All You Need to Know About Group Coaching | by Kim Taylor

You may be invited to attend Group Coaching sessions as part of your apprenticeship. But what are they? Why is it part of your programme? How does it work? How should I prepare? If you’d like to know more, then read on…

What is Group Coaching?

Group coaching is small group sessions designed to enable at least one of the following:

• Reflection and deep thought to allow you to develop in a way that’s meaningful to you
• Practice and development of skills you acquire on programme
• Reinforcement of key programme content
• Building your network through peer relationships

We follow three key principles that mean apprentices can bring their whole selves into every session and leave with tangible actions. 

Why is Group Coaching part of my programme?
Research shows that groups are just as effective as one-to-one coaching¹ when it comes to reducing procrastination and attaining goals. In fact, small groups working together over time are an effective intervention when it comes to protecting mental health too². 

The benefits of group coaching extend way beyond the end of your apprenticeship. Working with peers to solve the issues you face in day-to-day work not only fosters strong relationships, it also boosts confidence in your ability to overcome challenges. 

How does it work?
The frequency of group coaching varies depending on your programme, but you’ll usually have at least one every three months. Most group coaching sessions have between 4 and 6 participants, so it’s quite different to a full-cohort delivery session. 

You’ll spend some time discussing key updates on your progress towards your development goals and objectives with your coach and fellow apprentices and you’ll be able to share what challenges you’re facing and have the space to talk these through. The aim is that you leave the session with a clear plan of action to make some progress and/or improvements. In the next session, you’ll revisit those actions to help you hold yourself accountable. 

It’s likely that in your group coaching session, your coach (and other apprentices) will ask you lots of open questions. Having the time and space to reflect on these, be challenged to consider an alternative perspective and articulate your thoughts is often an effective way for you to find your own solution, rather than be told or advised what to do by others.

How should I prepare?
You’ll get the most out of our session if you are well-prepared and fully present, so it’s good practice to give yourself a 5-10 minute break before you start the session and turn off notifications on your devices. 

It’s important that you take the time to consider what you want to get out of the session, what challenges you’re currently facing that you’d like to explore and think about what you can offer your peers. Be prepared to share a brief summary of your challenge or goal so that you can spend the time exploring solutions rather than explaining the situation. Your coach might also share some preparation activities with you in advance of the session; these will usually be a combination of practical activities related to your programme content, reflection questions, or an exploration of topics covered in the delivery sessions and can be logged as OTJ. 

Group coaching sessions are where you can really personalise your learning journey and push yourself to make real and impactful changes to your practice. You will get out of them what you put in - so what are you waiting for?! Enjoy!

¹  Comparing the Effectiveness of Individual Coaching, Self-Coaching, and Group Training: How Leadership Makes the Difference

² Mental health and employers Refreshing the case for investment

Kim Taylor is a lead coach in the People Leadership programme at Multiverse.