So you’ve been in the online business world for a little while now.
You’re starting to finally feel comfortable calling yourself an expert. 😉
And maybe you’re starting to consider sharing your expertise with others.
There are people out there that need your genius!
(Remember, you’d don’t have to know everything about your field in order to be a leader and contributor to the larger conversation happening!)
When it comes to sharing your business expertise there are two common ways to do this: Either running a group coaching program or a mastermind program.
Both options are fab…which sometimes makes it harder to choose between the two!
But don’t sweat it. In this guide, we’re breaking down the difference between group coaching vs. mastermind, so you can confidently decide which option is best for your biz.
Without further ado, let’s dive into it! 👇
Group Coaching vs. Mastermind: The Basic Differences
Deciding between a group coaching program and a mastermind requires you to identify your unique goals. This isn’t about creating a new offer because you think you *should* or because that’s what’s been shown all over Instagram.
The real impact comes from creating a program in a way that truly fits your capabilities and desires for your business in 2023 and beyond.
Yes, we’ll get into the smaller details. But for now, remember that the “group coaching vs. mastermind” conversation involves these basic differences:
- Different online deliverables
- Different clients, students, or participants — whatever you like to call them 💛
- Different roles as the program facilitator
- Different program structures
Shall we go deeper? First up: group coaching!
What Is a Group Coaching Program?
The guiding principle of a group coaching program is that all the participants within the program hope to achieve a specific result or transformation.
This transformation is facilitated by a group coach (you!) who provides a guiding curriculum or framework for the program.
This curriculum is carefully crafted to support the participants in achieving their desired results.
Let’s be clear about something: A group coaching program almost always has a single group coach, but that certainly does not mean you have to lead the group by yourself.
Of course, you can always invite trusted colleagues to be guest instructors or coaches within your program.
This diversifies the training and feedback that your students are receiving, and it also gives you a break from being the center of attention all the time! 😉
What Is Your Role as a Group Coach?
The group coach is responsible for providing their clients with coaching and guidance toward collective and individual goals.
To support this process, the group coach often creates content that can be consumed during coaching sessions and/or during clients’ downtime. This educational content can come in written format, audio format, or video format.
Here’s the cool thing about taking on this content creation aspect of group coaching: Your content can be live or prerecorded.
If you’re way too busy to show up in real time with your students week after week, having the option to prerecord your lessons can be a game-changer.
✅ The most important part of group coaching content is that it is always in alignment with the guiding curriculum necessary for the desired transformation.
What Is the Structure of a Group Coaching Program?
A group coaching program can range from as few as three clients to hundreds of participants enrolled at any given time.
And enrollment can be quite flexible!
For example, you might choose to operate using a cohort model. This model puts a limit on your enrollment periods, so that your coaching sessions and content are shared over a specific period of time.
On the other hand, you might be more interested in the rolling enrollment model. Rolling enrollment allows participants to join at any time and work through the curriculum throughout any dates they want.
Group coaching programs may or may not have in-person events or retreats, but they are becoming quite popular.
Participants often crave that kind of connection to take their learning to the next level, and it’s always fun for instructors to meet the people who are on this journey with them.
Group coaching programs are flexible, versatile, and can cover a vast range of personal and professional topics.
No matter your expertise, there is a model of group coaching out there that can work for you! 💛
Now, let’s take a look at masterminds!
What Is a Mastermind Program?
So, how is a mastermind different from a group coaching program?
First of all, a mastermind is specifically related to business development.
In other words, it’s a business development group.
If that’s not your area of expertise, no problem!
A group coaching program might be the way to go instead.
But if business development is exactly what you’re looking for, a mastermind might be a fit for you!
Successful mastermind programs include curated groups of individuals, whereas group coaching programs can (generally) thrive regardless of the participants.
What Is Your Role as a Mastermind Host?
When starting a mastermind, you need to carefully curate a group of professionals who:
- Operate at a common level
- Share common values
- Want to join a supportive community with a common purpose
And most importantly, your mastermind needs to be full of pros who are seeking to grow and develop themselves personally and professionally.
Masterminds tend not to have a specific curriculum or structure.
Instead of having a specific framework prepared, the facilitator (you) is responsible for determining an overarching philosophy or goal to guide the topics of discussion within the group.
The facilitator has a very different role than a group coach.
The mastermind facilitator is responsible for creating an environment where each participant feels accountable to the group — to show up, contribute, and help one another grow. 💛
Your job as the facilitator of a mastermind is to invite group members to bring their unique perspectives, expertise, and knowledge to the community.
You are not *teaching* in the way an online coach would.
What we mean is…participants of a group coaching program are on the receiving end of knowledge, wisdom, and experiences provided by the coach.
But with a mastermind, it’s really about giving and receiving with the intention of building mutual relationships.
What Is the Structure of a Mastermind Program?
Because of the focus on group dynamics, mastermind groups are often way smaller than group coaching programs.
They range from three to 20 participants — but they’re usually no more than 10 people.
Most mastermind programs do have some kind of in-person component or retreat. This is because of the intense and intimate nature of working in such a tight-knit community.
It truly helps to share space and get to meet your business besties IRL. 💃✨
While this is a common part of mastermind programs these days, it’s still not mandatory.
Group Coaching vs. Mastermind: Creating the Right Program
As you can see, there are tons of exciting experiences within both group coaching programs and mastermind programs.
A group coaching program gives participants the chance to receive knowledge, wisdom, and curated content from the lead coach.
On the other hand, a mastermind program accelerates each member’s growth by drawing upon collective experiences, wisdom, professional networks, and influence. It’s truly a team effort!
Our hope is that you are starting to lean toward one or the other. But if you’re still torn, you’re in luck! It’s becoming more and more popular to host hybrid masterminds.
What Is a Hybrid Mastermind?
Hybrid masterminds maintain a certain level of intimacy while relying more heavily on the facilitator to create content for the participants and implement a group framework.
This blend of coaching and mastermind facilitating gives clients the best of both worlds!
Regardless of which of these two fab options you end up choosing, you’ll need one important thing before starting to work with clients.
And that is…contracts.
Luckily, we’ve got you covered in that department. 😉
Let us take care of the legal stuff so you can focus on sharing your genius with your clients, sis!
Ready to offer your new program? Check out our ready-to-use, lawyer-approved, plug-and-play legal contract templates, so you can upgrade your client contract while staying Profitable & Protected™✨
*The information presented in this blog post is for educational & informational purposes only. This should not be a substitute for customized legal advice from a licensed professional in a private setting. If you need legal advice, please consult with an attorney. This is not a law firm.
