cards (utilizing the card carrier)to the
first participant, having them draw a Praise or
Concern card first and then a Topic card.
3. The participant reads the statement out loud,
then thoughtfully answers the statement. Follow-
on discussion amongst participants is
encouraged, if appropriate.
4. Upon completion of discussion, the cards are
handed to the next participant.
5. Steps 2, 3 and 4 is repeated by next participant.
6. The cards go around the table until everyone has
answered at least one statement. This process
ensures individual and total group participation.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

16. Peer Insight Delivers
Group Knowledge
Participants Openly Share . . .
The Peer Insight Group Coaching process encourages
participants to openly share their perspectives,
knowledge and experiences with the group. When
this occurs, an emotional connection to the topic
occurs which greatly enhances learning, but most
important, application of the information. This is one
way Peer Insight transforms belief systems and
behaviors of participants.
When a group of educated and experience rich
individuals come together, an abundance of
knowledge is present at the table. Author Jeff
Surowiecki refers to this as “the wisdom of crowds.”
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

17. Peer Insight Delivers
Engagement
Group Member Perspective
Engagement is integral to learning. The methodology
taps into 4-basic coaching constructs, which positively
impacts learning effectiveness. These being:
1. A basic human need is to “Be Understood” and
“Be Respected.” Participants indicate this is
achieved when utilizing Peer Insight.
2. Individuals have ideas and they want a platform
to express them and to “Be Heard.” Peer Insight
neutralizes the table, whereby alpha members no
longer dominate and the silent few are heard.
3. Since the process is random, the cards give them
“permission” to speak their mind, which adds
elements of safety to the process.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

18. Peer Insight Delivers
Permission
Authentic Communication
Anytime two or more people speak, a contextual
framework exists between them. When an individual
picks up a Peer Insight card, no contextual relationship
exists, which gives an individual the permission to
speak frankly about the topic. It’s amazing what is
shared by simply providing a simple platform to be
vulnerable without judgment.
David Dunning, Professor of Psychology at Cornell
University states, “The path to self-insight leads
through other people.”
Peer Insight provides a path to self-insight.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

19. Peer Insight Delivers
Knowledge
Social Learning Platform
Organizations risk losing institutional knowledge as
Baby Boomers retire, and Gen X and Millennials
assume these positions. Peer Insight can bring
generations together by providing them an equal and
valued voice around the table. Baby Boomers enjoy
telling their stories based on their many years of
experience. Gen X and Millennials appreciate the
social learning platform, which enhances their ability
to listen and learn.
When groups of people are together, they are very
good at retaining meaning. We are smarter when we
hang around other people.
Clive Thompson
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

20. Peer Insight Delivers
Facilitation
Personal & Professional Growth
Group Coaches embrace the Peer Insight methodology
since it stimulates dialogue that can lead to transferring
important skills and concepts to all participants. The
methodology makes the process seamless. In addition:
1. Group Coaches like how the tool
diminishes/eliminates time usually necessary for
preparation.
2. The process is simple to utilize, with the intelligence
built into the tool; providing group coaches expertise
across a broad range of topics.
3. Group Coaches understand the importance of
engagement and laughter in the learning process.
Peer Insight excels on both fronts.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

21. Peer Insight Delivers
Individual Workbooks
Extending the Learning Horizon
Each Topic incorporates a Workbook. This enhances
and extends the learning process. The workbook:
1. Encourages participants to capture and record
notes in a visual format throughout the program.
2. Upon completion of using the Peer Insight cards,
participants will:
• Identify 3-things they learned.
• 1 or 2 Action Items they’re committed to
completing.
• 1- person they’re committed to meet before
the next meeting.
3. Each participant reports out to the Group their 3-
2-1 Commitments.
4. At the beginning of the next session, participants
report their progress on their Commitments, and
what they learned.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

22. Peer Insight Delivers
Development Tracks
Executive coaching can be defined as a short-term
relationship between an executive and a coach, focused
on achieving specific, mutually agreed-upon
developmental goals. Group Coaching can possess a
similar objective, it simply utilizes a group process.
Peer Insight’s Group Coaching process can attain these
goals by utilizing defined Developmental Tracks, if the
Group Coach desires. These tracks are structured around
specific learning areas, i.e. Soft Skills, Authentic
Leadership, etc. Each developmental track incorporates
6-sessions, utilizing 1-topic per session in a defined
sequence. This makes the Peer Insight process easy to
implement, while seamlessly achieving developmental
goals for each participant.
The Group Coaching Handbook using Peer Insight

23. Peer Insight Certification Training
Our Peer Insight Certification Process gives trainers the
confidence and ability to successfully lead Peer Insight
Group Coaching sessions. It is the cornerstone of our
partnership with you and your organization, and is the
critical link that ensures successful results. You will
emerge with:
• Enhanced and refined facilitation skills
• An understanding of adult learning strategies
• A variety of instructional strategies
• Practical guidelines for implementation
• Actual experience delivering our Peer Insight tools
We regularly offer our training certification process via
public and private seminars. Receive your Peer Insight
Certification by signing up for a training program today.
Contact Rod Johnson
rjohnson@growingyourleaders.com
Phone: 651-315-7775
Mobile: 651-436-3962

24. Growing Your Leaders
P.O. Box 786
Lakeland, MN 55043
651-315-7775
www.growingyourleaders.com