Group Training vs. Individual Training: Finding What Works for Your Automotive Team

The best way to learn isn’t always the same for every technician or service advisor—especially when your team’s made up of a whole cast of characters. Different backgrounds, different work styles, different strengths. 

That kind of variety can make training a challenge. Do you bring everyone together for group sessions, or let each tech move at their own pace? What works for one person might not land for another—and that’s where the group training vs individual training question really starts to matter.

In this blog, we’ll break down how both approaches work, when to use each one, and how to build a training strategy that fits your shop and the people in it.

Table of Contents 

• Two Paths to Learning
  • Group Training
  • Individual Training
• Rethinking Group Training
  • Group Training Isn’t Just a Classroom Anymore
  • The Value of Learning Together
• Supporting Individual Learners
  • Why Self-Paced Learning Works
  • Training That Respects Experience
• So… What’s the Best Way to Learn?
• Individual Learning vs. Group Learning: Tailor Training to Your Team
• FAQs

Two Paths to Learning

Training usually takes one of two shapes: you either have your team learning together, or each team member moves through material on their own. Both styles are common in shops, and both can play a meaningful role in how your crew builds skills.

What is Group Training?

Think of this as shared learning. Everyone’s in it together working through the same material at the same time. That might mean a shop-floor demo, a session with a trainer, or walking through a new procedure as a team. It’s structured, scheduled, and keeps everyone on the same page.

What is Individual Training?

This is a more flexible, self-directed format. Team members go at their own pace, zeroing in on the skills or topics that matter most to them. 

Rethinking Group Training

Group learning has come a long way. For a lot of folks, the phrase still brings to mind old-school lectures, slide decks, and a room full of people counting the minutes. But learning in group settings doesn’t have to look like that anymore—and it shouldn’t.

Group Training Doesn't Belong in Just a Classroom Anymore

Modern training tools have changed the game. Group sessions no longer need to be passive or one-size-fits-all. You can now bring your team together in ways that are interactive, relevant, and even hands-on. Instead of just watching or listening, techs are encouraged to engage, participate, and apply what they’re learning in real time.

For today’s shops, group training might look like:

• Mentorship pairings that let seasoned techs guide newer team members
  
  
• Collaborative exercises where your team solves problems as a group
  
  
• Leaderboards and competitions to keep training light, competitive, and motivating
  
  
• Team discussions where asking questions and comparing approaches is part of the process
  
  

The goal isn’t to cram everyone into a room and hope the message lands—instead it’s to make the learning feel useful, engaging, and tied to the work your team is already doing. When training is interactive, your team is more likely to retain the material and apply it right away.

The Value of Learning in a Group

Group learning helps shape how your team works together. When your team trains side by side, they pick up knowledge and build stronger habits around teamwork, communication, and accountability—all of which carry over into the shop.

Here’s how group training supports team success:

• Better morale: Working through training as a group makes people feel part of something bigger. It reinforces that everyone’s on the same path, learning and growing together, rather than going it alone. That sense of shared progress can boost confidence and motivation across the board.
  
  
• Peer-to-peer learning: These sessions open the door for natural knowledge-sharing. Less experienced techs get a chance to hear how others approach a task or solve a problem. Meanwhile, veteran techs can step up as mentors, offering guidance and sharpening their own communication skills.
  
  
• Aligned expectations: When the whole team learns the same content at the same time, it reduces confusion. Everyone gets the same instructions, sees the same examples, and hears the same explanations. That alignment helps ensure procedures are followed consistently across the shop.
  
  
• Stronger communication: Group environments tend to spark conversation. Techs ask questions, talk through problems, and clarify ideas with one another. That habit of open communication often continues long after the training ends, making everyday workflows smoother and more collaborative.
  
  

Training as a team helps create a shared rhythm. It encourages cooperation, builds trust, and helps everyone stay on the same page—whether they’re learning something new or applying it on the floor.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide for Building a Stronger Team 

A Few Limitations to Keep in Mind

While group training has clear advantages, it’s not without challenges. Depending on your shop’s size, schedule, and team makeup, it may not always hit the mark for everyone.

Here are a few things to consider:

• One pace doesn’t fit all. Some team members may feel held back, while others struggle to keep up.
  
  
• Scheduling can be tricky. Coordinating time for everyone to train together can pull people off the floor or disrupt workflow.
  
  
• Less personalization. Group sessions usually follow a set structure, which means there’s less room to tailor content to each person’s strengths or gaps.
  
  

None of this means group training isn’t worth doing—it just means it works best when it’s realistic for your team and set up with these considerations in mind.

Support for Individual Learners

The best way to learn isn’t always in a group. Some team members do better when they can move through material on their own terms, especially if they already have some experience under their belt or prefer to take things step by step. That’s where individual training really shines.

Self-paced learning isn’t about separating your team—it’s about giving each team member the space to learn in a way that feels natural, productive, and relevant to where they are in their career.

The Benefits of Self-Paced Learning

Every team member brings something different to the table, whether it's their level of experience, the way they process information, or how much time they can realistically carve out for training during a busy day. With individual learning, you can meet them where they are.

Here’s how self-paced training supports your team:

• Team members can focus on what they need. If someone struggles with diagnostics but flies through brake work, they can spend more time strengthening their weak spots.
  
  
• Training fits into their schedule. Instead of blocking off hours at once, they can chip away at training during slow periods or at the beginning or end of a shift.
  
  
• They can absorb material at their own pace. No rushing to keep up or waiting for others to catch up—each person sets the speed that works for them.
  
  

This kind of flexibility is especially helpful when you're trying to work training into a busy shop or when team members are working toward specific certifications. It keeps the process focused, efficient, and less disruptive to daily operations.

Training That Respects Individuals Experience

Not every team member needs to start from square one. For someone who’s been doing the work for years, sitting through basic level training can feel like a waste of time. With individual training, you can tailor the material to match their level and goals.

That approach goes a long way toward keeping experienced team members engaged—and it’s more efficient for the shop, too.

Here’s how tailored training can benefit your shop:

• Experienced hires onboard faster and jump into content that fills in any gaps or gets them up to speed on your specific processes.
  
  
• Senior team members take on more advanced content to help them grow into lead roles or expand their skill set in specialty areas.
  
  
• Long-time employees have a clear growth path, which makes it easier to keep them around for the long haul.
  
  

When training adapts to what someone already knows, it feels more like support than a requirement. It shows your team members that their time and experience are valued—while still helping them get better at what they do.

Read More: How to Create Customized Training for Different Levels and Roles 

A Few Challenges to Watch For

Individual training has its perks, but there are a few things to keep an eye on—especially if it's the only method you're using.

• It can feel isolating. Some team members may miss the chance to ask questions, talk things through, or learn from others.
  
  
• Motivation varies. Without a set schedule or group accountability, it’s easy for training to fall to the bottom of the to-do list.
  
  
• Inconsistency is possible. If everyone’s learning different things at different times, it can be harder to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
  
  

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth keeping in mind if you’re leaning heavily on self-paced learning. A little structure and check-in can go a long way.

So… What’s the Best Way to Learn?

There’s no universal answer to how training should be done. What works for one team might fall flat for another. The best way to learn depends on a few key factors—your team’s makeup, your goals as a business, and the kind of knowledge or skills you're trying to build.

Instead of trying to pick a single path, many shops find that blending both group and individual training gives them the flexibility to meet a variety of needs. It’s less about choosing one method and more about knowing how to use each one where it fits best. 

If you're having a hard time figuring out your team's needs, here are a few questions to ask yourself: 

• What’s the goal of this training?
  Are you introducing a new process everyone needs to understand—or helping specific team members build individual skills?
  
  
• How experienced is your team?
  Do you have a mix of new hires and seasoned pros, or is everyone starting from a similar baseline?
  
  
• How much flexibility does your schedule allow?
  Can you afford to pull the whole team off the floor at once, or do you need to work training into the day in smaller chunks?
  
  
• How does your team learn best?
  Do they thrive in collaborative settings, or prefer to learn at their own pace without distractions?

Finding the right balance may take some trial and error, but that flexibility can go a long way in helping your team stay sharp, supported, and ready for whatever comes next.

Individual Learning vs. Group Learning: Tailor Training to Your Team

There’s no single formula that works for every shop. The group training vs individual training conversation isn’t about picking sides—it’s about understanding how both approaches can support different goals.

Whether you’re building consistency through learning in group settings or focusing on personal development with a self-paced approach, a balanced plan helps your team grow in the right direction.

If you’re ready to explore what this could look like in your shop, reach out to the Today’s Class team. We’ll work with you to build a training solution that makes sense—for your team, your schedule, and your long-term success.

FAQs

Q: What is the difference between group training and individual training?
A: Group training involves team members learning the same material at the same time, often through shared sessions or workshops. Individual training allows each person to learn at their own pace, usually through self-guided modules tailored to their specific needs or experience level.

Q: Should you choose group training or individual training?
A: It depends on your team’s goals and structure. Group training is ideal for building consistency and team alignment, while individual training supports flexibility, skill-specific development, and personalized pacing. Many shops benefit from using both.

Q: What is an example of individual training?
A: A technician using online training software to complete a module on diagnostics during a slow hour in the shop is a common example of individual training.

Q: What is an example of group training?
A: A shop hosting a live training session where the whole team walks through a new repair process together is an example of group training.

Q: Why is group training a good idea?
A: Group training helps teams stay aligned, reinforces communication, and creates shared understanding. It’s especially useful for onboarding, rolling out new procedures, or building team morale.

Q: Why is individual training a good idea?
A: Individual training gives team members the flexibility to focus on what they need, when they need it. It supports different learning styles, respects experience, and helps people build skills without slowing down others or sitting through material they already know.