In today’s era of rapid change and complexity, coaching has emerged as an increasingly important lever for companies to unlock employee and organizational potential. Coaching delivers personalized support customized to each individual’s challenges, opportunities, learning preferences, and development goals.

Coaching can come in many forms: Professional executive coaching has long been seen as essential for C-suite leaders, and manager-as-coach models have proliferated across the corporate landscape. But, in most cases, dedicated, one-on-one coaching is still reserved for the most senior managers and executives, as it can be cost-prohibitive to offer more broadly.

This is where peer coaching comes in. Peer coaching is when two colleagues share knowledge, insights, and experiences to enhance professional growth. Peer coaching can be one-way, or bi-directional.

When comparing peer coaching to traditional coaching models, some unique benefits emerge:

• It can be far more scalable across a company – providing greater access to customized support for career and skills development.
• It strengthens peer relationships and builds a sense of community within the workplace, which can help reduce burnout, loneliness, and turnover.
• Peer coaches are familiar with the unique nuances of the coachees' work environment and company culture.
• The coach benefits as well as the coachee, by expanding their professional network and building confidence in their leadership, communication, and coaching skills.

Google offers a number of internal coaching programs that aim to provide accessible and scalable coaching for all Googlers. These programs are designed to help Googlers develop essential skills, navigate key career moments, and proactively manage their career development.

The largest of these initiatives is Googler-to-Googler Coaching — called g2g Coaching for short. In the g2g Coaching program, one Googler provides confidential coaching to another in a single standalone session or a months-long engagement. More than 2,000 Googlers actively volunteer to coach in the g2g Coaching program, which has thrived for over 20 years and reached over 25,000 Googlers.

Access to a g2g Coach is open to all full-time Googlers globally, and coaches are encouraged to share their knowledge and passions on a variety of topics — from onboarding at Google to career navigation, building future-ready skills, and more. This program is part of The Google School — Google’s center of excellence for Googler onboarding, career development, and skills development. Access to coaching is key to The School’s strategy to help Googlers grow in their role today and explore possibilities for the future.

Internal survey data, based on a post-session questionnaire sent to every g2g coaching participant, highlights the impact of this program:

• 99% of coaching recipients say they feel more confident after just one coaching session.
• 92% of g2g Coaches report that as a result of being an internal coach, they are building new skills that make them more effective in their primary roles.
• 96% of g2g Coaches report they are developing their own leadership and communication capabilities, helping to advance critical career development skills.

“Being a g2g Coach has been the most fulfilling experience throughout my 8-plus years at Google. I feel I can contribute to other Googler’s success and gain a greater understanding of the broader challenges facing my coachees in their jobs. g2g Coaching is a big motivation for me to remain at Google.” - A g2g Coach

Google's peer coaching programs share several fundamental features we consider crucial to their impact and scalability.

Training: While many peer coaches have earned external professional coaching certifications, we also conduct our own training sessions for anyone aspiring to be a g2g Coach. The training equips all g2g Coaches with a consistent approach to peer coaching and a foundational set of skills, which include:

1. Mindful and active listening that demonstrates attentiveness and understanding, and establishes a space for the coachee to feel heard
2. Asking powerful questions, such as “What’s a strength you have that can support you in this situation?” or “What’s really at the heart of this for you?”
3. Empowering employees to come to their own solutions, rather than giving advice
4. Coaching across lines of difference (e.g., location, social identity, language) to support all employees around the globe

Flexibility: Peer coaching at Google is available in single sessions and longer timeframes of three to six months. These options help support employees’ diverse needs and preferences, whether they want to establish a dialogue over time with a coach, or focus on one specific area in a standalone session. This flexibility is another way peer coaching seeks to remove barriers to access for all Googlers.

• Single session skills-based coaching: This one-off format helps Googlers get support on a specific topic. Targeted engagements are designed to help develop skills in areas such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and giving feedback. They are also tailored to different career stages and roles.
• Multi-month career development coaching: This format allows Googlers to build relationships with a single coach as they work on deeper developmental goals. These programs are intended to guide Googlers through key career moments, including onboarding, returning from leave, joining a new team, receiving a promotion, and navigating organizational changes.

Matching: In our coaching programs, coaches and coachees are matched intentionally, based on a number of factors — including the coachee's desired topic areas, location preference, and the coach's skills and expertise. Some of our programs, like g2g Coaching, are an open marketplace where Googlers select their own coach, while other programs help pair a coach and coachee based on self-assessments.

Recognition: Coaches can be rewarded for their contributions, via formal peer recognition channels and verbal and written acknowledgements. We also offer supplemental training and leadership development opportunities, such as our education reimbursement program, which provide further avenues to support and develop our internal coaches.

As more organizations recognize the value of coaching in today’s complex work environment, they will undoubtedly seek to provide the benefit beyond the C-suite. Peer coaching offers a scalable pathway — and a proven one, based on Google’s 20 years of experience — to unlock potential within an organization. From skills development to navigating major career moments, peer coaching not only expands access to personalized support, it also strengthens connections and builds a more engaged and empowered workforce.

By embracing peer coaching, organizations can tap into the collective wisdom of their employees, creating a dynamic ecosystem of learning and development that benefits both individuals and the company as a whole.