Online coaching is great for clients and coaches
The internet has opened our horizons in so many ways, connecting people from all over the world, and opening up the potential to work with those who would otherwise have been inaccessable.
THE REASSURANCE AND PRIVACY OF ONLINE COACHING
I often hear how scary it can be for a new client to get coached face to face. There can be issues around getting to know the coach, feeling safe to open up and be fully honest, and the vulnerablity that comes with sharing our inner most goals. It is an honour as a coach to be trusted enough by someone to share their hopes and dreams with you.
Online coaching can cut through a lot of the fears as it is completely up to you whether you want to remain anonymous or not. Research has shown that people feel able to express themselves more quickly and easily when there is an aspect of anonymity.
NON-VERBAL AND OTHER CUES DURING COACHING
This was surprising to me at first as I always felt that face to face coaching worked so much better; and indeed in a lot of ways there are many positive aspects to coaching in person. You can gauge a lot from a person's body language: unsaid emotions, anger, resentment, witholding, and whether the words match what you is being conveyed. In my work with Alcohol and Drug Advisory I found that most of the information I gleaned from my clients was unspoken.
Perhaps online coaching makes the coach's work slightly more challenging due to the loss of these non-verbal cues; however, if the client feels more confident and able to share, then the coach has an opportunity to hone their skills in new ways and get to the root of their focus more quickly.
Whlie it is not easy to gauge body language online, it can also sometimes be a challenge to interpret the feelings and emotions being conveyed through the written word, such as in an email. So checking back with each other throughout the session for clarity is more crucial.
THE BENEFITS OF ONLINE COACHING
It seems to me that online coaching works well for everyone. It allows:
- Anonymity
- The safety of your own home
- Flexibility of scheduling (No need to go out)
- The opportunity to work with people from all over the world
- Convenience
I have been able to work with people in Peru, Australia, China and the UK. None of that would have been possible without the online communities we are able to create.
Cannot wait to see where it goes next!
COMMENTS
Ruth Randall
July 11, 2014I think this is my preferred way of working, partly because I don't have the ideal premises for one to one coaching at the moment, but the internet is such a useful resource it woukd be a shame not to take advantage of it. Thanks for the helpful article Tracy.
Cat Ross Hamilton
July 16, 2014Thanks Ruth, The internet has opened a world of opportunity for us all :) Glad you liked the article
Carolyn
January 18, 2015I am just starting out and I would like to know how you find your clients? How do they pay you? I like this idea but not sure how to set it up. Carolyn
Cat Ross Hamilton
January 28, 2015Hi Carolyn, I'm sorry I just saw this post. When you get a request, you email the person and agree to meet online. I use paypal. So I email a payment request and once received we talk on Skype or FaceTime. It works fine. Good luck getting started :)
Temperance
February 13, 2015i just started with marketing and recruitment