What is Group Coaching Anyway?
In case you missed it, last week’s blog covered:
- What is Coaching?
- Key Features of 1:1 Coaching
- Who Benefits Most from 1:1 Coaching?
- The differences between coaching and therapy
This week, we’re focusing on group coaching, a concept that often feels unclear to most people. If you’ve seen us post about our group coaching programs and you’re not quite sure what that means, let’s clarify!
What Exactly Is Group Coaching?
Group coaching is a structured process that brings together a small group of leaders—usually six to ten people—working toward a shared goal. In our case, that goal is leadership development that unleashes collective impact. With a coach facilitating the sessions, participants engage in conversations, share challenges, and learn from each other’s experiences. The magic of group coaching lies in the collective wisdom of the group, which accelerates personal growth and builds stronger leadership skills.
Why Group Coaching is a Game-Changer
- Learning Together, Growing Together – In group coaching, learning happens collaboratively. Participants from different departments or functions come together, share their insights, and solve problems collectively. This cross-functional collaboration helps break down silos, sparks innovation, and improves communication within teams. For example, leaders navigating a merger or a rapid-growth phase benefit from peer learning as they align on goals and tackle challenges together.
- Sharpening Those Leadership Skills – Group coaching offers a unique space for developing essential leadership soft skills, such as communication, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. These are the skills that leaders need to motivate and engage their teams, and group coaching provides real-time practice in these areas. Participants don’t just listen—they actively apply what they learn through peer feedback and discussion.
- Accountability with a Side of Support – One of the key advantages of group coaching is the built-in accountability. Leaders in the group hold each other accountable for their progress, pushing each other to stay focused on their goals. This creates a supportive network where participants can share their struggles, celebrate their wins, and grow together.
- Engagement, Engagement, Engagement – By providing leaders with the tools they need to improve, group coaching fosters deeper engagement. Engaged leaders are more likely to stay with their organizations, and their enthusiasm often spreads to their teams, improving overall workplace morale and retention.
Why Does Group Coaching Work So Well?
Group coaching is more than just talking about leadership. The science behind why it works so well is grounded in how humans learn best:
- Talking It Through: Speaking out loud helps solidify learning. In group coaching, participants talk through their insights and experiences, which strengthens memory and retention.
- Reflection Time: Group coaching encourages participants to reflect on what they’ve learned and how it applies to their own leadership challenges. This reflection ties the learning to real-world situations, making it more impactful.
- Those A-ha Moments: These breakthrough moments happen when participants connect the dots through group discussions. These are often turning points that lead to lasting behavior changes.
- Story Time: Leaders learn by sharing their own stories and hearing others’ experiences. This creates deep learning moments and helps leaders see how different perspectives can lead to new solutions.
- Trust is Everything: A key element of group coaching is the trust built within the group. When participants feel safe to share openly, they are more likely to engage fully and make lasting changes in their behavior.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
To get the most out of group coaching, there are a few important things to consider:
- Get Clear on the Goal What do you want to achieve with group coaching? Whether you’re looking to develop high-potential leaders, foster a coaching culture, or improve collaboration, it’s important to have a clear objective. This will help you select the right participants and keep the sessions aligned with your organization’s goals.
- Pick the Right People Not everyone is a fit for group coaching. It’s important to choose participants who are open to learning, willing to engage, and ready to grow. A mix of people from different departments or functions can bring fresh perspectives to the discussions, but they need to be fully committed to the process.
- Make Sure Leadership is On Board For group coaching to truly make an impact, it needs backing from senior leadership. When executives support the program, it reinforces its importance and ensures that participants have the time and resources to fully engage.
- Find the Sweet Spot for Group Size and Frequency Smaller groups (six to eight people) tend to work best, allowing for deeper conversations and more personalized feedback. Sessions should be spaced out enough—typically every six weeks—so participants have time to apply their learning in the real world without losing momentum.
Group coaching is a powerful tool for leadership development, offering a space for collaboration, learning, and growth. By tapping into the collective wisdom of peers, it helps leaders build essential skills, stay accountable, and engage more fully with their roles. If you’re looking to develop stronger, more collaborative leaders, group coaching might just be what you need.
Interested in learning more? Reach out to us—we’d love to help you get started!
