e-Coaching - The Strengths, Weaknesses and Future of e-Coaching
By Mark McClure
E-Coaching is an abbreviation for electronic coaching and is the online version of face-to-face coaching or coaching by phone. This article highlights the potential impact of using online tools and technologies to deliver coaching-based solutions.
To put this in some sort of context, please note that a generation of younger Internet users (born in the 1990s) is growing up very familiar with online technologies such as instant messaging and mobile phone texting.
And a growing number of students are studying online and also becoming more comfortable with asynchronous learning methods. As these young people enter adulthood the use of online collaboration tools and virtual reality worlds in an e-coaching environment is likely to appeal to clients from this Internet population demographic.
However, it is probable that these tools will be more slowly embraced by Internet users born before 1975.
Strengths and Weaknesses of e-coaching:
The primary strength is the anytime, anywhere nature of e-coaching which uses asynchronous delivery methods - such as email coaching or private discussion forum or blog. Client and coach can carry on a meaningful and constructive e-conversation and only have an occasional real-time check in voice call. Another strength is that time and money are probably saved because of eliminating the travel issues.
The primary weakness is the virtual nature of the relationship between coach and client - specifically, the absence of visual and auditory cues. Giving feedback via text-based e-coaching and even real-time chat can be a challenge since wording and nuances can be misunderstood or poorly phrased.
The Future:
E-coaching may work well if part of the “coaching package” includes e-assignments between sessions - or even a mini ecourse/seminar delivered by auto-responder. Particularly exciting for ‘live’ online coaching is the growing availability of Internet Broadband to the home in both the industrialized and the rapidly industrializing BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China).
The capability to use good quality video along with collaboration tools such as online mind mapping will help drive new uses by coaches striving to deliver best-in-class coaching to their clients.
Discover How To Create Incredible Yet Reachable Goals - in this FREE 14-page report: Goal Setting Report
Mark McClure is an Asia-Pacific based e-coach and Internet Business Owner. http://www.goalcreationmaps.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_McClure
http://EzineArticles.com/?e-Coaching—The-Strengths,-Weaknesses-and-Future-of-e-Coaching&id=725766
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By Mark McClure
E-Coaching is an abbreviation for electronic coaching and is the online version of face-to-face coaching or coaching by phone. This article highlights the potential impact of using online tools and technologies to deliver coaching-based solutions.
To put this in some sort of context, please note that a generation of younger Internet users (born in the 1990s) is growing up very familiar with online technologies such as instant messaging and mobile phone texting.
And a growing number of students are studying online and also becoming more comfortable with asynchronous learning methods. As these young people enter adulthood the use of online collaboration tools and virtual reality worlds in an e-coaching environment is likely to appeal to clients from this Internet population demographic.
However, it is probable that these tools will be more slowly embraced by Internet users born before 1975.
Strengths and Weaknesses of e-coaching:
The primary strength is the anytime, anywhere nature of e-coaching which uses asynchronous delivery methods - such as email coaching or private discussion forum or blog. Client and coach can carry on a meaningful and constructive e-conversation and only have an occasional real-time check in voice call. Another strength is that time and money are probably saved because of eliminating the travel issues.
The primary weakness is the virtual nature of the relationship between coach and client - specifically, the absence of visual and auditory cues. Giving feedback via text-based e-coaching and even real-time chat can be a challenge since wording and nuances can be misunderstood or poorly phrased.
The Future:
E-coaching may work well if part of the “coaching package” includes e-assignments between sessions - or even a mini ecourse/seminar delivered by auto-responder. Particularly exciting for ‘live’ online coaching is the growing availability of Internet Broadband to the home in both the industrialized and the rapidly industrializing BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China).
The capability to use good quality video along with collaboration tools such as online mind mapping will help drive new uses by coaches striving to deliver best-in-class coaching to their clients.
Discover How To Create Incredible Yet Reachable Goals - in this FREE 14-page report: Goal Setting Report
Mark McClure is an Asia-Pacific based e-coach and Internet Business Owner. http://www.goalcreationmaps.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_McClure
http://EzineArticles.com/?e-Coaching—The-Strengths,-Weaknesses-and-Future-of-e-Coaching&id=725766
