Virtual Coaching: Adapting Traditional Approaches for Online Success

With the continued evolution of remote work and hybrid schedules, coaching is also evolving. A traditional practice that once relied primarily on in-person meetings continues to grow as virtual professional engagements gain prominence. From an efficiency standpoint, virtual sessions allow coaches to scale their practice and provide increased flexibility. From an interactive perspective, virtual sessions offer unique opportunities that traditional sessions may not.

How might adopting virtual coaching affect your coaching practice?

Adapting Traditional Approaches

Directive vs Non-Directive Coaching. There are a few core coaching approaches that coaches use when working with clients, whether in one-to-one sessions or group coaching sessions. Coaches are aware of the tension between directive and non-directive coaching. Directive coaching relies heavily on the coach providing guidance, advice, and solutions to support the client. Non-directive coaching enables the coachee to engage in exploration, questioning, and self-discovery. When considering non-directive coaching within the virtual environment, consider digital tools that may support the coachee in their ideation and progress on the journey.

What digital tools might you offer coachees to support their progress?

Coaching Frameworks. Common coaching frameworks are GROW, CLEAR, and OSKAR.

• GROW: Goal, Reality, Options, Will.

• CLEAR: Contracting, Listening, Exploring, Action, Review.

• OSKAR: Outcome, Scaling, Know-how, Affirm & Action, Review.

As the coach and facilitator of the session, consider how you can use your preferred coaching framework to build structure into the virtual experience with interactive tools. From whiteboard software to shared documents to asynchronous follow-ups to messaging, consider the overall coaching experience you offer and identify ways to integrate virtual elements that add value to your services.

How can you effectively integrate virtual elements into your coaching services to add value?

Active Listening. Being present in a virtual environment is different from being present in an in-person experience. Traditionally, we can rely on body language and cues in a way that the virtual environment does not allow. However, just because active listening is different in a virtual environment does not mean it does not exist! Coaches often benefit from integrating intentional pauses. Certainly, intentional pauses are not new; however, in a virtual setting, these pauses usually need to be a bit longer and may feel uncomfortable as the coach. Another tip is to include verbal affirmations to support the spoken words of the coachee, ensuring they understand you are present and listening.

The Technology Advantage

Start Exploring. There are undoubtedly many technologies that can enhance the value of a coaching experience. Start with the technology you already have and ensure you are using all the benefits or latest features it has to offer before investing in another technology. There is always new software to invest in. As a coach, you want to ensure you are maximizing the investment you are already making in your current tech stack. For some, that may mean exploring the newest features that Zoom offers. For others, that may mean exploring Google Workspace. For others, that may mean exploring coaching-specific platforms.

Consider Impact. Technology also allows coaches to measure impact in new and different ways than traditional coaching. From surveys to self-assessments to capturing qualitative feedback, explore ways to utilize technology to enhance your understanding of the impact your coaching has on clients.

How might you better use the technology you currently invest in to increase the value of the coaching experience you offer?

Change Is the Constant

Change is not going to stop! It’s a constant in all aspects of our lives. Consider the impact that virtual coaching provides to professionals: access, flexibility, and offerings previously unavailable. Though virtual coaching shifts how we coach, at the end of the day, the focus on coaching remains the same: helping others grow through self-discovery and goal achievement, whatever that may look like. Today, many professionals are navigating remote and hybrid work. How might our coaching continue to support their work and how they work?