Both group coaching and mentoring circles are valuable development tools. Although both use similar processes, there are some key differences.

Mentoring is a power-free experience where your facilitator and circle members help you to discover your best course of action, based on the insights you and the circle discuss.

Coaching has a set agenda to reinforce or change skills and behaviors. The coach ensures there is an objective or goal for each discussion that relates to skills/behaviors.

Implementing a S.W.A.T. Mentoring Circle is popular for those individuals or organizations wanting to help their people solve an issue or problem in a short amount of time.

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Each circle session is facilitated by a certified action learning coach to help facilitate optimal learning.

Circles can be focused on 1 pre-determined topic or each circle member can identify their own topic.

During each mentoring circle session, each member has a time slot to update the circle on:
1.  what has happened with their problem since the previous session and
2.  what is their new priority for help and assistance.

Both the action learning coach and circle participants help mentor you during your time slot and you return the favor for your fellow circle colleagues.

Participants tell us that they not only benefit from the personal mentoring from so many different perspectives, but they also find extreme value from hearing the challenges and lessons learned by their fellow circle members. The circles, which can be virtual or in-person, are commonly comprised of 4-8 individuals per circle. The mentoring circle experience is approximately 90 minutes per meeting and is spread out over a minimum of 3-6 weeks.

A MENTORING CIRCLE AGENDA INCLUDES:

 PRE-SESSION: A brief 1-on-1 “meet and greet” with action learning coach

 ORIENTATION & CIRCLE MEET & GREET: There will be a brief orientation with all circle members to allow everyone to introduce themselves, to train everyone on the circle process, and to explain the brief pre-work required before the first session.

 MENTORING CIRCLE SESSIONS: Circles then will experience weekly or bi-monthly sessions

 Group Q&A SESSION (if more than 1 mentoring circle is established in an organization):  Question and answer session with the members of ALL the different S.W.A.T. Mentoring Circles who are participating in the program to talk about the experience, best practices, and lessons learned

ADDITIONAL BONUSES:
 S.W.A.T. Mentoring Circle Guidebook & Resource Guide

 Email support between sessions