Peer Coaching Groups

I have been involved with the staff at the Illinois Arts Alliance for the past several months in organizing a Peer Coaching Group for our area. I am excited about the opportunities available for the Executive Directors in this region to meet and share resources for our mutual betterment. We had originally planned to begin these groups in the Fall. Unfortunately Jim was injured in a house fire and we needed to reschedule our launch until now. Currently we have three of our six spots filled.

The Peer Coaching Groups:

a. Share highly practical advice, materials and feedback.
b. Focus on taking action & identifying current priorities
c. Consist of highly focused networking groups
d. Directly tie actions to your organizational goals
e. Get to the root of your organizations issues
f. Ensure that information from training sessions is actually applied- makes other training programs more real
g. Build in accountability and support
h. Tap wisdom for other Executive Directors, not outside experts
i. Develop skills for critical inquirery and reflection
j. Spread low-cost personal & professional coaching across the organization

The McLean County Arts Center will serve as host and James Keeran has agreed to serve a facilitator. He and I have attended training in Chicago in preparation and we have now entered the recruitment stage.

Approximately six local arts group directors will be selected from applications. We will meet for about two hours on a monthly basis at a mutually agreeable time. The cost to your organization is only $100 and this has been subsidized by the Illinois Arts Alliance. Participants aren't taking time away from work- instead they are working on work. Speaking from my own experience this training sessions I have attended in Chicago and Decatur have already provided me with vital tools I have already applied in working with my staff and board.

Please review the attached sheets and review the application form. I am pleased to be involved in this process and look forward to hearing from you in the days ahead.