Recently, while teaching a coaching class, my students asked an intriguing question: “If you were starting over as a new coach today, what would you do differently?” This got me thinking about the choices I made when I first began my coaching career and what I might change if I had a redo.
When I started coaching, I exclusively did one-on-one sessions. I had anywhere from thirty-eight to forty-two individual clients a month, meeting with most of them two to three times monthly. I coached from Monday to Thursday, and I really felt like a coaching machine. It was a lot of names, a lot of people, and a lot of listening. I was exhausted.
I did this for years, and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with this approach, I now see the benefits of a more varied coaching portfolio. If I were to start over, I’d include more group and team coaching alongside individual sessions. This mix would offer several advantages:
1. Variety
Group and team coaching breaks up the monotony of back-to-back individual sessions. It provides a change of pace and helps manage my energy levels better. Plus, when you’re working in your home office all day, it’s nice to get out occasionally, especially for in-person team coaching sessions.
2. Financial
Group coaching can actually be more lucrative per hour than individual coaching. While I charge less per person for group sessions, I can accommodate eight to fifteen people in one group. When you add that up, it often amounts to more than coaching one person at my full rate. This approach allows for the potential to work fewer hours while earning more.
3. New clients
After coaching a team, it’s common to be hired to coach a couple of individuals within that team. It’s an effective marketing approach that can expand your client base organically.
4. Client benefits
Group coaching isn’t just beneficial for coaches; it offers unique advantages to clients as well. In our increasingly isolated world, group coaching provides an opportunity for participants to develop friendships and meet people they might not otherwise encounter. With virtual platforms like Zoom, you can create global groups, exposing clients to different cultures and perspectives. Participants learn not just from the coach, but from each other as well.
Practical Considerations
When venturing into group coaching, there are some additional steps to consider. You’ll need to create a welcome packet, group agreements, and guidelines for interaction. The International Coach Federation (ICF) now offers training and templates for team and group coaching, which can be incredibly helpful.
I typically structure group coaching programs to last from twelve to eighteen months, meeting once a month. I also offer each group member two or three individual sessions within this timeframe, allowing participants to dive deeper into specific issues that arise during group sessions.
Looking back, I realize that incorporating group and team coaching earlier would have provided a more balanced and sustainable approach to my coaching practice. It would have allowed me to serve more clients, manage my energy better, and increase my earnings.
If you’re just starting your coaching journey or considering a change, I encourage you to explore the possibilities of group and team coaching. The benefits—for both you and your clients—can be truly transformative.
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