Connections in Group Coaching

A few weeks ago I wrote a post on building trust in a group and team coaching process. A critical part of

developing trust is creating opportunities for creating connection and creating shared agreements about how the group wants to operate. Shared agreements may include how communication will occur between sessions as well as more foundational group process issues such as confidentiality, starting and ending on time, "being present" and other ways the group wants to operate.

As I have written many times over the past few years, one of the most important things a coach can do when working with a team or group is create connection early on with each person. In a group coaching process this may entail pre-call 1-1s to get to know each person, answer any questions they have, and learn more specifically about what they are looking to get out of the process. Another critical area to explore is learning about their learning styles.

Incorporating new group members who may join during a second call/conversation is also an important issue to consider. Will you be allowing people to join the group once it has gotten started? If so, how will you connect them to the group?

Consider also that the one of the real benefits of any group or team coaching process is the peer learning and sharing that occurs. As team and group coaches we need to set a strong focus around process and connections early on, and once these are established, it's important to be able to fade out or move to the side to allow the group to connect and evolve. As this group ownership expands, continue to keep an eye on process issues (focus on goals, commitments, action, awareness, accountability) while encouraging group leadership and evolution.

Group connections may occur throughout your face to face work, as well as in between sessions. Whether by email, phone or through online platforms such as Journal Engine, it is important to remember that the value of the coaching process extends beyond the coaching conversation in the room or on the phone.

What ways do you want to encourage connection with, and between group members?  Many of the chapters in From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching, in particular Chapters 5, 8 and 10 along with the digital chapter on group coaching provide wonderful examples of how coaches are creating connection in their own work.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
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