Embrace Spontaneity in Your Group Coaching Program

I entered my group coaching session, armed with a carefully crafted agenda, ready to guide the group towards specific goals and outcomes. This served me well in my teaching career, why would it not translate to my group coaching program?

I started with sharing a clear research framework, focused on the topic I had chosen (motivation) and followed with curated questions. They were met with silence. My chest tightened, my hands started rubbing against each other… No one responded. The silence became louder, and louder. And louder.

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“What does this topic of motivation inspire for you?”

A brave soul responded: “Actually… nothing. I feel that I have motivation, and knowing the science behind it doesn’t help me. What I need to understand is more about whether my those things that motivate me today are driving me towards my longer terms goals.”

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Nods from other participants.

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Sometimes, the best approach is to just ditch the agenda and embrace the power of spontaneity! I asked the group to share more about what resonated with them, and to think of a situation they were currently facing where their motivation might not be aligned with their longer term goals. Now we were getting somewhere!

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Just as in 1:1 coaching, allowing the group conversation to flow organically and checking in with the group as to what they need will lead to remarkable insights, deep connections, and transformative experiences for all involved. In this article, we will explore the benefits of letting go of the agenda and offer practical tips for group coaches to create an open, dynamic coaching space.

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Creating an Environment of Trust

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We always start our group coaching certification program with creating norms because for the group to open up and take the conversation in unexpected directions, it is crucial to establish a safe and trusting environment. By creating an atmosphere of non-judgment, respect, and confidentiality and assuring participants that their thoughts and feelings are valued, regardless of whether they align with the original agenda, we are letting them know that the space is theirs. They can bring whatever they want to it and they can make it whatever they want it to be.

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My response to the share that the topic of motivation as it was did not resonate with the group was proof that challenge was not only accepted, it was also welcome. I thanked the participant for their contribution and applauded them for bringing us to a place that deeply resonated for everyone.

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Active Listening and Intuition

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When you ditch the agenda, active listening becomes paramount. We’ve talked about creating a peer coaching habit in your group coaching program and in each of our group coaching training, we reinforce this idea. Ask the group to pay close attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues and to get curious with each other. As a group coach, read the energy in the room. Some silences are moments of reflections, others are a lack of engagement. Respond accordingly! Group coaching is an art of intuition—be attuned to the collective needs, desires, and interests of the participants and dance with them in the moment. Allow the conversation to unfold naturally, and be prepared to follow unexpected tangents that may lead to profound breakthroughs and insights.

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Flexibility and agility

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When we teach how to create a group coaching program, we always have our trainees reflect on the delicate balance between structure and flexibility: Adapt to the emerging needs and desires of the group and weave the thread of connection by using the members’ metaphors and language. Encourage them to ask open-ended questions that lead to exploration and reflection. By relinquishing control and surrendering to the group's momentum, you create opportunities for self-discovery, collaboration, and collective wisdom.

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Embracing the Unknown

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Ditching the agenda requires embracing the unknown and surrendering to the group’s emerging needs. It means relinquishing the need to control outcomes and trusting in the inherent intelligence and creativity that arises from the collective. It also means trusting the group coaching process. By giving up our carefully curated list of resources or questions, we open ourselves to new possibilities, ideas, and forward momentum that may not have emerged otherwise. As a group coach, your role is to use the needs of the group as a map for how to provide what we like to call a flexible structure: let the group lead and trust yourself to intervene, or redirect the conversation when needed.

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Remember

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As you think about how to run a group coaching program, remember that often, the most transformative moments occur when you let go of the agenda and dance in the moment. By creating a safe and trusting environment, reminding your group members to adopt a coaching mindset, and embracing the unknown, you can unlock the full potential of the group. So, as group coaches, let us invite spontaneity, curiosity, and flexibility into our coaching sessions and allow the group to shape their own journey!