Coaching has undergone a revolution in the past two years. It used to be that coaches and clients would have to connect with expensive flights and time-consuming journeys to discuss everything from mindset changes to leadership techniques. But, today, coaches of all backgrounds can leverage remote technology to meet clients and help them excel.
However, it’s not as simple as just transferring current techniques and learning materials into a remote environment and continuing as normal. Operating in a remote space changes the way that people learn and listen.
This means that coaches need to make strategic changes to their practices to meet their remote clients’ needs. In particular, remote coaches have to consider how they can best utilize remote technology to account for the many different learning styles that their clients may have.
Understanding Difference Remotely
When operating in person, good coaches can pick up on subtle cues from body language and patterns of speech. However, when coaching in a remote environment, it can be hard to connect with clients and see the story that’s occurring beneath the surface of their communication.
But remote coaches must be switched on and know how to understand individual differences remotely. This is particularly important if a coach is working with folks who are neurodivergent. Between 15-20% of the worldwide population is considered neurodivergent, and the label “neurodivergent” typically encompasses conditions like autism, dyslexia, Tourette's syndrome, and ADD/ADHD.
It’s important to note that clients should not have to directly tell coaches if they are neurodivergent, as the title sometimes comes with unwanted associations or stigmas. Instead, coaches should take a universal design approach that encompasses the needs of both neurotypical and neurodivergent people. Of course, as time goes on coaches can tailor their approach to best serve the remote clients, but, in the first few engagements, a universal approach can save anyone from potential embarrassment and provide a clear, fair experience for all.
Make It Real
Some clients excel in remote coaching environments and don’t perceive any difference between physical and online interactions with coaches. However, there are plenty of people who struggle to take remote coaching seriously or see it as “less real” than in-person engagements with a coach.
Coaches should consider establishing tighter goals for folks who have a hard time working remotely. For example, if a coach is working with a CEO of a global business, they can experiment with using SWOT analysis for global businesses to identify specific goals for that individual. This might result in more hands-on goal setting than a coach would usually feel comfortable with, but this approach is more likely to yield serious results in folks who struggle in a remote coaching environment.
Setting tighter, more specific goals will make the remote coaching session feel more real and help coaches and clients connect on a deeper, more productive level.
Leverage the Potential of Virtual Coaching
Some coaches and clients see virtual coaching as a step down from physical coaching. However, there are plenty of benefits to remote coaching that would be impossible to replicate in an in-person environment.
Coaches can help meet the learning style needs of their clients remotely by leveraging the fact that their clients are using an online interface to join the session. For example, remote coaches can plan activities that utilize online materials and research to illustrate a point about effective goal setting or leadership initiatives. This could include YouTube lectures from global leaders or embedding hyperlinks to further resources within PowerPoint presentations.
While virtual coaching has a lot going for it, it requires responsibility on the part of both the client and the coach to operate effectively. Coaches and clients need to agree on mutual expectations during remote coaching sessions and should set rules like not checking emails and turning off notifications while they are working together. This will create a sense of respect between coach and client and ensures that the time reserved for remote coaching is optimized by both parties.
Overcoming Boredom
One of the biggest hurdles to remote coaching is boredom. It sounds strange, as clients are paying for the services of high-performing coaches, but many clients get used to the routine of remote coaching and “switch off” during online sessions.
Coaches must pre-empt boredom by creating engaging materials which cater to different learning styles. For example, if a coach usually opens each session with a free write, they should consider playing a short video or speech that encapsulates the big ideas for that session. This short video presentation will capture the attention of folks who primarily learn through visual or auditory means, and will help focus a client’s free write on pertinent material for that session.
Conclusion
Remote coaching gives coaches and clients the ability to connect more frequently and with lower costs for both parties. However, remote coaching is only effective if coaches cater to different learning styles and needs during the sessions. To do this, coaches should adopt universal design principles that help neurotypical and neurodivergent folks connect with coaching content, and should actively combat boredom during the session by making the most of convenient online resources.
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