How can you establish a comfortable environment for online coaching?

Coaching online has become very common and effective. I’ve learned along the way to get my client’s telephone number just in case there is a glitch with the platform. Before online coaching, I worked with clients on the phone for many years. The visual is a bonus but not a necessity, although we feel something is missing we got so used to the video. What I feel is important is to create a safe container for the dialogue with space for reflection, silence and curiosity. Not only does the coach need to be curious but the client has to be curious about their own inner workings with a desire to understand, enhance, upgrade, drop frames of reference that no longer serve them.

In lockdown era due to COVID 19, people find new way to communicate with each other. At that time online meeting went viral and now days it's one of routine

It can also be useful to have a "plan B" that you've agreed with the client should any unexpected glitches occur. This should be agreed in your contracting stage.

I agree with the technical side of preparing and I would add to always ensure your hotspot will automatically connect if there are issues that pop up with Wi-Fi. From a people perspective, I keep a number of items around my office that can help keep babies distracted during 1-2-1 calls with new mums who are getting ready to go back into the workplace. It gives the little ones something to focus on while I speak to the parents. I also find that during workshops, using actual materials and props to emphasise a point works much better than sharing a screen.

In my experience, although technical preparations are vital, some wi-fi or equipment failures are inevitable. First of all, talk it through with your client during the contract. Secondly, and the mostly important, stay calme and use this failures as an opportunity to explore with a client his emotional reactions and resilience potential at the face of small stress triggers ??here and now?? during the session.

In the virtual world where your client may be working from home, it's important to be aware of your own expectations and be flexible in your approach. Children or partners interrupting or dogs barking are a reality. so while you don't want to be interrupted at a vital moment in the session that can break the momentum or rhythm, be prepared with tools to get the conversation back on track.

When onboarding a new client, I provide a comprehensive welcome note that outlines the rules of engagement, particularly regarding the conduct of virtual meetings. Creating a virtual space that promotes a sense of tranquility is crucial to enabling the client to engage in reflective thinking.

In essence, a comfortable online coaching environment relies on a foundation of clear communication, professionalism, privacy, and technology competence. It thrives when coaches adapt to their client's unique needs, provide consistent support, and prioritize cultural sensitivity. These principles foster trust, rapport, and engagement, ultimately enabling clients to achieve their goals with confidence and guidance.

Setting up some ground rules prior to the coaching session also contributes significantly: - Be intentional to zoom in to your coaching session a minimum 20 minutes prior to the start time. - Flush all other thoughts, task and activities - Keep your desk clutter free and only have things that would support you in your session. - Keep minimum windows open on your laptop. Close out any window that you do not need for your session - Turn off notifications on your laptop - Inform family members about your session/schedule and if possible lock your room to avoid unintended interruptions - Keep your phone on silent mode, at a distance and out of your vision - Take a few depth breaths, close your eyes and completely zoom

Setting the parameters and core accountability structure for the coach/client partnership is critical for success. Signed agreements are a must to signal the first step in the transformative client journey. Energy shifts and a new part of us is called forward when we sign on a dotted line.

I I believe in holding a safe space for my clients to share what’s going on. ?We “unpack” situations together.? ?Then we make changes to better their business and life. Here’s the thing, working with me is not all about business. ?Because making results in business starts with internal work. ?Empathy is one of my core values and this is how it looks like in my coaching work. ?1.Starting sessions by asking a simple question, “how are you doing?”? ?2.Putting myself in my client’s shoes — what’s this person’s genius area, vision and challenges? ?3.Getting clear about important changes to make: beliefs, developing self-discipline, practices for inner strength, energy and mindset.

The magic happens when the coaching partnership allows the client to be totally honest and open, without judgement and bias. These are the times when clients get the most valuable insights into their authentic selves, things not yet discovered, the strengths not yet connected with and it's when we as coaches achieve that sense of purpose.

Coaching mastery requires a clear head and a clear energetic space. Coming to each session with a beginners mind is not always easy, but vital as a great coach. This allows information to drop into a vast space without agenda nor urgency to fix.

Creating a strong foundation of trust and rapport in coaching is crucial for fostering a productive and meaningful relationship with the coachee. In my perspective the emphasis is placed on empathy, understanding, and emotional connection: * Acknowledging Importance: By expressing genuine honor and excitement to begin the coaching journey, the coachee feels valued and acknowledged, setting a positive tone from the start. * Validation of Emotions: Acknowledging the coachee's unique experiences and emotions reinforces the idea that their feelings are valid and respected within the coaching space. * Active Listening and Understanding: This reinforces that the coach is truly present, engaged, and open to the coachee's thoughts and emotions.

Interactive experiments are a wonderful way to engage clients and de-risk stepping out of comfort zones. Other ways to motivate are weekly rating systems that track progress across different areas of experience. Clients enjoy seeing the positive shifts over time.

I don’t know what is your definition of coaching. Coaching is not teaching. Client is self-engaging and focus on personal inner/outer work dynamics. I may very occasionally suggest a reference to go further but I don’t use visuals or videos.

Online coaching is similar to face-to-face coaching: it is not a one size fits all. Of course, you need to first and foremost understand what your client's needs and expectations are before diving in. Because maybe that's when you realise that online coaching is not the right format!

Envoyer un récapitulatif déresponsabilise le client. C’est l’inverse pour moi. Je peux lui envoyer une référence ou une question , un texte, une vidéo à mon explorer, et les informations techniques de la prochaine rencontre. Mais ce qu’il retient de la séance, comment il va en tirer profit est son “travail”. Je demande parfois qu’il m’envoie son récapitulatif par curiosité de son mode de fonctionnement, des points saillants pour lui.

I think that it is super important to keep clients "honest". That is, doing a recap at the end of a session of what actions are to be taken. Same at the beginning of a discussion. That is my 'trick' to keep a certain momentum around change and an action mindset.

Online. Telephone. Face-to-face. When it comes to coaching the tech used for sessions is not the significant piece. Your skills as a coach matter more. And while the debate of training and accredited will rage on, that alone isn’t a surefire mark of a standard. Creating a safe and confidential space. Not being distracted. Ensuring background apps aren’t going to ding and chime. Encouraging your client to do the same. Recording your session where possible. It helps clients revisit the session and it becomes a valuable asset for them. And the basics of turning up on time and letting the session run to time are all important. However, nothing trumps your coaching skills which is why your client booked you in the first place!

Build psychological trust by being on time and in a quiet and non-distracting environment. Always abide by the coaching contract and reassure your client that they are psychologically safe with you.

Observing a coach in action can be an immensely valuable learning experience for many individuals. There are many who don't even have the option to meet their coach online. They just have to watch a video and coach themselves. It's incredibly inspiring and motivating to see what can be achieved with dedication and hard work. The point is if the person who aspires to be coached in any medium is good enough. In today's world zoom and other platforms give so much to interact with, there was time that people had to get this done over the phone. So passion triumphs over the medium and throughout history, the stories of many players and businessmen have shown that passion and determination are key factors in achieving success.

Having group coaching sessions can also help establish a comfortable environment. When you bring like-minded people together and they share their experiences they get the encouragement they need to overcome obstacles. They can also foster great relationships with their peers who then act as accountability partners. Even if you are offering one-on-one coaching it is important to arrange for some group coaching sessions. It is amazing how people start to open up when they hear the stories of others. They realize that there is nothing to fear and they become more comfortable in the coaching sessions.

Some of my favourite practices are: 1) Coaching, business or for the founder CEO, is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, yet have a topic of discussion agreed upon at least two weeks prior to the session. 2) Start each session with encouraging a ‘win’ shared, helping set the tone and emotion for the session. Have a conversation on the 'win' for gaining context and to truly be present for them. 3) Towards the end of the session, recap the next steps or decisions which are identified during the discussion. Ensure that these are noted down for clear accountability. 4) End the session by giving pause for up to two whole minutes of silence to reflect on what their deeper takeaways (Aha moments) are from the conversation for further reflection.