Haven’t Switched to Digital Coaching Yet? Here’s What You’re Missing
Sometimes it seems like our entire lives pivoted to digital in the last few years — everything from meetings and happy hours to workouts and baby showers now occurs online..A Pew Research study found, as a result of the pandemic, 90% of Americans now consider the internet integral to daily life. This is a major shift from pre-pandemic habits; 81% admitted they rarely did video calls before 2020, and 40% started using digital technology in new or different ways since the outbreak. As more of our work takes place exclusively online, business leaders are leveraging different opportunities to train and unite their employees. A major part of this trend is the major shift toward digital coaching. The industry is growing rapidly and valued at $22 billion.Here are some of these advantages to digital coaching that are accelerating its rise.
What is digital coaching?
Digital coaching occurs entirely online, through web-based video or audio chat sessions that run between 30 to 90 minutes. Digital coaching sessions are led by a professional certified coach and trained to facilitate growth and development for coachees. The coach can provide objective feedback, and recommend further steps for growth.Keep in mind, digital coaching is different from online counseling or therapy. Counseling has a therapeutic focus; most people looking for counseling or therapy hope to get emotional or psychiatric support. Coaching is focused on guiding a person to achieve future objectives.
The importance of digital coaching today
Hybrid approaches to work have now become standard throughout most of the world. In the U.S. alone, nearly 80 million people are working fully or partially remote. This drastic change to the way we work has meant business leaders from all industries have been challenged to innovate their approach to people development. This is especially urgent considering the flexibility and resilience needed amongst employees given the uncertainty of our current global marketplace; changes to supply chains and the impact of global instability have prompted organizational pivots that impact the daily tasks and workloads of many employees.Whereas once technical skills were the primary focus of employee training, now organizations are prioritizing behavioral capabilities. In the 2022 CoachHub Global HR Study, 40% of business leaders indicated their employee development plans are built around a blend of technical and behavioral skills for individual roles. Over a third said their development programs focused on individual technical responsibilities, and 23% said theirs was built around behavioral skills alone.Employees themselves are looking for professional guidance now more than ever, especially in the wake of the Great Resignation. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows 4 million Americans resigned from their workplaces in July 2021 — combined with higher than normal resignation rates in the preceding months this left a record-breaking 10.9 million jobs open by the end of July. Turnover has been highest amongst mid-career employees; the Harvard Business Review found resignation rates in this group increased by 20% between 2020 and 2021.It’s clear that managers need to do a better job providing employee development in a hybrid workplace, in order to help employees adapt to today’s pressures and thrive in their professions. Nine out of 10 executives expect to continue blending on site and digital collaboration using a hybrid working model post-pandemic, according to McKinsey. Finding the right digital coaching program to maximize employee engagement can be fundamental. It can have a significant impact on your employee's experience and progress. Not only have organizations realized the valuable investment of online coaching, but employees themselves are looking for professional guidance now more than ever.
Pros of virtual coaching vs. in-person coaching
Coaching is a valuable tool to improve work performance, relationships and communication skills. The International Institute of Coaching has found 86% of companies saw a return on their investment in digital coaching.Here are five key advantages of digital coaching:
Alignment with business goals
It’s easy to focus your digital coaching strategy to align with your business goals — this is part of our expertise at CoachHub. As a digital coaching platform, we work hand-in-hand with your team to understand business issues and pain points, then develop customized KPIs to help measure the progress of your team and arm your leaders with the information they need to maximize the behavioral strengths within your workforce. With the advanced metrics enabled through digital coaching you can determine your organization's unique version of success and measure this throughout the program.
Flexibility
Choosing your coach is one of the most important steps to a successful coaching program; not only does your coach need to support your corporate culture, but it’s essential for coaches and coachees to feel a personal rapport. This is where traditional coaching programs often fail, as companies typically hire one coach to meet with multiple employees, without giving employees the freedom of choice to find a coach who best matches their values.In a digital environment, employees have access to coaches across the globe, with diverse backgrounds and experiences. CoachHub’s proprietary algorithm leverages technological advancements to match coachees and coaches, allowing every manager, leader and executive in your company the flexibility to choose the best coach for them.
Personalization
Our world has become increasingly personalized and employees now expect tailor-made programs and incentives. One of the key benefits of digital coaching training is that each session is highly customized to the individual needs, schedules, goals and preferences of each employee. With tailored digital coaching, the pace of each session and the instructional approach are optimized to enhance individual engagements, resulting in a more practical session and a higher quality experience for the coachee.
Comfort and convenience
Digital coaching makes it possible to engage in personal and professional development at any time, from anywhere. Coachees can manage all aspects of the program online, during work hours or on personal time.Participating in coaching sessions from the comfort of your home could allow for more privacy and fewer distractions. The freedom to choose and control their environment can help them bypass the psychological challenges of going out for coaching sessions.
Diversity
Workplace diversity and inclusion has become a high priority for organizations. With digital coaching, this becomes even easier to achieve. There are fewer boundaries in a digital world, allowing coachees to access coaches in any language, walk of life or global region. This creates a more diverse and inclusive online space for all coaches, coachees and organizations looking for a global experience.
How is virtual coaching transforming organizations?
Virtual coaching is one of the best tools companies can use to help their workforce elevate their wellbeing and reach their best potential. The International Institute of Coaching found 70% of workers who have access to coaching improved their work performance, relationships, and communication skills.Digital coaching has transformed the way companies approach the development of their managers and employees, helping them look into more personal areas that go way beyond work. As Mike P. from SoundCloud said, “My CoachHub coach has surpassed my expectations in helping me focus on one of the most commonly overlooked areas in the fast-paced environment that is the tech industry — myself... To be able to focus on my personal tooling and having the ability to dive even deeper into individual growth has been a much welcome experience among all the successes and challenges here at SoundCloud.”Self-development and self-work are vital for employee growth and better work performance. Online coaching allows employees to set healthy boundaries around their work-life balance. It helps them establish strategies to manage their time and energy at work and in their day to day lives.Certainly, one of the most compelling ways to improve employee engagement is through coaching. It elevates the morale of the whole organization and helps create alignment between the core values of a company and the unique personalities of all its members. Now that it's widely available through the virtual world, more companies of all sizes and from different industries can enjoy its benefits.Virtual coaching encompasses all the tremendous perks of standard coaching plus more significant advantages that make it a well rounded tool.
FAQ
At CoachHub, we believe in the power of aligning individual growth with organizational objectives. Our dedicated coaches work closely with coachees to ensure that their growth plans are directly linked to your company's overarching goals. This includes addressing specific leadership development needs within different departments or teams, and recognizing that each area may have unique challenges and requirements.
To achieve this alignment, we collaborate closely with our clients and their senior leaders, taking the time to understand their organization's specific challenges, objectives, and organizational culture well. By gaining deep insights into your company's dynamics, we can tailor coaching plans that address the specific needs of different teams and individuals.
Our approach is highly customized and adaptable. We recognize that each coachee has unique requirements, and we leverage our expertise to develop coaching plans that are relevant and effective for all participants, regardless of their role or level within the organization. Whether it's helping to develop leaders, retain talent, improve leadership skills of middle management, or support C-suite executives, our coaching programs are designed to cater to diverse needs and ensure maximum impact.
By aligning growth plans with your company's objectives, we create a cohesive approach that enhances overall organizational success. Our coaches help coachees identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable strategies to bridge the gap between their current competencies and the desired leadership abilities. This alignment not only facilitates personal and professional growth but also contributes to the long-term success of your organization.
With CoachHub, you can be confident that our coaching programs are tailored to address the specific leadership development efforts within your organization. By collaborating closely with our clients, we ensure that our coaching plans are relevant, effective, and aligned with your company's objectives, driving growth and excellence across all departments and levels.
At CoachHub, we understand the importance of scalability when it comes to your leadership development program. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously, ensuring that organizations of all sizes can benefit from our services. Whether you have a small team or a global workforce, our coaching platform is equipped to handle the scale.
With our advanced digital coaching platform, we bring high-quality coaching directly to employees all over the world. The beauty of our online sessions is that participants can access them from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility empowers employees to engage in coaching without geographical constraints or time zone limitations. Whether they're working from home, traveling for business, or stationed in a different country, our platform ensures that they can easily connect with their coach and participate in sessions at their convenience.
The digital nature of our coaching platform also means that participants can enjoy a consistent and seamless coaching experience, regardless of their location. Through video calls, instant messaging, and other interactive tools, our platform fosters a sense of connection and engagement between the coaches and participants. This virtual environment not only saves time and resources but also allows for regular and ongoing coaching support without the need for in-person meetings.
By leveraging the power of technology, our scalable coaching programs break down barriers and provide accessible coaching solutions to organizations and individuals around the globe. Whether it's a small team or a multinational corporation, our platform ensures that every participant can benefit from high-quality coaching, anytime and anywhere.
Absolutely! CoachHub's leadership development program is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing talent development and performance management initiatives. We understand that every company has its own unique needs and goals, and that's why our coaching sessions are completely tailored to meet those requirements. Whether you're looking to strengthen leadership skills, foster personal growth, or achieve organizational success, our program aligns perfectly with your company's specific objectives.
By customizing our coaching sessions, we ensure that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. We take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and then craft a coaching experience that caters to their personal growth journey. This way, we can provide targeted development opportunities that directly contribute to their success within your organization.
When you integrate our program with your leadership development efforts and performance management initiatives, you create a powerful synergy. Our tailored approach complements and reinforces your existing efforts, allowing you to build a comprehensive framework for maximizing the potential of your workforce. Together, we can create an environment where employees are motivated, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to excel.
So, rest assured that with CoachHub's leadership development program, you can easily integrate coaching into your existing initiatives and achieve remarkable results that align with your company's requirements.
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