I’m constantly being asked about the difference between a group coaching program and private coaching. In many cases, my students are building out their sales funnel with different offerings, and don’t yet understand what separates one product for another.
After running a group coaching program for several months, I can now readily explain the main differences between a group coaching program and private coaching. Here are four ways they differ.
A group coaching program is more scalable.
One of the main differences between a group coaching program and private coaching is that the former is scalable. Private coaching requires more personalized attention and more of your time. Being that it’s a one-to-one model, it takes a lot out of you.
A group program is a one-to-many model. This means you can help more people by using less of your time. For example, the lessons for my group coaching program are all on video. The only real time I spend is a few hours once a quarter answering questions during office hours calls. I’ll also answer questions in the Facebook group during the week.
On the other hand, private coaching looks like more customization and email coaching. I’m also on the phone with them a few hours per month instead of per quarter.
Private coaching covers more mindset.
One of the main differences I’ve noticed between a group coaching program and private coaching is that the latter covers mindset more.
For example, while my group program touches upon mindset, it’s not the main focus. The main focus is more practical and tactical. In a private setting, there’s more room to explore emotional blocks and thought patterns. You can also more easily see how clients sabotage themselves and address it.
Group coaching is more systematized.
I like to see group coaching programs as a systematized version of what we do during private coaching. For example, what used to take me three months to teach someone privately, is condensed to six weeks of video content for my group program.
Because it tends to focus on the practical aspects of things, it’s easy to systematize. In other words, it’s easy to split up into smaller steps.
Group coaching can prepare someone for private coaching.
Unless it’s a specific circumstance, I now make most people go through my group coaching program before I even consider them for private coaching.
Here are a few reasons why I do that:
- The group program puts them in a position to start making money.
- The group program gives them a foundation for their business and their mindset.
- Private coaching is about expanding what they’ve already done in the group program.
- I can observe their behavior in the group program. If they are going for it, then I know they’ll make a good private client.
The only times I don’t really do this are when someone needs more tech help. Sometimes the mere thought of doing something in six weeks isn’t going to work for them.
Final Thoughts
There are many differences between a group coaching program and private coaching. In my opinion, adding group coaching as an offering has made my life as a business owner much easier. It allows me to scale and observe individuals before I offer private coaching.
