Group Coaching: The Ultimate Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Successful Group Coaching: Tips, Strategies, and Best Practices
I'm a coach with years of experience, and let me tell you, I've tried all sorts of coaching methods. After all that experimenting, I can say that if you get it right, it can greatly boost your income and client outcomes.
In this article, you'll learn all about group coaching—what it is, why it's awesome, and how you can make it work for you and your clients just like it did for me.
We'll look at different ways to run your sessions and share easy tips to make them more fun and effective.
Whether you're just starting out or want to get better, this guide will help you get the most out of group coaching.
In Brief: Key Takeaways about Group Coaching
- 👥 What is Group Coaching: A coach works with a small group sharing common goals, fostering mutual support and accountability.
- 🎉 Benefits of Group Coaching: Coaches save time, help more clients, and build communities. Clients gain peer support, new ideas, and networking opportunities.
- ⚠️ Challenges of Group Coaching: Managing dynamics, varying commitment levels, keeping focus, ensuring confidentiality, balancing feedback, time management, and assessing progress.
- 🔧 Crafting Your Group Coaching Program: Choose a model (Membership, Cohort, Course-Based), structure sessions (topics, duration, frequency), and plan for effective execution.
- ✅ Tips for Successful Group Coaching: Regular Q&A, private communities, fostering accountability, having an assistant, using breakout rooms, and capping participants enhance the coaching experience.
The Basics of Group Coaching
Group coaching is a form of coaching where a coach works with a small group of clients who have similar goals. This creates a friendly and interactive space where everyone benefits from the coach's knowledge and each other's experiences.
Key characteristics of group coaching:
How Group Coaching is Different from One-on-One Coaching
Both forms of coaching are about helping people grow, but they have their own unique flavors. Let’s break it down:
| Aspect | Group Coaching | One-on-One Coaching |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction | Involves multiple participants interacting with each other | Interaction is solely between the coach and one client |
| Focus | General focus on common goals and shared experiences | Specific focus on the individual client's personal goals and needs |
| Support System | Participants can support and learn from each other | The coach is the only one who offers support. |
| Privacy | Lower level of privacy due to the group setting | High level of privacy as sessions are one-on-one |
In short, group coaching offers a collaborative learning environment with peer support, while one-on-one coaching provides individualized, focused guidance tailored to each client.
Let’s say you’re coaching a group of entrepreneurs. In group coaching, each member shares their business challenges and successes, creating a rich tapestry of experiences and insights that everyone can learn from.
On the flip side, in one-on-one coaching, you dive deep into a single entrepreneur’s business. You focus exclusively on their specific challenges and goals, providing highly personalized guidance.
How Group Coaching is Different from Team Coaching
Group coaching and team coaching share similarities but serve different purposes:
| Aspect | Group Coaching | One-on-One Coaching |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Clients with common goals but not part of a formal team | Members of an existing team with shared objectives |
| Goals | Personal or professional development | Focus on building stronger working relationships and aligning team efforts. |
| Structure | Loosely connected clients | Structured team with defined roles |
| Ideal Clients | People with mutual issues or interests. | People within an organization, such as a workplace or a family unit. |
For example, group coaching might involve a group of people wanting to improve their public speaking skills, whereas team coaching would involve a department within a company aiming to improve collaboration and productivity.
Common Formats of Group Coaching
Each format has its perks, so choose what fits your style and your clients' needs best. For me, I found online coaching to be more accessible so that I can reach my audience around the world
For me, online coaching is a game-changer. It’s super accessible and lets me reach clients from all over the world.
I can connect with a global audience and offer flexible sessions that fit everyone's schedule. Plus, it’s convenient for both me and my clients, making the whole coaching experience smoother and more efficient.
Typical Group Sizes and Session Lengths
The size of your group and the length of your sessions can greatly impact the dynamics and outcomes.
Let’s look at how they stack up:
Group Sizes
| Group Size | Advantages | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Small (3-6 members) | Allows for detailed discussions and more individual attention. | Intensive coaching, personal goal setting |
| Medium (7-15 members) | Balances interaction and diverse ideas. | Skill-building, general group discussions |
| Large (15+ members) | Offers many ideas but less personal interaction. | Workshops, seminars, and broader topic coverage |
Session Length
| Session Length | Description |
|---|---|
| Short (30-60 minutes) | Quick check-ins, focused topics, and regular updates |
| Medium (60-90 minutes) | In-depth discussions, exercises, and interactive activities |
| Long (90-120 minutes) | Workshops, comprehensive training, and deep dives into complex topics |
My preferred setup: In my Mastermind course, I use a combination of long simultaneous sessions for workshops where I guide coaches on how to create their coaching business online. These are followed by a set of small check-ins to ensure they are on track with their homework and addressing their needs.
Benefits of Group Coaching
A study in "Groupwork"[1] looked into group-based life coaching and found that participants in these structured group coaching sessions reported a big boost in happiness and life satisfaction.
Why? Because these sessions create a supportive, goal-oriented environment where everyone lifts each other up.
But the benefits of group coaching don't stop there!
For Coaches
For Your Clients
Challenges of Group Coaching
Crafting your Group Coaching Program
Creating a successful group coaching program involves planning and structuring it effectively.
Here’s a simple guide to help you understand the different aspects and popular models of group coaching programs.
Group Coaching Models
There are several models you can choose from to deliver your group coaching program.
Let’s explore the most popular ones.
1. Membership Model - My Recommendation
The membership model is like the gift that keeps on giving. Participants pay a recurring fee to access the coaching program, and it’s fantastic for both continuous learning and providing a steady income stream.
How it works:
I use this model in my program because it’s just that good.
In my program, Launch Accelerator, you get access to resources to build a six-figure coaching business at your own pace. There's a monthly fee that covers group coaching sessions, Q&A sessions, and workshops. Plus, you get access to communities where you can connect with other coaches.
I explain more about why the membership model is the way to go in the video below. Trust me, it’s worth a watch.
2. Cohort Model
This model requires participants to act as a team. In the cohort model, a group of participants starts and finishes the program together.
It's excellent for building a sense of community and shared progress.
How it works:
Group Coaching