Avoid distance communication avoidance - coaching business

The subject that we will address below may be somewhat controversial, depending on the work system you have implemented for dealing with your clients. Many professionals opt for remote communication. With today's technological development, remote communication is a very attractive option, since it optimizes the logistical processes involved in providing personalized customer service.

While this is not to criticize distance communication, we would like to highlight the many advantages of having a personal exchange during the first coaching sessions, conditions permitting. Throughout this guide, we will explore some important elements related to how we establish contact with our clients in these initial sessions.

The advantages of in-person communication during initial sessions.

In-person communication, where the coach and client share the same physical space, generates a number of results that stand out from distance communication, especially in the first few coaching sessions. The professional relationship established between coach and client is based on trust and complicity.

In this sense, physical contact has proven to be much more effective than virtual contact. Despite technological advances, our social nature leads us to need more personal relationships to break the initial communication barriers.

We do not claim that distance communication is negative, in fact, in many cases it is the only viable option when there is considerable distance between coach and client. We only emphasize the importance of conducting the first meetings face-to-face whenever conditions permit.

Best and worst alternatives

When face-to-face communication cannot be established in the initial coaching sessions for external reasons, an alternative that facilitates the conversation between the client and the coach should be chosen.

The following are the three most common alternatives, ranked by recommendation:

• Video calls: The most recommended option after face-to-face communication is video calls. Although they do not manage to break down all the communication barriers that are overcome in face-to-face communication, they allow a greater degree of information to be transmitted. When communicating, we not only use our voice, but also non-verbal expressions that provide informative signals that the coach can use effectively.

• Calls: Calls are the second most recommended option. They are less effective than video calls in gathering valuable information. This is because, with the loss of nonverbal expressions, communication can be affected by misinterpretations of tone of voice. Use calls only when it is totally impossible to make a video call.

• Text messaging: Text messaging is the least recommended option for early coaching sessions. The information that can be obtained through a text message is very limited, since it only collects specific data that does not allow to contrast or measure the emotional state of the client or the context of certain expressions.