What is the difference between one-on-one and group coaching in reality? Is one more efficient than another? Which one will benefit the client, and which one will benefit the coach?
In this article, we will review everything related to coaching and popular styles and, of course, will cover the main differences between one-on-one and group coaching.
So, if you are ready, let’s start!
The following article covers:
Why is it important to choose a coaching style?
All about one-on-one or individual coaching
What is coaching?
First things first, let’s understand what coaching itself is. Basically, coaching is a process throughout which the coach helps & guides the coachee to improve performance in various areas of life and reach full potential. There are various types of coaching such as life, executive, career, dating, etc.
Why is it important to choose a coaching style?
As far as we are clear on the definitions, let’s understand what coaching styles are and why is it vital to choose one. The coaching style is a methodology implemented throughout the training to guide the client towards achieving the desired goals/results.
It is vital to be able to implement successfully different coaching styles because every coachee is different, and what works for one may not work for another. In order to choose the right style, listen to clients, get to the root of their problems and design an individualistic approach to further resolutions. When you do so, you also will be able to identify several tactics that will work best for that specific client.
All about group coaching
Now, it is time to understand what group coaching is.
Definition
Group coaching is a coaching process that involves two or more individuals. Also, it can involve more than one coach. Nowadays, this is one of the most popular and time-efficient forms of coaching. Instead of holding 1-hour sessions with 6 to 10 different students spending approximately from 6 to 10 hours a day working, you can hold 2 group training sessions with the same amount of students, 6 to 8, and spend only 4 hours a day.
Besides it involving more than two coachees, it also automatically develops the skills on how to work with others. Group coaching contributes to improved communication, body language, listening, and speaking skills as a benefit.
If you want to understand which coaching form works best, you have to know your audience and their needs. Plus, you should consider your ability to maintain and manage people individually and in groups.
Main benefits
- More income. Technically, you charge around 30% less than for individual training, but you also manage to charge around 3-8 people at the same time, which gives you more profits.
- Shared learning experience. This is one of the most outstanding benefits of group coaching. It provides coachees with an incredible opportunity to meet new people, share knowledge, and gain more through listening.
- More scalable as a business model. Basically, you get more time to host more coaching sessions making more money. It contributes to the expansion of your business more than individual sessions ever could.
- It contributes to the improvement of problem-solving and team-working skills.
- It actively encourages relationship building
Main disadvantages
However, we are not going to look at everything with the pink glasses on. Let’s take them off, and look at the main drawbacks of group coaching.
- Fewer chances to get personal. When you work in a group setting, you have to pay equal attention to all the participants.
- Requires more advanced skills: If you want to host successful programs that bring results to your clients, you need more skills to manage groups efficiently.
- More challenging. It can be harder to manage groups and be able to show individual approaches to each of the participants. However, if you practice with time, it will become easier, and you can even forget that this was ever an issue.
All about one-on-one or individual coaching
As far as we are clear on group coaching, let’s get clear on one-on-one coaching. Basically, it is the opposite of group coaching.
Definition
Individual coaching or otherwise called one-on-one coaching is a coaching program aimed at transforming the lives of the individual. During the sessions, there is only a coach and the coachee. It shows an extremely individual-centric approach. It develops an individual program of transformation or skill development that will bring the client the desired result.
Main benefits
The main benefits of one-on-one coaching sessions are:
- It creates a trustful atmosphere from the start. It is easier to share with a professional and one person rather than in a group.
- Focus on individual needs, and easier to design a program that meets the clients’ needs and guides them towards overcoming life challenges
- When you get to know your clients better individually, it helps you to build stronger relationships for the future.
- Easier to manage. During individual sessions, clients can not stay silent while others speak because there is no one else besides you two, and it is easier to manage their progress, interstate, and participation level.
Main disadvantages
Let’s also take a look at the cons of one-on-one coaching sessions:
- More time-consuming. Instead of holding two-hour sessions with five people, you may need to hold an hour and a half sessions with each of them, so you will spend more time working and less enjoying life. In this era of automation, it is vital to improve the approach of working less while giving the same quality and simultaneously spending less time on work.
- Higher fees per person and not everyone can afford individual coaching sessions, so it potentially decreases the number of your clients.
- Upscale may take longer than in the case of group coaching, as the industry is competitive.
Group coaching and individual coaching
Now, it is time to take a look at the main differences between group coaching and individual/one-on-one coaching.
The differences
So, the main differences between individual coaching and group coaching are:
- Individual coaching focuses more on mindset change meanwhile group coaching briefly covers that aspect and does not aim at a deep transformation as an individual one
- Around 3 to 8 participants can participate in a group coaching session; meanwhile, one-on-one means that only the coach and the coachee will be participating.
- Group coaching is more systemized and saves more time compared to one-on-one coaching.
- Individual coaching sessions are easier to manage, and it is easier to track the progress of the coachee.
The similarities
What about the similarities between these two? You can see a few presented down below:
- Both are coaching, which is by itself a process that focuses on hear and now, instead of past or future
- Both are individual-centric and aim to guide the client towards reaching their goals and full potential
- Both are efficient. It just depends on the client’s individual preferences and the management skills of the coach.
How to choose?
Well, we are at the most crucial part - the choice. If we are being honest, technically, you do not have to choose and can offer both; here, there is only the question of preferences. However, many coaches who start with one-on-one sessions prefer more group coaching, as they can manage time a lot better. It also depends on your level. It may be easier to hold one-on-one coaching sessions as a beginner, but as you grow your audience, it will become increasingly complex and time-consuming.
What I would recommend doing is to offer both types of coaching. First, when you do not have so many clients to manage, you can hold individual sessions and concentrate on their progress and implementation of your skills in practice. Then when you collect testimonials and gain more awareness on the market, therefore more clients, you can also offer group coaching sessions.
Consult the coaching form with the client because some may prefer group sessions; meanwhile, for others, only one-on-one may work. Afterward, create your schedule and start the programs.
Will you start coaching now?
I guess it is time to start your coaching business now. Why? Because this is one of the fastest growing and most in-demand industries nowadays. All you need to do is choose the platform, think of USP and start marketing yourself.
By the way, one of the best platforms on which you can build a full-featured online e-learning/coaching business is Uteach. Uteach allows you to create a website in less than 2 minutes and use an incredible set of a tool such as:
- Website Builder that includes visual drag & drop editor
- Course Builder with SEO-optimization tools
- End-to-end live sessions automation & lots of useful integrations
So, by choosing Uteach as the platform for your online coaching business, you gain an incredible opportunity to save your time and simultaneously grow your business faster than ever.
Uteach, with you, all steps towards success.
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