Coaching is a popular way to help people achieve their goals, but there are two main types of coaching: team coaching and individual coaching. Here we will explore the pros and cons of each type.
Team Coaching
Team coaching can be defined as “a process that helps groups of people to improve their performance by working together more effectively”. The team coach helps the team to identify its strengths and weaknesses and to set and achieve goals. The coach also provides support and guidance to team members, helping them to communicate more effectively and to resolve conflicts.
Pros of team coaching:
- Helps team members to work together more effectively.
- Encourages team members to communicate more openly.
- Can help team members to resolve conflicts.
Cons of team coaching:
- Can be expensive if the team coach is not part of the organization.
- Requires team members to be open and honest with each other.
- Can be time-consuming.
Individual Coaching
Individual coaching, conversely, can be considered “a process that helps individuals to improve their performance by setting and achieving goals”. The individual coach helps the client to identify his or her strong and weak areas and then will look to grow and encourage their strengths and look at improving areas that need work. This will be done in a constructive and not openly critical way.
They can also help team leads and executive members in a company with specific tasks such as organizational change or restructuring. Advice from a change management motivational speaker, for instance, can be insightful when navigating change and allow you to thrive during times of transition and transformation.
Pros of individual coaching:
- Can be tailored to the specific needs of the client.
- Can be less expensive than team coaching.
- Does not require the client to share personal information with others.
Cons of individual coaching:
- Can be time-consuming.
- May not be as effective as team coaching in improving team performance.
Comparing the two methods
Team coaching is about sharing ideas with others, whereas individual coaching can focus on the needs of an individual looking to improve without sharing the more private details with so many others. Different types of personalities will benefit differently from combined experiences. We are looking to coach someone not to put them off, so the easier we can make it for them the better. Whatever works best is worthy of consideration.
There is a call for both types of training. Perhaps team coaching alongside individual discussions might be a preferred method for some. Although, it is good to have the combined heads of others supporting you throughout the whole journey. This is in the case of whatever you happen to be training for.
Those going through the same thing will take comfort from seeing others and how they are coping. It is encouraging to see and also a lesson in sometimes how to do or not to do things. We can help each other if we can feel confident in each other’s company as we share a learning experience like no other. It is a steep learning curve with leadership but one that is easier to climb when we are being mentored through every step and with the camaraderie of a group situation.
So, which is better – team coaching or individual coaching? There is no easy answer, as it depends on the specific needs of the team or individual. If you are looking to improve team performance, then team coaching may be the better option. However, if you are looking to improve your performance, then individual coaching may be the better option. It may well depend on what someone’s position within say healthcare is. Are we going to be taking charge of a large or small team and can we benefit from the input of others still training? Everyone is likely to have something of use to share. It is the kind of job that is something of a learning experience with no two days the same.
