To Group or Not to Group

Apr 14, 2010, Written by Sue Miley

Groups are new to my practice.  We just finished in February a Life by Design group:

Whether you are changing seasons in your life, stuck in a rut, or just haven’t aligned your dreams with God’s will and are just living day by day, Life by Design will be life-changing for you!!  I really mean it.  God created you.  He gave you your gifts and talents.  And, yes, He even gave you your dreams.  That is why I am so sure that you can align your dreams with God’s will.  All that we are and all that we have are gifts from God – including our dreams!

And we are currently in the middle of a business group called Navigating Your Business.

To assist small businesses in positioning themselves to take advantage and thrive in 2010 and beyond, I’ll be leading and coaching a Navigating Your Business Coaching Group.  This group will be limited to 4-8 likeminded business people who are looking for expertise and guidance in preparing their company to compete and grow in the current economic environment.

Groups are different than individual coaching.  Obviously there are benefits to both.  But what I am seeing as significant benefits to groups through these recent experiences are:

  1. Enhanced learning on common elements. There are many concepts that are common to most businesses or most people.  One of the reasons I started groups was so that people could share the cost of these common elements.  Because we are discussing examples from the different group members each topic has added depth from a one-on-one coaching experience.  You see the issue or topic from many different angles which provides multiple approaches, solutions, and innovations.
  2. Greater breadth of resources. In preparing for groups I take in consideration that there will be different learning styles, different types of people and/or businesses.  I research to provide something for everyone.  In the end you receive resource recommendations that may fit you now and some that you may use later or can share with others.  The point is that you have a broader supply of resources PLUS the additional resources provided from other members of the group.
  3. Community. Being in a group with others who are interested in the same topic provides you with community.  Other people to share with, encourage you, and collaborate with you.  I find that creativity begins to flow within 10 minutes of a group session beginning.  Community provides multiple perspectives, momentum, and energy.  It is fun “to do” with other like minded people.

I realize there are times when you want a coach to focus on your specific business or you have time sensitive issues in life to solve that are more conducive to one-on-one coaching.  Groups provide other benefits for you to consider adding to your personal or business development.  We will be starting new Life by Design and Navigating Your Business groups soon.  I have had several requests to start a Life by Design group and that will happen in the next month.  If you are interested and want to pre-enroll, send me an email to [email protected].  Space will be limited to 8 people.

I look forward to applying the learning from these past two groups into this next round of groups.  Another benefit of groups – there is even learning on how to make an even better group experience for the future!  For that I am forever grateful for such wonderful participants!

Let me know if there are topics you would be interested in for a group format.  If it is in our area of expertise we will gladly start one!

 

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Sue Miley

Sue Miley MBA, MA, LPC helps small business owners build successful businesses on a foundation of Christian values. After 20 years in business, and 10 years as a Christian counselor, Sue uses a combination of faith, business and psychology to help clients in business and in life.

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