All together now: group coaching or one-to-one?

Seriously, every picture on the internet of people at work looks like this. Even the ones I’d have to pay for! There’s not always quite so many smug white guys though. Anyway, read on

 This week I've been developing a tailored program of public speaking and personal impact coaching for the sales team of a big corporate client.

It's got me thinking about the different upsides and downsides to group coaching, and how they compare to one-to-one coaching, which is mostly what I do.

When to go one-to-one

If you're reading this, you're probably an experienced professional who knows what you're talking about and feels confident in yourself. But that doesn't come across when you speak. Or you don't feel it when you speak.

Or, even after years and years of speaking and working in English, people still struggle with your accent.

They tend to ask you about your accent, when you'd much rather talk about something else.

For these types of people, it feels like an issue that's unique to you and where you're at in your life and career. It's a personal thing.

So you seek out one-to-one coaching.

Or you're in a third category - you know people who fit the above description, and in the kindest possible way, you're going to recommend they contact me to talk about getting some coaching, right?

Sometimes companies and organisations do this… someone from Learning & Development, or talent management, gets in touch with me to find specialist help for an individual. 

If this is you, then maybe you've identified multiple staff members with similar needs?

So you're looking for some form of group coaching.

How's that going to work?

Because you could just send all your people to me, one at a time (this same corporate client used to do this).

One-to-One Coaching: Tailored, Intense, and Focused

One-to-one is a highly personal experience where the focus is entirely on you and your goals: perfect if you want to work intensively on your specific issues, whether it's stage presence or accent reduction. 

Accent reduction, or accent modification if you prefer, takes long-term, consistent effort, and building new speech habits is easier when you have the personal attention that's available to you in one-to-one sessions.

I work on your specific needs and I can adapt the program as you progress. Whether you need help with intonation, vowel sounds, or channelling your energy, I flex to suit you.

The pace is flexible too. We can schedule sessions whenever suits both our diaries, and you can progress at a speed that matches your learning style.

And one-to-one is personal in the sense that many people feel self-conscious about ironing out their little wrinkles  in front of others, especially when working on sensitive issues like accent. Seeing me on your own gives a safe space in which to practise.

 What are the downsides?

Downsides? Well, I wouldn't call it a downside of course (if I was any good at marketing, which I'm not): personalised coaching is more expensive than group options. As a single client, you’re paying for the my full attention and expertise. (Maybe this is why most companies don't favour this model? They're too stingy haha)

Another possible downside of privacy is that learning in isolation means you miss out on hearing others’ struggles or seeing how different people handle similar challenges. This kind of sharing can be really helpful in some learning contexts.

Which brings us to small-group coaching.

Small-Group Coaching: Collaboration and Shared Learning

Companies like mall-group coaching. Not just because it's cheaper. (Mainly because it's cheaper).

It’s more 'cost-effective', shall we say, than individual sessions… and encourages learning through observation and feedback in a group setting.

In the organisation I'm currently developing a program for, collaboration and peer-to-peer feedback is highly prized and strongly encouraged. So I'm designing a format where the participants learn practical speaking techniques that they can then go on to coach each other in. We'll spend a lot of time with them in breakout groups, observing and supporting each other.

After all, it is called 'public' speaking, not 'private' speaking, so if it feels right and the group is a supportive and safe environment, it's good to try things out in front of an audience.

Sure, each participant won't get as much personal attention from me as they would one-to-one.

And there's usually a mix of levels of skill and confidence in any group, so what's new and difficult for some feels a bit 'been-there-done-that' for others.

So something's lost, and something's gained, as Joni Mitchell sang. (She was singing about Life, rather than group public speaking coaching, if you can believe that, but still… any excuse to work Joni in)

Which Option is Right for Your Business?

If the need is very specific—such as working on an executive's accent, or overcoming the new CEO's deep-seated fear of public speaking—one-to-one coaching might be the better option. I can create a tailored course and focus on your particular goals.

(I've rarely done accent reduction for groups, as it only really works if you're all native speakers of the same language. If your budget won't stretch to one-to-one classes with me, there are classes you can take with companies like Pronunciation Studio London. )

However, if you have a team looking to improve its general communication skills or public speaking in a supportive, collaborative environment, small-group coaching could give the right balance of attention, feedback and practice opportunities, at a lower price per head.

For businesses, often a hybrid approach works best. I might see individuals one by one to get a sense of their needs and skill level, then we all come together for the group coaching and learning, then I follow up individually again.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to the intended goal, the situation, the level of attention you think works best, and of course, budget.

But whether you opt for individual or group coaching, success lies in the guidance and inspiration of a knowledgeable coach.

Fortunately he comes as standard :)

As ever, you know how to contact me if you want to discuss options. Thanks for reading.