Group Coaching

Ginger Cockerham, an ICF Master Certified Coach and Author, writes in her recent book Group Coaching, A Comprehensive Blueprint:

Group coaching is a facilitated process led by a skilled professional coach and created with the intention of maximizing the combined energy, experience and wisdom of individuals who choose to join in order to achieve organizational objectives or personal goals.

Group Coaching is an effective process for many clients. Groups are composed of professional peers with similar circumstances and challenges, or those who have similar goals and experience, and who become valuable resources to encourage and advise each other during the coaching process. The coach carefully screens potential group members, who are then invited to participate in an appropriate peer coaching group. The group setting leverages the collective experience and knowledge of individual group members, who often offer varied perspectives on common matters. Although group sizes vary, they are normally small and intimate (4-6 clients plus the coach).

As in individual coaching, agreement to preserve each individual's privacy and confidentiality within a group is a condition of group membership and allows an atmosphere of acceptance and respect where group members can experience a safe environment in which to address personal and professional concerns. The group also helps its individual members maintain accountability for the action steps chosen during the coaching sessions, increasing the probability of successful accomplishment of individual goals.