Happy Valentine's Day

I hope that you are enjoying your Valentine's Day and that it will be full of surprises, love and appreciation. Even if you are not in a meaningful relationship, today is a wonderful day to share your appreciation for others.

Aligned with this month's theme of relationships, I wanted to share with you some interesting articles and studies which have been released in honour of Valentine's day. I hope that you will check them out.

Date Nights:

In my last blog post, 8 Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship, I suggested the concept of "date nights" to keep your relationship strong. If you are looking for some ideas on what you might do during a "date night", I hope that you will check out this great list over at LovingYou.com.

The New York Times also published an article this week entitled " Reinventing Date Night for Long Married Couples". A great read.

Love at First Sight:

A recently released study in Canada found that the majority of respondents believed in love at first sight? Do you?

You can read an article from the Toronto Star about it here.

Other pieces of interest

The 2008 Harlequin Romance Report has also been released. Read the highlights here.

As always Oprah.com also has some interesting pieces on relationships.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT

Potentials Realized

Email: jennifer{at} potentialsrealized.com

Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Still looking for the perfect Valentine for that hard to shop for person? Give the gift of a couple's retreat or a couple's coaching session. Spend a weekend away in April to the beautiful wilderness setting of Muskoka with your partner and join me for the Relationships on Fire! Retreat (April 26-27, 2008) or give the gift of the Partnership Revitalization Virtual Retreat (a phone based retreat program for you and your spouse -- choose from either sessions - April 10 and 24th from 7-10pm EST/NY both evenings or 10am-4pm Sunday May 4th). Both programs will give you an opporunity to reconnect and refocus on your relationship. To purchase your package and receive your gift certificate, register online or give me a call toll free at 1-866-217-1960. I look forward to having you join me! Relationship coaching specials on until February 28th.

8 Ways to Focus in on your relationship

8 Ways to Focus in on your Relationship

Copyright 2008: Jennifer Britton. All Rights Reserved

In today’s busy world, our relationship with our spouse or partner often ends up as the last thing that gets attention. With Valentine’s day just around the corner, here are 8 things you can do to put a spotlight, or some focus, back on your relationship:

1. Set aside time to have a “date night” or an evening out for just the two of you. Make this a regular
2. Revisit your memories of your first meeting or date together
3. Ask yourself “What makes your relationship unique?”
4. Spend time with your partner/spouse creating a Vision Board for your relationship
5. Ask yourself as a couple “ What’s the most amazing thing that we could create in our relationship?”
6. Ask yourself “ What do you value in your relationship?”
7. Celebrate and acknowledge what you have created in your relationship, what you have learned and what challenges you have overcome
8. Unplug the blackberry, the internet, the phone(s) and TV for one evening and have a couple’s evening home.

Which one will you choose today?

Have a wonderful week,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT

Potentials Realized

Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Email: jennifer{AT}potentialsrealized{dot}com

Jennifer Britton is a Certified Coach who works with relationships (teams, intimate relationships and business partnerships) supporting them to move from ordinary to extraordinary. She offers a number of coaching programs and retreats for partnerships who want to shine the spotlight back on their relationship. She has supported teams in over 15 countries around the world. You can visit her online at GroupCoachingEssentials.com and at Potentials Realized.

We would be happy to have you reprint this on your blog or in your newsletter, keeping the copyright intact along with our contact information and bio.

3 Keys To Getting Your Relationship Right Side Up

I'm pleased to be able to share with you the link to the audio recording for the relationship coaching call I held last week with my colleague, Jennifer Morgan, CPCC.

On Saturday January 12, 2008, Jennifer and I, along with Sharon Miller, PCC, will be hosting Make It Great for 2008 - A Couples Retreat here in Toronto at the beautiful Verity Club. You can view more information about the retreat here.

Sharon and I are also pleased that we will be hosting another Relationships on Fire! Couples Retreat in breathtaking Muskoka on Saturday and Sunday April 26-27/08. To reserve your spot at the Early Bird Rate until February 15th/08, click here. It's a great holiday or Valentine's day present for your spouse!

In lead up to the retreats, we hosted a one hour call -- Are You Standing on Your Head in Relationships? 3 Keys to Getting Your Relationship Right Side Up. If you couldn't join us last week, we hope that you will enjoy listening to us here:


This call gave participants to look more closely at one important relationship in their life (business or personal) to see what made that relationship unique. The call also created the opportunity for listeners to look at what's their vision for the relationship,and to take some concrete action steps towards taking the relationship from good (or not so good) to great.

As always, I'd welcome your feedback...feel free to comment below.

Have a balanced week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realizedand Group Coaching Essentials.com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960
Email: jennifer {AT} potentialsrealized.com

Work Life Balance Tip - Investing in Relationships

Relationships infuse every aspect of our lives -- our work, our families, our relationship with money. How much focus have you given your relationships lately?

The focus on effective relationship building is becoming a priority in many companies these days as it has an impact on everything from customer service, to team productivity to employee satisfaction.

Here's an exercise to undertake with an important relationship in your life. It may be an exercise you want to journal on. Ask yourself:
1. Why is this relationship so important for me?
2. What do I love about this relationship?
3. What does the relationship call me to be? To do?
4. What is possible for this relationship?
5. What does it mean to be conscious and intentional in this relationship?

Over the past year, an increasing part of my work as a coach has shifted to supporting couples and business partnerships in creating consicous and intentional relationships. Having focused on supporting the strengthening of team relationships for many years now (19 to be exact!) it's quite exciting to have the opportunity to work with even more intimate relationships.

If you are commited to investing more in your relationships, I hope that you will mark your calendars for a one hour free call I will be holding with my colleagues on December 4th from 8-9pm (EST) on creating more intentional and conscious relationships. To reserve your spot email relationships{at} potentialsrealized{dot}com.

If you are in the Toronto area and are looking for a fun and rich day to start 2008 with your spouse, business partner or sibling, I hope that you will consider joining us for the Make It Great for 2008 Retreat (Saturday January 12/08 from 9-5 pm). The program will be held in downtown Toronto.

What's possible for you in your relationships in 2008?

Have a balanced week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized
Make It Great for 2008 Retreat

Work Life Balance Tips for Entrepreneurs

Wendy Piersall over at Entrepreneur.com had a great post last month entitled 20 Work-Life Balance Tips for the Overworked Entrepreneur. It's great to see Wendy's role over at Entpreneur.com -- I knew her back from the EMoms at home BlogJolt Days.


Wendy's got some fantastic tips which are not just for entrepreneurs, including some of my favorite work-life balance tips which you've heard me talk about before, including:

- Say No!

- Schedule in downtime

- Ask for help


I think as women, whether we run a business, work as a full time professional, or raise a family, we can all benefit from Wendy's work-life balance tips.

My monthly balance call next month will dovetail with the relationship series of calls I am doing with fellow retreat leaders and relationship coaches, Sharon Miller and Jennifer Morgan. I hope that you will consider joining us on November 1st from 8-9pm (EST) by phone for Standing Your Relationships on their Head. It's going to be a juicy, interactive group coaching hour where you can explore one of your most important relationships, define what's unique about it and walk away with some action steps to take it from great to extraordinary. To reserve your spot for this one hour call email us at relationships@potentialsrealized.com. We'll be running this call again on December 4th from 8-9pm (EST) if you can't make it next Thursday.


Have a balanced week!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPCC
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Email: jennifer@potentialsrealized.com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Standing Your Relationships On Their Head

Some of you may know that a large part of my work as a coach involves team and group coaching, as well as relationship systems coaching for couples and business partnerships who want to take their relationship from great to extraordinary.


I am pleased to announce that I will be holding a one hour call "Do You Have to Stand on Your Head in Relationships? Three Keys to Getting 'Right' Side Up.". There is no cost to attend other than your long distance charges.

During the one hour call you will:
* Identify what drives you nuts in relationships
* Create a vision of what a truly fulfilling relationship looks and feels like
* Powerfully commit to taking action in the area of relationships

Our next call will be held on Tuesday October 23rd from 8-9pm (EST).

To reserve your space, send a blank email with October 23rd in the subject line to relationships@potentialsrealized.com. You'll receive an email with the bridgeline information and more details about the call. I hope that you will be able to join us! Feel free to also bring a friend or your spouse!

I will be joined on these calls by colleagues, and fellow retreat leaders, Sharon Miller, PCC and Jennifer Morgan, CPCC.

Future calls will be held on Thursday November 1st(8-9pm EST) or Tuesday December 4th (8-9pm EST). You can also reserve your space at relationships@potentialsrealized.com by sending a blank email with the call date in your email.

If you and your partner are looking to take your relationship from great to extraordinary, I hope that you will consider joining us for one of our 2008 couples retreats. Save the dates:
Saturday January 12/08 - Make it Great for 2008 Couples Retreat (Toronto)
Saturday and Sunday April 26 and 27/08 - Relationships on Fire (Muskoka) (NOTE: Early Bird rates available to Jan 31/08)

Have a balanced week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized
Coaching for Business Partnerships
Email: jennifer@potentialsrealized.com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Coaching On CNN

CNN recently published an interesting article called "Getting Unstuck: Does your Life Need a Coach?". You can read the article here. There's also a great quiz there called Are You Off Balance? While your there, check out their section on Having it All - Work Life Balance. Some great tips and ideas.

For those of you who have been following this blog for a while, or maybe have just come across it, you will know that a large majority of the coaching work I do with clients is to help them get clear on what they want to create or enhance in their work, their career or their life, and get moving into action.

This CNN article follows another great segment put out a couple weeks ago by CBS Sunday Morning -- Life Coaches are for Everyone. They interviewed a range of coaches who each focus on different areas: leadership, career, organization and personal appearance and of course executive coaching. You can view a video with interviews at the article link -- it's quite well done.

I am looking forward to seeing some coverage on the areas I coach around - relationships, team coaching and career issues.

If you are curious about how coaching might be able to support your aspirations, drop me a line to set up a free consultation about how coaching might benefit you.

I look forward to hearing from you,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized
Email: jennifer{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Life on Fire! Thursday Night from 7-9 pm in Huntsville

If you are in the Muskoka area this week, I hope that you will consider dropping by Robinson's Independent in Huntsville on Thursday night from 7-9pm. I will be leading a two hour group coaching session entitled "Life on Fire!". What would your life and relationships look like if your life were on fire?

There is no charge for this event and pre-registration is not necessary. I hope that you can join me. For information about the programs I will be running in the Muskoka area over the coming year, please visit Retreat2Muskoka at http://www.retreat2muskoka.com.

I'll also be talking about some of the exciting programs that are upcoming including the Relationships on Fire!(TM) One day retreat for commited couples (August 25th from 9 -4:30 pm in Huntsville), as well as the Women on Fire! Group Coaching program which will launch on October 10th (Wednesdays from 7-8 pm EST by phone). We will also be holding a one day Women on Fire! Virtual Retreat on October 27th from 10 - 4pm (EST). I am very excited to be co-leading these programs with Certified Coach Sharon Miller of CoachingWorks!

More detailed information about the Women on Fire! program will be available soon.

With best wishes,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC, CHRP
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960
Email: jennifer{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

Work-Life Balance Tip - The Power of Teams

Work Life Balance Tip -

The Power of Teams

Collaboration and teamwork has been a theme for me this year. As a solopreneur I value the impact of strategic alliance and joint ventures, recognizing that these can expand my reach much greater than ever I could do alone.

This week's work life balance tips is on the power of teams. What does your "team" look like? Prehaps it is family members, co-workers, friends, children. How can your team support you in moving more fully into balance?

A significant amount of my coaching work is moving into team and relationship coaching, whether it is coaching an intact team, a business partnership or a romantic relationship. Ask yourself, "What is my team? How does my team support me?".

How can you leverage your team over the next month to enable you to achieve the goals you have set forth for yourself?

When collaborating/working with others, what is possible?

Teams bring into reality the premise of the sum being greater than its' parts. How has your team enabled you to create things greater than yourself?

I'd love to hear your comments. Please feel free to post a comment below.

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, CHRP, CPT

Potentials Realized

Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

I'm more than half-way through my goal of coaching over 50 partnerships and relationships during the first quarter of 2007. If you would like to take part in a free, no-obligation coaching session for you and your partner (whether they are a business or life partner), email me to set up a free 45 minute coaching session. Some partnerhsips that have taken me up on this offer have described the experience as "extraordinary", "you created the space for us to focus on possibilities", "outstanding". Partners who have taken advantage of this offer have included: corporate teams, new business partnerships, couples expecting a new baby, couples soon facing the early nest scenario, and new strategic alliances. As a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach I am continuing to deepen my coaching skills in the area of Organization and Relationship Systems coaching work, created by the Centre for Right Relatiosnship. I'd love to hear from you!

An exciting opportunity for 50 relationships (business/personal)

As we head into a new year, many individuals give thought as to what their most important relationships are in their lives. As humans, we are social creatures, and relationships provide so much for our well-being.

Increasingly, my own coaching work is expanding from individual client work and working with groups and teams, to incorporate relationship coaching for business and personal partners. One of the reasons I am moving into the domain of relationships coaching is that our lives are impacted by our relationships and our partnerships. For example, sometimes a challenge related to life-work balance may be due to our relationship with our spouse, a child, our boss, money or a value we hold. We can make change, but unless the system within which we operate changes, the impact will be minimal or short-lived.

As I continue to deepen my work in the area of relationship coaching, my goal is to work with 50 partners (business partners, spouses, siblings, team members) over the next six weeks. I will be offering a Design Your Partnership Alliance session by phone to interested partners. There is no charge for this session and the process will take approximately 45 minutes. All members of the system need to be able to participate on this call (both parties or all team members).

What you will take away from Designing Your Partnership Alliance is a clearer picture of your relationship (your expectations and agreements), what you want it to feel like and what you want more of. In addition, you will set some concrete action steps for yourself.

Are you ready to invest in your most important relationships this year? I hope so. If you are interested in being one of the 50 relationships I work with in the coming weeks, please email me at jennifer[at]potentialsrealized[dot]com or call me toll free at 1-866-217-1960. Suggest two or three times when you are available to hold the session, as well as what time zone you are located in. Please feel free to pass this on to others who you know might be interested. All sessions are confidential.

I look forward to hearing from you!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized

Jennifer Britton is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, and Certified Human Resource Professional. As the founder of Potentials Realized, she has been working with individual and organizational clients from across North America, Europe, the Caribbean and Australasia since 2004 to realize their potentials. Jennifer is a former global manager and has led team and group programs since 1988 in 14 countries around the world. She is known for her trail-blazing, inspiring approach when working with teams, partnerships and individuals. Jennifer is in the process of completing advanced coach training through The Coaches Training Institute in the area of Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching.