Planning and Running Group Coaching

When you are a coach and ready to offer group coaching, start with identifying your coaching niche and your ideal clients.  The more specific you are the better.  This helps you plan and promote your group coaching – remember, you will be working with a group of people who have similar interests.  This means the focus of the coaching can be determined and you will have ideas of where to connect with people to join the group.

Next is deciding the focus of the group coaching.  The options for determining which topics will be covered during the sessions include:

• Based on your ideal clients and their interests, decide in advance on a series of topics appropriate for what they are interested in and want to work on, then the series becomes part of the offer you promote.
• When you have a group or your approach is more of a mastermind style, invite the group to decide in the moment what they want to discuss.
• Survey participants in your group on topics of interest to them and based on the results, co-create the series of group sessions.
• When you are clear on your niche and ideal client, brainstorm their common challenges and identify topics that provide value in terms of insight and ideas.

Decide which technology platform you will use for hosting group coaching sessions.

• Start by exploring options. For example, do a search online for ‘best online meeting platforms’ and then review the options.
• Decide on your criteria – consider these points:
  • Accessibility for people in different parts of the world and with different levels of experience using technology as well as possible disabilities.
  • Price for using the platform.
  • Features including the controls for web cams and microphones, chat, whiteboards, screen sharing, etc. Consider what is important for your group!
  • Confidentiality – many free platforms require you to agree that they may access everything. Be sure to have a platform where you control who can access what to best protect client confidentiality.

Consider various processes for group coaching.  For example, during the group coaching session, each of the following is an option:

• The coach asks each person in the group to respond to questions.
• The clients ask each other questions.
• The group has a brainstorming session.
• Use breakout groups for even smaller groups.
• The coach works with one client while the others in the group observe.
• The clients take on the role of the coach and the coach becomes a client with a pertinent scenario.

Often coaches are interested in offering tools and resources for their clients.  Ideally this is done with a resource page on their website, in blogs or podcasts, or on social media.  During group coaching, clients commonly share tools and resources with each other which is an additional benefit for everyone.  As they get to know each other, they often choose to collaborate with each other too.

Scheduling for group coaching means deciding the length of the group sessions – 90 minutes seems to be ideal, and the frequency of sessions – once a month if combined with individual sessions that are also once a month as a package, or twice a month.  Some coaches have groups meet weekly.  Choose the time of day and day of week – consider what is most likely convenient for your ideal clients.  The other choice with scheduling is whether you plan a predetermined number of group sessions as a series or an ongoing Master Mind style group coaching.

The next step is promoting the group coaching program.  Start by answering this question: What will the clients gain? Think about the insights, shared experience, networking and collaboration opportunities, sharing of resources, goal setting, action planning, accountability, and skill development.  Then create the offer with a focus on clearly stating what is offered and the benefits from the perspective of the client.  To get it out there, consider where they will see the information – for example groups on social media, membership groups, etc.  As you publish the offer, keep the focus on what makes it compelling for them.

Tips for running your group coaching sessions include:

• Remember that all of your coaching competencies apply throughout the group coaching so stay true to your role as coach and the coaching process.
• Once you have the topic, start by asking the group what they want from the session. Be sure each person in the group shares their desired outcome or take-away.
• Ask the clients to set the agenda for the session – specifically, ask what they want to discuss so they get what they want.
• Be sure to keep the clients in charge of what they discuss in what order and how they want to approach the conversation in terms of process.
• Listen, summarize, and ask open questions.
• Explore, probe, and follow-up.
• Hold space for everyone to participate.
• Manage the pace and the time.
• Ask what they are learning and how they will apply their insights.
• Ask for actions and invite the clients to say how they will keep themselves accountable.
• Demonstrate respect and acknowledge the clients’ skills, insights, progress, and successes.

Group coaching is taught and done in the coach training programs at the Center for Coaching Certification.  As a result, for people in the program it becomes a valuable part of their coaching business.