3 colossal group coaching mistakes and how to avoid them

I really should call this post, "Group coaching mistakes I've made and what I learned from them."

Let me tell you! What you don't know about group coaching can hurt you — especially if you don't know how to steer clear of the mistakes and pitfalls. You can avoid these mistakes in the future and here's how:

Colossal Mistake #1: Coach is stuck on delivering a presentation to the group.  Yawn!  People yawn, multi-task and barely remember a thing you've said. Remember the Chinese proverb that says, "I see, I remember. I hear, I forget. I do, I understand?"  That's why interaction is so very important.

You must be extraordinarily intentional in the interaction opportunities you design with your content.  I say this all the time and coaches don't get it!  Your content and the way you deliver it are two different things.  It's like telling a joke and messing up the punchline if you don't deliver your content well.  Stop presenting and start engaging!

Colossal Mistake #2: Coach ignores the natural flow of energy in the group. Each group of learners has a unique energy to it. Pay attention so you can feel the energy. Wait for the silence. Acknowledge the silence. Encourage learners to openly share. Acknowledge their sharing. Connect their sharing to the content. Help your learners apply their new knowledge.

Akin to mistake #1, the fix for this mistake requires you to take your interaction deeper.  A couple of years ago, I was considering a joint venture relationship with someone. I signed up for a 5-week program she was presenting to get a feel for her style and expertise.  Each week, she read in monotone-like fashion from her notes.  Her content was amazing but her delivery was awful.  She didn't pause to entertain questions or engage the group in any way.  She didn't know how her content was being received by the group let alone what each learner was learning.  She was so stuck in her own world, she was disconnected from the group.

Breathe, listen and follow the flow of the energy in your group.  You have plenty of time and lots of opportunities to be creative to ensure your content is delivered.

Colossal Mistake #3: Coach delivers content to your group based on what you want them to learn.  It is SO not about you!  It's totally about your group learners. The definition of REAL coaching offers a world of possibilities. The International Coach Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. I love that definition!

Being in a group coaching environment offers so many more opportunities to engage in a thought-provoking and creative process. How kewl is that?!

What lessons have you learned from the group coaching mistakes experienced? I'm sure you've never committed any personally, right?!  Share your comments freely.

Wendy Y. Bailey - Master Certified Group Coach

Wendy Y. Bailey is a Master Certified Group Coach, Certified Experienced Coach and Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner. Affectionately called "WendyY" by her business associates, colleagues and friends, she's also the Creator and Founder of Group Coaching Mastery - Master Group Coaching with an NLP Twist. Sign-up for WendyY's free practice-building teleseminar for coaches.