Unlike in the individual coaching, several persons are coached at the same time in the group coaching. Names such as B. Team coaching or project coaching have developed from that and, as indicated by the name already, specifically refer to teams or projects.
Features of the group coaching
If the coaching is carried out by just one single coach, the number of participants in the group coaching should not exceed 15. In case of larger groups, it is recommended to subdivide them or to work with several coaches. Otherwise, the performance expectation towards the coach could be too high and the expected coaching results could fail.
Due to the group constellation, it is not possible here to integrate and work out personal subjects to the same extent as in the individual coaching due to the existence of inhibition thresholds. For the same reason, the possibilities of the coach to intervene are more restricted here, since the relationship established during the consultation cannot be as intense as in the individual coaching.
However, the group coaching can be very useful for the interests of the personnel development, provided the atmosphere during the coaching allows all participants to bring in their experiences and knowledge into the group. This interchange of know-how can have a positive effect to the common elaboration of problem solutions.
The group coaching reduces the danger of unilateral approaches, since it is always based on the perception of several persons.
Basic objections of the group coaching
Considering the working method of the group coaching, you will hardly recognize any clear differences to the forms of the group consultation like for example group training, team-development workshops, seminar, team supervision or others.
If not only the team development is the focus of attention in the group coaching , but moreover further learning aspects are requested to be elaborated within the group working, it must be questioned whether this intense process really requires a learning in the group.
Topics such as cooperation and/or problems on executive level related to the participants of the group coaching should be conceivable. However, it should be considered that there exist already proven possibilities for the consultation of these fields of work.
One of the most important features of the coaching are the intense cooperation and relationship between the consultant and the person to be consulted whose characteristic is a high measure of neutrality and a very personal relation. In a group constellation, the individual participants are connected with each other. The request of every participant of the group coaching is that his concern is heard and understood and to experience consultation. Here the danger exists that an individual coaching within a group is carried out. The group would cause a loss of discretion which in turn would involve a loss of the willingness forfrankness. Thus, basic prerequisites for a coaching would no longer be available.
It should be considered as well that usually it is dealt with personal centers of gravity. The constellation of the group coaching would so involve a great number of different fields of interests. In this case attention would have to be paid exactly to the participants of the group coaching not mutually hindering themselves in the consultation and consequently blocking a learning success of the group. Besides, it is necessary to note that the purpose of the group is to deal with problems which seem insoluble to the individual. Therefore, it is assumed that the participants of a group coaching do not feel self-confident in the consulting situation.