Coaches cherish those extraordinary times when an organizational or team coaching session they are running has a profound impact in both the participants’ lives and the coach’s approach to future group engagements.
Such transformative group experiences stand out not only for being highly gratifying, but also because they provide valuable insights that can shape a coach’s practice going forward. Below, 15 Forbes Coaches Council members share memorable group coaching engagements and what made them so exceptional.
1. Leaders Addressed Interpersonal Conflicts
The most gratifying moment during a coaching intervention was when the leaders agreed to address their interpersonal conflicts in front of the leadership team. This was an outcome of the journey to create high trust and psychological safety, and a strong demonstration of their ability to resolve conflicts. – Gitanjali Saksena, LagomWorks
2. Participants Were Kinesthetically Involved
The participants’ kinesthetic involvement in all the topics, freedom to express a point of view and collaboration with other members to achieve the goal of the session created a neurological pathway during the training that got anchored into my memory. I now create programs that are 20% theory and 80% engagement, with on-the-spot explanations during the exercises. – Anil Sureen, Dr. Anil Coaching Institute
3. Storytelling Deepened Connections And Clarified Values
A North American business team, post-reorganization, invited me to conduct team-building. Members across multiple cities had varying degrees of tenure with the team. Telling stories of their life on the team increased positivity, deepened connections and led to a clear recognition of the lived values of the team. I continue to integrate storytelling in coaching for meaningful outcomes. – Sheila Goldgrab, Goldgrab Leadership Coaching
4. Deep Conversations Addressed Issues In A Safe Space
I led a “base camp” that was made up of key team members from across a large organization that is undergoing strategic changes. We focused on individual-team strengths, identified best practices and “stinky fish,” and co-created actions for excellence based on core values. Now, I ensure time for deep conversations and safe, inclusionary space to address issues. Don’t forget a playlist. – Susan Murray, Clearpath Leadership
5. Participants Became Commercially Impactful Afterward
My most gratifying engagement was a recent high-potential coaching program, after which participants reported amazing accomplishments: promotions, bringing in new clients, increased confidence and a newfound sense of global belonging. The outcomes underscored how valuable it is to help people become commercially impactful by leveraging their unique strengths. – Precious Williams Owodunni, Mountaintop Consulting
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
6. Teammates Discussed The Team’s Next, Best Version
I coached a team with high conflict. There was high trust in each other’s competency, but low trust in transparency and the assumption that others had good intentions. They shared trust’s impact on the business and morale, and individually committed to creating a new environment. Since then, I create space for teams to discuss the next, best version of the team and ask each person to share one they will do to support it. – Kathleen Shanley, Statice
7. The Team Leader Co-Designed A Powerful Retreat
I recently facilitated a gratifying team retreat. It was special because the team came ready to work, and they jumped right in. They were vulnerable with one another in exercises that were outside of their comfort zone. They learned a great deal, and they had fun! This retreat was co-designed with the team leader, and I was reminded of how powerful that partnership can be in creating a great experience. – Jill Helmer, Jill Helmer Consulting
8. Focusing On ‘Surprise And Delight’ Boosted Outcomes
Group coaching programs, or masterminds, are one of the most exciting areas of my practice. I always incorporate elements of “surprise and delight” into my masterminds. Not only do participants get far more than they expect, the elements I surprise them with (from onboarding to mastermind completion) tie into the business and life lessons I teach, fostering critical thinking and increasing follow-through. – Kristin Andree, Andree Group
9. Executives Explored Strengths And Styles Without Judging
My most memorable team coaching experience recently was with a group of 20 senior executives. Although they had been working together for some time, they were having difficulty hitting their goals. What made it special was their choice to show up with curiosity about each other and let go of judgment. Being able to explore each other’s strengths and styles has enabled them to reach new heights. – Bryan Powell, Executive Coaching Space
10. The Team Used New Skills To Deal With An Emergency
I helped a regulatory team in Alaska with an intense two-year project, and the team encountered a high-stakes emergency during the training. This emergency gave them an opportunity to use the skills that we had just learned. To their surprise, the tools and techniques worked, and they were beyond grateful. You never know what will come out of an emergency situation. We have been friends ever since. – Michelle Anne, MichelleAnne.com
11. Different Employee Groups Built New Relationships
My most memorable group coaching experience was bringing together employees from different parts of an organization that had grown through acquisitions, helping them to build new relationships. Together, they created a common sense of belonging and purpose for the new organization and the work they would do together. – Michele Cohen, Lead to Growth Coaching
12. The Group Connected Through An ‘Angel Walk’
At the end of a workshop, I ran an “Angel Walk” exercise. The group formed a guard of honor. Individuals, with their eyes closed, took turns slowly walking through the guard of honor. As they walked, each person whispered something they appreciated about that person in their ear. Nearly everyone cried after their walk. It taught me how powerful human connection and tapping into emotion is. – Angela Sedran, The Business Growth Accelerator
13. Two Executive Leaders Forgave Each Other
I recently facilitated a session between two executives who were accusing each other and had stopped communicating. During our two-hour “talking stick” conversation, they shared their emotions and thoughts, including how they felt vilified and tired, in need of space and lacking in recognition. In the process, I was in awe of two humans forgiving each other. It reminded me of the importance and the research around forgiveness and healthy teams and organizations. – Katharina Schmidt, Inspiration & Discipline
14. Deepening Connections Transformed An Executive Team
I was fortunate to support a CEO and his executive team by employing systemic team coaching. With a lot of hard work, the team evolved from a poorly performing group of functional experts to a highly cohesive, value-creating team. The transformation was made possible by a commitment to deepening relationships and effective communication. I bring that lesson with me to every new coaching engagement. – Lisa Walsh, Beacon Executive Coaching
15. A Fast, Simple Strategic Planning Model Was Developed
Working on my first strategic planning engagement after I retired from the military, I learned a great deal about the process of strategic planning. In the military, we followed the planning structure set out by the department, but as an independent coach and consultant, I was able to develop and implement a three-phase strategic planning model that is much faster, simpler and more impactful. – John Knotts, Crosscutter Enterprises
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