How to Enhance Interpersonal Skills in Group Coaching Programs

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Group coaching programs are not just about the transfer of knowledge from the coach. Rather, they are about creating an environment where individuals can explore their emotions, understand the perspectives of others, and learn to navigate interpersonal relationships more effectively.
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Today, we focus on empathy and interpersonal skills.

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Active Listening Exercises

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In a group coaching session dedicated to enhancing communication skills, we divided participants into pairs for a listening exercise. Each person shared a personal challenge while the other practiced active listening, focusing entirely on the speaker without interrupting or offering advice. The listener then had to ask a question that started with “what” to help the storyteller deepen their understanding of the situation.

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Once the storyteller had responded to the question, the listener had to express how the story resonated with them and reflect how listening to the story might help them to deal with a similar experience in their current work situation.

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One of the participants, we will call him Edward, shared a story about a misunderstanding with a colleague that led to a conflict at work. When the whole group was back together, Edward’s partner, the listener shared that the story had helped him to look at a situation he was currently challenged by differently. It created empathy for the colleague with whom he was “in conflict” with. His action at the end of the session was to have a candid conversation with the colleague in question.  

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Group coaching programs allow employees to build empathy, and other interpersonal skills that are essential to excellent leadership.

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Emotional Intelligence Development

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The exercise we refer to not only builds empathy, as participants genuinely understand and connect with each other's emotions, but also improves their social skills by teaching them the value of listening in building strong relationships.

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As per Daniel Goleman (2005), one of the key components of emotional intelligence is empathy and group coaching programs are fertile ground for the development of this critical skill, as participants are exposed to a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. They are taught not to judge but rather, to accept, observe and be curious about others’ experience as an opportunity to expand their own worldview.

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Through active listening and open dialogue in group coaching programs, participants learn to appreciate the emotions and viewpoints of others, enhancing their ability to connect with people on a deeper level. This, in turn, improves their social skills, helping them to build and maintain healthy relationships both within and outside the coaching environment.

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After this exercise, we spent time group coaching on some of the relationships that participants wanted to work on in their professional life. It was a powerful session!

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