Avoid distant communication

The topic we will be addressing below could become somewhat controversial, considering the work system you have implemented for dealing with your clients. Many professionals make exclusive use of remote communication. With the present technological development, remote communication is a very attractive option, since it optimizes the logistics processes involved in providing personalized attention to a client.

While this topic is not about criticizing distance communication, we do want to highlight the many advantages of having a personal exchange during the first coaching sessions, provided that the conditions allow it. During the course of this guide we will be addressing some of the most important elements related to how we establish contact with our clients during initial coaching sessions.

The advantages of in-person communication during initial sessions.

In-person communication, where the coach and client share the same physical space, allows for a number of results that stand out over distance communication during initial coaching sessions. The professional relationship that emerges between coach and client is usually based on solid bonds of complicity and trust.

At this point, physical contact has proven to be much more effective than virtual contact, because no matter how advanced technology may be, our marked characteristic as social beings inflicts on us a constant need to relate to each other in the most personal way possible if we wish to break some initial communication barriers.

With this we are not saying that distance communication is a bad option, in fact, in many occasions it is the only alternative when there is a considerable distance between the coach and the client. We only emphasize the importance of making an effort to carry out the first meetings in person whenever there are adequate conditions to carry it out.

Better and worse alternatives

In circumstances where face-to-face communication cannot be established during the initial coaching sessions, due to force majeure, some alternative should be used to facilitate the conversation between client and coach. For this purpose, we have listed the three most common alternatives, in degree of recommendation:

• Video calls: The most recommended alternative to face-to-face communication is video calls. This is because although video calls do not manage to break some of the communication barriers that face-to-face communication does, they allow a greater degree of information to be transmitted than the rest of the alternatives. When we communicate, we do so not only with our voice, but also with a whole series of elements such as non-verbal expressions, which highlight a whole host of informative signals that can be used effectively by the coach.

• Calls: Calls are the second most recommended alternative. They are much less effective than video calls in gathering information of value to the coach. This is due to the fact that with calls the information provided by non-verbal expressions is lost. Similarly, communication can be affected by misinterpretations of tone of voice or intonation. Try to use calls only when it is totally impossible to make a video call.

• Texting: Texting is the least recommended communication style for our first coaching sessions. The information that can be received through a text message is extremely limited, since it only gathers very specific information that cannot be contrasted or measured with elements that denote the client's state of mind or the context of some expressions.