Advantages and disadvantages of online (virtual) coaching

Posted by Dr Wilbert R Mutoko

November 2nd 2020

All articles. Coaching. Executive Coaching. Leadership. Success.

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In my over 16 years of experience as a business coach, financial coach, and executive coach, I have realized that coaching is a very effective tool to empower leaders to become better at their game.

However, the question is, is it better to do face to face coaching or online (virtual) coaching. Nothing beats face to face coaching. However, virtual coaching comes with its own benefits.

Advantages of virtual coaching

1. It saves on time and travel costs

Instead of spending time and money on traveling to and from the coaching venue, you can benefit from coaching in the comfort of your own home.

2. Instead of worrying about traffic and possibilities of road accidents while going to the physical venue, with virtual coaching sessions, you can easily relax and wait for the coaching time to arrive.

3. Face to face coaching is usually limited to your vicinity. But with virtual coaching, you can be coached by someone in another continent. For example, due to virtual coaching, I hold coaching sessions with my clients across Botswana, South Africa, Europe, and the USA. That is something that would not be possible if I was doing physical face to face coaching. I would have been limited to people in Gaborone. Furthermore, I have some of my coaches in Nigeria, USA and South Africa. Whether I am coaching my clients or I am being coached by my own coaches, we hold our meetings on Zoom and it is just as effective.

4. Virtual meetings reduce chances of spreading diseases such as Flu and Covid19.

5. Canceling or postponing virtual coaching sessions is not as much of an inconvenience as face to face. With face to face coaching, someone can cancel or postpone a meeting while you were already on your way to the venue. But whether a coachee or coach cancels or postpones a virtual meeting, it is not as inconvenient as face to face.

6. Virtual coaching still gives you an opportunity to connect with your client or coach with a video.

Disadvantages of Virtual (online) coaching

1. Technology is not always dependable. There are times when technology fails. However, you can always have plan b, for example, if Zoom call fails, you can use WhatsApp, email, phone calls or other methods.

2. It is not everyone who knows how to use innovative technology. So sometimes as a coach you may need to teach the prospective client how to use technology.

Thank you for reading.

How has been your experience with coaching?

For business inquiries email:

wilbert@wilbertmutoko.com or wilbertmutoko@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +26771824591