The Case for Group Coaching for Nurse Managers & Leaders
5 Reasons Why It’s Time to Expand Coaching Programs in Healthcare Organizations
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In recent years healthcare organizations have increasingly embraced executive coaching for their C-suite and top-tier leaders. Executive coaching has proven invaluable for sharpening leadership capabilities, improving decision-making, problem solving, and driving organizational strategy. However, when it comes to expanding coaching programs to frontline and mid-level leaders, many organizations remain hesitant.
This reluctance often comes from misconceptions about coaching’s value or worries about its cost and scalability for larger groups. In reality, frontline and mid-level leaders are the backbone of healthcare systems, and their development should be a priority. The success of a healthcare organization depends on strong leadership at all levels. AONL emphasizes the critical role of nurse managers, identifying them as the most influential leverage point for driving outcomes. Group coaching programs specifically designed for these key leaders can provide immense benefits to both the individuals and the organization at large.
What is Group Coaching?
In short, group coaching is a coaching model where a coach (or multiple coaches) works with a group of people at the same time, rather than with individuals in a one-on-one setting. Group coaching, as part of Inspire’s leadership development program, offers a unique and structured experience designed to enhance leadership competencies by engaging role-based cohorts. These cohorts, guided by both a certified organizational development coach and an experienced nurse leader, provide leaders with the tools and support they need to foster personal and professional growth, creating leaders who are confident, capable, and ready to excel in their roles.
What makes our group coaching program stand out is the dyad coaching approach, which pairs two expert coaches—a certified organizational development (OD) coach and an experienced nurse leader. Additionally, the curriculum focuses on nursing leadership top AONL competencies and transformational leadership science.
This unique combination ensures a well-rounded experience, blending leadership strategy and competency building, with real-world healthcare application.
The OD coach focuses on leadership behaviors, emotional intelligence, and process-driven development. Meanwhile, the nurse leader coach brings nursing leadership expertise, providing practical real-world insights tailored to participants’ roles in healthcare leadership.
Together, they create a powerful dynamic that accelerates growth and performance. The dyad approach ensures participants not only develop critical leadership skills but also gain practical, real-time strategies they can immediately apply in their roles.
Did you know?
Inspire’s Impact Group Coaching Program was cited in AONL 2023 Nursing Leadership Workforce Compendium as a best practice.
Our AONL competency-based curriculum and unique dyad approach combines the experience and wisdom of an experienced healthcare leader and a professional development coach into each session. Let us customize a program based on your organization’s unique culture and goals today!
Let Us Help You Make the Case for Group Coaching
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Why Add Group Coaching to Your Leadership Development Offerings?
Here are five reasons why healthcare organizations should reconsider and expand their coaching efforts to include frontline and mid-level leaders.
1. Frontline and Mid-level Leaders are the Key to Operational Excellence
While top-tier executives set the vision and strategy, it is the frontline and mid-level leaders who are responsible for translating those strategic directives into daily practice. In healthcare, this means overseeing complex workflows, managing interdisciplinary teams, and ensuring high-quality patient care. These leaders are the bridge between executive leadership and staff members, making them critical to operational success.
Providing these leaders with group coaching gives them the tools and leadership insights they need to navigate these challenges more effectively. Group coaching fosters collaboration, emotional intelligence, and strategic problem-solving, all of which can lead to improved operational outcomes and a more cohesive leadership structure.
2. Building Resilient Leaders in a Demanding Industry
Healthcare is one of the most demanding, high-stress environments. Leaders at all levels are under intense pressure to maintain patient safety, adhere to regulations, manage staff well-being, and stay on top of innovative technologies and medical advancements. For mid-level leaders, this pressure can be overwhelming without the right support systems in place.
Group coaching offers a unique opportunity for these leaders to develop resilience by learning from peers, sharing their experiences, and gaining actionable insights. It helps them cultivate the agility needed to adapt to constant changes and pressures. Leaders who participate in group coaching come away feeling more empowered, connected, and equipped to manage the complexities of healthcare management. Here is some of the feedback we have received from leaders who have participated in our IMPACT Group Coaching program:
3. Enhanced Collaboration and Peer Learning
Group coaching fosters an environment where frontline and mid-level leaders can learn from each other’s experiences, challenges, and successes. Also, as this Training Industry article articulates, group coaching programs promotes “long-term accountability and transparency.” In a healthcare setting, where collaboration across departments is critical, group coaching helps build strong peer relationships, enhances communication skills, and encourages knowledge sharing. Leaders not only receive feedback from an experienced coach but also gain insights from their colleagues who face similar challenges. This collective wisdom enriches the learning experience and allows for deeper reflection and problem-solving while also improving overall team performance and patient outcomes.
4. Cost-Effective, Scalable Leadership Development with Broader Sustainable Impact
Individual coaching for all leaders, especially in large healthcare organizations, can be cost-prohibitive. This is where group coaching presents a more scalable and cost-effective solution. By bringing together mid-level leaders in a structured group setting, organizations can develop leadership skills across a broader range of participants at a fraction of the cost of one-on-one coaching. Also, it’s wise to consider the cost of turnover versus investing in a coaching program that improves talent retention.
5. Elevating Leadership Across the Organization
Leadership development and coaching should not be confined to the C-suite and senior leaders. By investing in group coaching for mid-level leaders, healthcare organizations ensure they are fostering consistent leadership practices and values throughout the organization. This continuity strengthens the organization’s culture, improves collaboration between departments, and ultimately enhances patient care and satisfaction.
Moreover, well-developed mid-level leaders are more likely to step up into higher leadership roles when the time comes. By investing in their growth now, organizations can also address succession planning concerns and ensure that future leadership transitions are smooth and seamless.
The time has come for healthcare organizations to broaden their coaching programs beyond the C-suite. Given the weak talent pipeline, group coaching offers a practical, scalable way to equip more leaders with the skills they need to excel in their roles. By prioritizing their development, healthcare organizations can ensure operational excellence, improve leadership resilience, and foster a culture of learning and collaboration that benefits everyone—especially patients.
Lori Armstrong DNP, RN NEA-BC
CEO & Chief Clinical Officer