Group Program Design

Group Program Design

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Design a group coaching, fitness, or wellness program
• Structure cohort-based experiences with scheduling and pricing
• Build community elements that increase retention and results
• Create a scalable program that serves more clients without trading more time

DO NOT use this skill for one-on-one coaching plans, course creation, or membership site design. This is for live group programs with cohort-based delivery.

Core Principle

A GROUP PROGRAM SUCCEEDS WHEN THE GROUP ITSELF BECOMES A SOURCE OF MOTIVATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY — DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST CONTENT DELIVERY.

Phase 1: Program Brief

Required Inputs

GATE: Confirm program scope and delivery format before designing.

Phase 2: Program Structure

Cohort Design

## [Program Name] — [Duration] Program

### Cohort Details
- **Start date:** [Date]
- **End date:** [Date]
- **Max participants:** [X]
- **Application deadline:** [Date]
- **Enrollment opens:** [Date]

### Weekly Structure

| Component | Day/Time | Duration | Format |
|-----------|----------|----------|--------|
| Group coaching call | [Day] at [Time] | 60-75 min | Live video (Zoom) |
| Community check-in | [Day] | Async | Community platform post |
| Weekly assignment | Released [day] | 30-60 min | Self-paced |
| Hot seat coaching | Rotating within group calls | 15-20 min/person | Live |
| Office hours (optional) | [Day] at [Time] | 30 min | Live Q&A |

Week-by-Week Curriculum

## Curriculum Outline

### Week 1: [Foundation Topic]
- Teaching: [Core concept]
- Assignment: [What participants do this week]
- Community prompt: [Discussion question]

### Week 2: [Building Block Topic]
- Teaching: [Core concept]
- Assignment: [What participants do this week]
- Community prompt: [Discussion question]

[Continue for all weeks...]

### Final Week: [Integration / Next Steps]
- Teaching: [Putting it all together]
- Assignment: [Personal action plan]
- Celebration: [Group wins and commitments]

Phase 3: Community & Engagement

Community Platform Options

Engagement Tactics

1. Welcome thread — each member introduces themselves and states their #1 goal
2. Weekly wins — dedicated space for sharing progress (creates positive momentum)
3. Accountability pairs — partner members for weekly check-ins
4. Hot seat rotation — 2-3 members get deep-dive coaching each call
5. Challenge prompts — mid-week activities that drive engagement between calls
6. Guest expert — invite one guest for a special session (adds value and variety)

Group Call Structure

## Weekly Group Call Agenda (60-75 min)

**Opening (5 min):** Check-in round — one word describing your week
**Wins & Progress (10 min):** Members share wins since last call
**Teaching (15-20 min):** This week's core content or framework
**Hot Seat Coaching (20-25 min):** 2-3 members get focused coaching
**Q&A (10 min):** Open floor for questions
**Closing (5 min):** This week's assignment and commitment share

Phase 4: Pricing & Operations

Pricing Framework

## Pricing Model

**Per-person pricing:**
- Calculate your desired hourly rate x total program hours = base cost
- Divide by minimum group size = per-person floor price
- Add value premium for community, accountability, and curriculum

**Example:**
- Total delivery time: 24 hours over 8 weeks
- Desired hourly rate: $150/hour
- Base cost: $3,600
- Minimum group of 8: $450/person (floor)
- Value premium: $300-500/person for community and curriculum
- **Program price: $749-949/person**
- **Revenue at 12 participants: $8,988-$11,388**

Payment Options

• Full pay upfront (offer 10% discount)
• 2-pay split (50% now, 50% at week 4)
• Monthly installments (slight premium for flexibility)

Operational Checklist

• Platform selected and configured (calls, community, content)
• Application or enrollment form created
• Payment processing set up with payment plan options
• Welcome email sequence drafted (confirmation, prep, and kickoff details)
• Curriculum content created for all weeks
• Call recordings process established (for members who miss)
• Feedback survey prepared for mid-point and end of program
• Celebration or graduation event planned for final week

Anti-Patterns

• Too large a group — groups over 20 lose intimacy and individual attention. Cap it.
• All content, no interaction — if members never talk to each other, it is a course, not a group program.
• No accountability structure — without check-ins and assignments, participants disengage after week 2.
• Underpricing — group programs should still reflect your expertise. Do not price like a $27 course.
• No waitlist for next cohort — always capture interest from people who miss the current enrollment window.
• Skipping the celebration — ending without acknowledging the group's journey feels abrupt and misses a retention opportunity.

Recovery

• Under minimum enrollment: Delay the start date, extend marketing, or run a smaller group with adjusted pricing.
• Drop-off after week 2-3: Increase engagement touchpoints, reach out personally to disengaged members, and review whether content is relevant.
• One member dominates calls: Set clear participation guidelines. Use a timer for hot seats and invite quieter members by name.
• Content not landing: Survey the group mid-program. Adjust remaining weeks based on what they actually need.
• No one engaging in community: Post conversation starters, share your own progress, and create low-effort engagement opportunities (polls, quick wins).