Group coaching programs are popular for a reason: they work! They’re perfect if you want to take your coaching business to the next level and boost your income, but there can be challenges when creating one from scratch so we’ve created this easy-to-follow guide for you to successfully create your very own group coaching program. 

We cover everything you need to know about group coaching, including:

• What exactly is group coaching?
• What are the main differences between one-on-one coaching and group coaching?
• What are the benefits of group coaching for your clients?
• How to choose a suitable group coaching model?
• Some of the important factors to consider before launching a group program

And finally our step-by-step guide on the eleven best ways to create an exceptional group coaching program that will be easy for you to run AND a great experience for your clients.

What exactly is group coaching? 

Group coaching is a facilitated process where a group of people comes together to learn and grow in their personal and/or professional lives. The group coach creates an environment that allows for deep exploration, learning, and accountability with the support of the group. Group coaching can be done face-to-face, online, or even over the phone.

What are the main differences between one-on-one coaching and group coaching?

There are two main differences: 

1.     Group coaching provides a sense of camaraderie and community, something that is often difficult to do in one-on-one coaching. Group members can share their experiences with each other and learn from each other’s successes as well as failures.

2.     Secondly, group coaching is often more affordable than one-on-one coaching. This gives price conscious clients access to your coaching services and allows you to serve individuals in a way that also makes good business sense (rather than lowering your prices to help those that can’t afford you).

What are the benefits of group coaching for your clients?

The answer is simple: group coaching scales. 

With group coaching, you can work with more people in less time which means you can increase your income without increasing the number of hours you work each week.

In fact, group coaching can reduce your hours spent working each week while increasing income. In short , group coaching is a great way to help more people while making more revenue for your business.

How to choose a suitable group coaching model?

There are three main group coaching models: community-based group coaching, program-based group coaching, and virtual group coaching. Each model has its own benefits to offer so you’ll need to choose the right one for your business and clients needs. 

# 1: Community Based Group Coaching

Community group coaching programs are perfect for coaches who want to create a sense of family and community. They’re ideal if you coach in an area where there aren’t many group coaching options or if your clients already feel like they know each other well. 

The main purpose of this group is to build relationships with the group members and create a group of supporters around your work.

The group is typically small (between five and ten people) which allows you to get to know everyone well throughout the program. The group coach facilitates regular meetings for members, allowing them ample time to connect with each other both online and offline. 

Community-based group coaching programs are great because:

• They create a sense of community and support. 
• The group is typically small, making it easy to get to know everyone well. 
• It can be an easy way to create super-fans for your coaching services

You should consider a community-based group coaching program if:

• You coach in an area where group coaching options are limited. 
• Your coaching business is geographically specific or locally focused
• Your prefer face to face coaching rather than online or virtual

The main downside of community-based group coaching is that, particularly if offered face to face, it will be impacted by COVID restrictions and can be difficult to find a specific date and time when everyone is available to meet.

# 2: Program-Based Group Coaching

Program-based group coaching is perfect for coaches who want to offer their clients a more structured group coaching experience. This type of group coaching program typically has a specific start and end date, with sessions taking place on a weekly or monthly basis. 

The coach creates a curriculum that covers the topics they want to explore during the program. This allows group members to know what to expect and makes it easier for them to commit to the program. 

Program-based group coaching is great because:

• It offers a more structured group coaching experience. 
• The group coach creates the curriculum, ensuring that all topics are covered. 
• They are time-bound typically taking place on a weekly or monthly basis.

You should consider a program-based group coaching program if:

• You want to offer your clients a more structured group coaching experience. 
• You want your group programs to have a finite duration 
• You want to elevate your coaching offering with a community experience

The main downside of program-based group coaching is that it can be restrictive for coaches and clients who want more flexibility.

#3: Virtual Group Coaching

Virtual group coaching is perfect for coaches who want to offer their clients a group coaching experience, but don’t have the time or resources to physically meet with them. This type of group coaching program typically takes place over video conferencing software such as a Facebook Group or Zoom. 

The coach creates a curriculum that covers the topics they want to explore during the group coaching program. This allows group members to know what to expect and makes it easier for them to commit to the program. 

Virtual group coaching is great because:

• It provides a group coaching experience without having to meet physically with your clients. 
• You can reach a global audience giving your business more reach and scale
• Coaching meetings and calls can be recorded making it easy for clients tuning in across different time zones

You should consider a virtual group coaching program if:

• You want to reach an international audience 
• You want the flexibility and reach that being virtual offers
• You want a model that allows your business to easily scale

The main downside of virtual group coaching is a lack of face-to-face connection can make it difficult for some group members although in our experience strong connections can be made via virtual channels.  That said, some clients will have a preference for face-to-face so it is important you understand your coaching niches preferences and requirements.

Some of the most important factors to consider before launching a group program 

Before launching a group coaching program, there are several things you need to take into account. 

1.     First and foremost, make sure that group coaching is the right fit for your business and your clients. Group coaching isn’t for everyone and it’s important to be clear about what you offer and who you work with. 

2.     Secondly, make sure that your group coaching program is well-organized and easy to follow. The last thing you want is for people to feel lost or confused in your group coaching program. 

3.     Finally, create a sense of community among your group members. This can be done through social media, a private Facebook group, or even in-person meetings. The more connected group members feel to each other, the more successful your group coaching program will be.

11 best ways to Create an Exceptional Group Coaching Program 

Now that you know all about group coaching programs and the importance of creating a great one here are eleven ways you can easily create an exceptional coaching program

# 1: Give group members a reason to participate

It’s important for group coaching participants to feel like they are part of something bigger. They need to know why group coaching is relevant, how it can improve their lives and the lives of others in the group. 

Not all your clients will immediately appreciate the power of participating in a group as they may never have joined one before and might worry about things like privacy and confidentiality.  Make sure to reassure them and share the benefits.

#2: Make group coaching relevant to group members

Relevance is so important when it comes to group coaching. It’s critical that group coaching is relevant and related to the coaching services you offer and your specific target market.

For example,  if you only offer one-on-one coaching, you live in a remote area and your clients are only interested in a community based group model then it’s just not going to work, right?  Don’t set-up a group just for the sake of it – it must be relevant.

#3: Create group coaching programs that meet your clients’ specific needs

Not all group coaching programs are created equal. While one group may benefit from learning how to set better boundaries with their time, another group might need help setting more empowering goals for themselves while still others might want to learn the best ways to build healthy relationships in business and life.

The easiest thing to do here is conduct some market research or if you already have coaching clients ask them what is the one topic, challenge or goal that they would most benefit from focusing on?

#4: Offer group coaching programs that are customised to individual group members

Each group member has different needs and desires. Some might need help managing time while others want support creating their ideal business. The key is to offer group coaching around topics you already know your clients struggle with or would like guidance on themselves.  

It is possible to offer a highly individuals experience with a group coaching model as long as you don’t try to be everything for everyone.  For example, if you are a business coach you might have different themes each week in your group:

Week 1: Sales and Marketing

Week 2: Operations & Automation

Week 3: Product Development

Week 4: Customer Experience

#5: Create group coaching programs that have a strong structure

Groups are ideal for making connections with other people, learning new skills and getting support. Make sure group members get the most out of group coaching by creating clear goals, expectations and outcomes foryour program. 

For example if you have weekly group coaching calls you might want to ask members what they learned and the specific actions they are going to take between now and their next coaching call. This helps your group members stay accountable to their goals as well as give them a chance to give you feedback on the group coaching program itself.

#6: Create group coaching programs that meet group members where they are 

Group coaching is all about connection, support and accountability. It’s not designed to make group members feel bad about themselves, right? When you create your group program it’s important to take into account what group member needs might be at this moment in their lives. 

If you are running a weight loss group and your members have said their main issue relations to motivation and discipline; just providing them with healthy recipes isn’t going to cut it and in the end will make them feel like failures.  Meet your clients where they are, give them what they need and then take them on a journey.

#7: Make group coaching programs interactive

In order for group members to get the most out of group coaching, it’s important for the program to be interactive. This means that group members should be encouraged to share their own experiences, ideas and solutions with each other. 

Not only will this help group members learn from one another but it will also help them stay accountable to their goals and the group coaching program itself.

#8: Encourage group members to connect with each other outside of group coaching sessions

The best way to get the most out of group coaching is to encourage group members to stay connected with each other outside of group coaching sessions. This can be done in a variety of ways such as through social media, online forums or simply by meeting up for a coffee. 

What group members share in group coaching sessions should be kept confidential but there is no reason group members can’t stay connected with each other once the group program has ended. This helps group members have a support network when they need it most and keeps them accountable for their goals moving forward! 

#9: Have a clear and personalized payment structure in place

When you create a group coaching program it’s important to have a clear payment structure in place. This means that group members know exactly what they are paying for and when they are expected to pay. Also try to keep it personalized – some members will want more from you than others.  You can offered tiered pricing where the more a member pays the more value they get and the more access to you they have.

It’s also important to have a refund policy in place just in case group members need to cancel or postpone their participation.

#10: Create group coaching sessions that are easy to follow and fun

One of the quickest ways to ensure group members stay committed and engaged with your group coaching program is by creating group coaching sessions that are simple, engaging and fun!  Some simple and effective examples are:

·      Group coaching sessions that focus on a specific coaching question

·      Group coaching sessions that share a specific success story

·      Group coaching sessions that have an interesting guest speaker 

·      Group coaching sessions that allow members to be vulnerable (share challenges)

·      Group coaching sessions that link to seasonality e.g. mid-year, new year etc.

#11: End group coaching sessions on a high note

The best way to ensure group members leave group coaching sessions feeling inspired and motivated is by ending each session on a high note. This can be done through activities such as goal setting or simply sharing what everyone has accomplished since the last group coaching session.  We like to end our group coaching sessions with everyone sharing their key lessons from that session or one word that describes how they are feeling about the session and/or their goals.

In Conclusion

A group coaching program can be a great way for members to achieve their group goals and connect with other group members who are going through the same process. It is a powerful and easy way, for you as a coach, to reach more clients, increase your revenue and scale your business. 

If you would like to know more about how we launched our very first group coaching program with more insights into what makes an award-winning group coaching program you can access our free online course right here:  

How I launched my First Online Course with NO Budget, Customers or Online Marketing Experience AND created a 4 figure income in exactly 20 Days.