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Coaching is a deeply personal journey; in most instances, opting for one-on-one coaching sessions might lead to better results. However, group coaching has its advantages, so it has become one of the most popular paths for personal development.
This coaching is also unique because coaches work with multiple clients and encourage conversation and insight-sharing during group sessions.
Coaching in a group setting has several advantages that set it apart from one-on-one coaching sessions.
Group sessions are great for shared knowledge on key professional skills such as:
This approach leads to coaching outcomes that are not possible with individual coaching.
Other benefits are listed below:
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Many brilliant people often struggle to form social connections. However, sharing and learning in a group setting can help alleviate this.
By its nature, group coaching helps build and strengthen social connections. These social connections can help enhance professional development in several ways.
Social connections are crucial to building a professional network, getting referrals from others, and having access to great mentors.
A group program brings individuals with shared goals, merits, challenges, and interests together. This creates a feeling of camaraderie, and through this, social connections emerge.
Group members often continue building connections beyond the confines of a group coaching session and enjoy the benefits of these connections long after the group program ends.
It is a proven fact that groups have more wisdom than individuals. This fact is one of the main benefits of group coaching. A well-structured group program will encourage members to share their experiences and, in the process, teach others through story-telling.
In group coaching models, members can observe how others approach challenges. This tactic helps them broaden their knowledge base and inspire creative ways to tackle their own issues.
Additionally, group sessions are the perfect place to give and receive constructive feedback. Feedback generated from the group will help you view things from a different perspective and solve challenges in unique ways.
Group members often provide feedback to one another in a supportive, constructive way. This feedback can help someone see blind spots or potential areas for improvement that they might not have noticed on their own.
Conflicts can happen when working with others and group sessions are no different. Conflicts can arise during coaching sessions due to different personalities, conflicting values, and other factors.
Watching a group coach or group member diffuse these tensions will help build conflict-resolution skills. The safe and controlled environment of group coaching sessions is the perfect place to build these skills.
Furthermore, most group coaching programs will include role-play activities that simulate conflict. These group exercises and simulated conflicts allow participants to experiment with different approaches, try new techniques, and make mistakes without real-world consequences.
Self-awareness is a key trait of great leaders and professionals. Despite this, it eludes many and has resulted in the downfall of many leaders.
The group coaching model can help with this. A group program helps participants build self-awareness in several ways, including:
With the self-awareness capability improved during a group coaching program, a group coaching client can then go on to build their career through intentional choices that align with their true selves.
Understanding group dynamics is key to maximizing your personal growth. They are the subtle ways relationships and behaviors influence group functions.
Group coaching helps one understand these dynamics simply by observing how others behave during a coaching program.
Gaining first-hand experience during different group settings will give you the upper hand further along your career.
You can witness how others communicate and develop key skills such as asking insightful questions, listening without interrupting, and observing how others make decisions.
With this in mind, it is clear that the group coaching structure is perfect for aspiring leaders looking to maximize group cohesion. They can also learn how to positively influence group dynamics by promoting inclusivity, encouragement, and unity.
This is one of the most obvious benefits of group coaching. The individual costs for group coaching are lower when compared to one-on-one coaching.
Group coaching is more cost-effective since multiple clients share a coach's time. Hosting a bigger coaching class might cost more for the coach, but there are several ways to side-step this.
Many coaches have an online group coaching program with a membership model that caters to clients at different income levels.
Group coaching also allows coaches to earn more money while delivering more value to clients. Group coaching can cost as much as 75% less than one-on-one coaching sessions for the clients.
In addition to this, group coaching also allows experienced coaches with a proven program to scale their coaching business through techniques such as selling a pre-recorded course.
These group coaching programs also open the door for new coaching methods, such as online courses. This allows an experienced coach to extract more value from their experience by reaching more clients through their own business.
Clients can opt for a self-paced course and pay slowly or pay for discounted group coaching packages. They can pay a little more for ongoing support, but the overall costs of a group coaching program tend to be lower.
Accountability is one of the most challenging aspects of any coaching business. In one-on-one coaching scenarios, coaches guide clients during a session and then hold them accountable.
This is a difficult task for even the most ideal clients. Simply put, the one-on-one coaching model will struggle to hold clients accountable.
In group coaching, coaches guide the clients, but they often hold each other accountable. We can think of that as being the forcing function of the group dynamic.
This coaching model results in person-to-person goal sharing, regular group check-ins, and honest feedback from others.
Coaches can then guide the group on the basics or help the group maintain morale by celebrating wins and accomplishments.
Clients with the same recurring schedule may form professional relationships beyond the immediate coaching program.
These relationships help members support each other once the coaching ends or the online program expires.
Support could include the following:
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Group coaching, like everything in life, can have some drawbacks. Most of these drawbacks are inherent in working with large groups and sharing your experiences publicly.
Understanding these disadvantages can help you make better decisions about choosing the right coaching path or setting up your own group coaching program.
Working in an organizational setting can be great, but there is a risk that the coach will focus on others, and you will receive less individual attention.
The lack of individual attention will become especially apparent during live events, where the coach must focus on multiple clients simultaneously.
Coaching experience can help, but it is impractical for a coach to address every specific client and provide personalized feedback to them. It would take too long and significantly slow down group progress.
To avoid this, coaches work with the entire group. If you need individual attention, you might need to consult the coach privately for an additional fee.
Coaching events such as cohort courses are usually planned around a predefined schedule, which may not always be convenient for everyone.
You cannot reschedule sessions and skipping sessions could mean missing valuable insights and discussions.
If you choose to invest in a group coaching program, it is wise to fully commit and get value for your money.
Only pay for sessions you are sure to attend and consider the needs of others if you choose to skip sessions.
Conflict is inevitable when working with many people at once. In group coaching, there is a chance that group sessions can be interrupted by personality clashes or disagreements among members.
One common source is differences in personalities. When people with different personalities work together, misunderstandings can occur.
Another frequent cause of conflict is variations in work styles and approaches. Some group members may prefer a methodical and detailed process, while others lean towards a fast-paced and big-picture approach, leading to frustration when collaborating.
Additionally, competition for resources, such as time, attention, or recognition, can create tension among group members.
Communication breakdowns also contribute to group conflict, as misunderstandings or assumptions can lead to misinterpretations of intentions or directives.
Conflict resolution can take up valuable time during sessions and detract from the coaching experience, especially if the coach has to spend time addressing interpersonal issues.
Coaching is a personal exercise that requires privacy and confidentiality. This is one area where coaching in a group session can fall short.
It is not uncommon for clients to share personal information and experiences with others in a group setting. However, some individuals may feel uncomfortable being open or vulnerable in front of a group.
Most members will respect the confidential nature of coaching sessions, but there is a risk that confidential information might leak out.
With time constraints and multiple participants, it can be challenging for the coach to delve deeply into each person’s issues.
This might result in shallow collective wisdom. In this case, sessions can fail to provide a step-by-step guide to improving yourself.
Group meetings might meet session goals but still fail to provide the space needed to explore complex personal challenges thoroughly.
Individual concerns may be overlooked in large groups as well.
Peer learning through shared goals, knowledge, and experiences can lead to negative peer comparisons where members measure their progress against each other. This can create feelings of inadequacy or competition.
Peer comparison is the human tendency to compare oneself unfavorably to others. While some comparisons can provide motivation, excessive negative comparisons can lead to various psychological issues.
If you are at risk of poor self-esteem, consider the impact group coaching can have on your mental state before committing to this path.
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Picking a group coaching program is critical to aligning your professional growth with your training plan. A good program should meet most of your needs and even surprise you with benefits you didn't know you needed.
Here are some things to consider when choosing a group coaching program:
Knowing what you want will go a long way in helping you choose the right group coaching program. Your needs could include:
Once you've clarified what you want, consider your weaknesses and areas of improvement. A group coaching program that meets most or all your needs will provide the most value and, thus, be the most appropriate option.
Once you identify your needs, research potential options to narrow down your pick further. First, look into a group coach's credentials and accreditations.
The best way to verify a coach's credentials is to check with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The ICF is a global organization that sets standards for coaching and provides credentials for coaches.
Once you verify a coach's credentials, look into their areas of specialization and consider whether their program model meets your personal growth plan.
Understanding a group coaching program based on its focus and format will also help you pick the right one for you.
Every program model is different and each often focuses on various topics, such as life coaching, goal setting, health, wellness, or business.
Review the program model as well, including the schedule and how and where coaching will take place. Online programs and live events will have nuances and be right for different purposes.
Group coaching is a catch-all term that covers small and large groups, but it is important to understand group sizes and dynamics when picking the right group coaching program.
A small group (5-15 people) will have different dynamics than a large group (15 + people).
This is a key consideration because a small group can offer more personalized attention from the coach, while a larger group can offer broader learning and networking possibilities.
One of the key indicators of a great group coach is how they structure a group coaching program. A well-structured program model should have clear goals, a well-defined curriculum, and measurable outcomes.
A group coaching training program with a vague curriculum and unclear goals offers poor value for money and you should steer clear.
The best way to assess this is to ask direct questions. Ask about goal-setting methods, proof of activities, and milestones achieved. Knowing the answers to this will help you understand what to expect and how progress will be measured.
A group coaching program often has a fixed schedule with little flexibility. This is especially true for a course-based program model with many clients. The coach needs to work with the group according to the schedule and you can fall behind if you underestimate the commitment required.
For this reason, it is important to consider how much time and effort you can realistically commit. A group coaching program may require weekly sessions and extensive outside work, while another kind of program may be more flexible.
Choose a group coaching program you can commit to to get the most out of it.
The costs of group coaching can vary widely. Some coaching programs have a membership model that accommodates clients at different income levels, while others are less flexible.
A cohort-based coaching model may charge clients differently based on tailored learning paths. The price of a membership model may vary depending on interests, goals, and skill level. The more clear you are on your own interests and goals, the better able to you will be in terms of understanding offerings and cost.
Additionally, consider the program's length, the coach's credentials, and any additional resources or benefits such as workbooks, assessments, or follow-up support.
Remember that group coaching is often more affordable than one-on-one coaching, but prices can still range significantly.
Reviews and testimonials are some of the best ways to gauge the merits of a group coaching program. Many clients will publicly speak about their experiences with group coaching events such as team coaching or working with a business coach.
Use search engines to search for reviews of group coaching programs in your shortlist. Social media sites will often provide you with enough data to decide.
Additionally, many coaches will post reviews and testimonials from previous clients and in some cases, you may be able to speak with a current or previous client to get a sense of their personal experience.
Working with any executive coach is a personal process and your ultimate decision should be based on who you feel comfortable working with.
Consequently, it is critical to trust your instinct and choose a program where you feel a genuine connection to the coach and the program’s mission.
Trust your instincts and look for a program that resonates with you personally. Your enthusiasm will make a big difference in how much you get out of the experience.
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Are you ready to take the next step and achieve your goals through group coaching?
Highrise coaching can equip you with the tools you need to boost collaboration, build stronger connections, and drive real results.
And with Highrise, you don't have to choose! You'll get both group coaching and 1:1 coaching, so you'll be able to enjoy the benefits of both coaching styles in one comprehensive program.
Highrise offers a cost-effective way to develop leadership skills, enhance productivity, and empower yourself and your team to work better together.
Contact us today to learn more about how our coaching model can make a difference in your life.
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