Business development coaching can be transformative for lawyers, providing insights and accountability that supports personal growth, business growth and firm-wide objectives. One-on-one coaching provides personalized guidance, ideal for lawyers seeking to refine specific skills and receive ongoing support for real-world situations they face.
In contrast, group coaching fosters collaborative learning, where shared experiences enhance motivation and provide broader perspectives. However, effective group coaching requires experienced facilitation and business development expertise to manage group dynamics successfully.
With nearly 20 years of experience coaching lawyers across firms of all sizes, I have seen firsthand how tailored approaches, whether through one-on-one or group formats, deliver distinct advantages.
Advantages of One-on-One Coaching
One-on-one coaching offers several notable benefits:
- Enhanced Accountability: Individual coaching supports accountability with regular check-ins, progress tracking, and action-oriented guidance. Lawyers can address obstacles, set specific milestones, and receive consistent encouragement.
- Focused Skill Development: Personalized coaching allows for targeted development in critical areas like networking, relationship management, and effective communication—all essential for client retention and business growth.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: One-on-one coaching adapts to a lawyer’s changing priorities and commitments, making it ideal for those balancing heavy workloads who need a schedule that fits seamlessly into their lives.
- Confidential Environment: This format provides a private setting where lawyers can openly discuss challenges, confidence issues, or strategic concerns without fear of judgment from colleagues.
Advantages of Group Coaching
Group coaching offers unique benefits, including:
- Learning from Peers: In group settings, lawyers learn not only from the coach but also from their peers. Collaborative environments allow participants to exchange ideas and insights, often uncovering new approaches to business development that may not emerge in one-on-one sessions.
- Broader Perspectives: Observing diverse approaches to challenges offers a wider perspective on business solutions. The group setting creates camaraderie, which supports participants in their professional journeys.
- Enhanced by Smaller Groups: Group coaching is typically most effective in small groups (ideally 10 – 15 participants), promoting an atmosphere where individuals feel comfortable sharing. Combining group sessions with one-on-one coaching can further enhance outcomes by helping lawyers apply insights from group discussions to their personal situations.
Group Coaching: Challenges and Considerations
Based on my experience of conducting group coaching there are some unique challenges that need to be considered, including:
- Careful Group Composition: The size and makeup of the group are crucial. As mentioned above, smaller groups are generally more effective, with 10 – 15 participants ideal. Additionally, mixing roles, such as partners with associates, or even senior with junior associates, can create an imbalance, affecting openness and collaborative spirit. Associates may feel hesitant to share openly in front of senior colleagues or partners.
- Managing Dominant Personalities: Certain individuals may dominate the conversation, which can disrupt the group dynamic and cause quieter participants to withdraw. Skilled facilitation is essential to ensure balanced participation and maintain a supportive environment.
- Maintaining Confidentiality: Avoid including performance evaluators, like professional development director or manager, in group coaching sessions. Their presence may cause participants to feel they’re being evaluated rather than coached, limiting candid discussion and diminishing the session’s effectiveness. Creating a separate, confidential environment fosters openness and honesty.
Balancing Group and One-on-One Coaching
Deciding between one-on-one and group coaching should consider the firm’s specific needs and culture. While group coaching promotes shared learning and networking, it requires careful planning to ensure balance and open participation. In a number of instances, I was engaged to conduct a one-on-one program after the group session which provides an effective hybrid approach, allowing each lawyer to develop individually while benefiting from peer insights in a structured, supportive environment.
If you are a lawyer aiming to strategically enhance your business development, I’m available to help. Let’s arrange a complimentary discussion to explore how coaching might aid your progress and address any queries you might have. Please reach out to me at larry.stroud@korverge.com to schedule a time.
I do ‘Business Development’ coaching. Not life coaching. Not career coaching. The coaching is specifically tailored to business development in the legal profession. My focus is on helping lawyers build and retain client relationships, as well as winning new clients.
I have been a partner at two international firms and have dedicated the past 20 years to coaching individual lawyers in business development.
My clients range from lawyers in national and international law firms to those in regional, small office, and specialized boutique firms, as well as solo practitioners. Based in Toronto, I work with clients throughout Canada, having also worked in several other countries. I’m typically engaged either by individual lawyers or firms on a retainer basis to provide ongoing coaching for their lawyers at various stages of their careers, and in certain cases, to lead targeted workshops.