With today’s technology, it is actually possible to be an online personal coach. In the same way that the telephone eliminated the need for most face to face meetings, online technology can expand your offerings and greatly enhance your personal coaching. This post looks at how to apply today’s technology to coaching and how to avoid mistakes.

Managing the Comfort Factor

The single biggest issue in online coaching is managing your client’s comfort factor. If you are a good candidate to become an online personal coach, you are probably pretty excited about technology. You probably hold onto your smart phone, like Charlton Heston holds onto his gun. Don’t assume that your clients feel the same way. There may also be cultural protocols that you need to observe. I once ran a business-to-business telephone sales organization. Our model worked great all around the globe – except in Japan. We finally figured out that unless our telephone salesperson met face to face with the client and they actually exchanged business cards, the client would simply not do business over the phone.

Today’s Technology Options

Here is the exciting part. There are lots and lots of options. You can do assessments online and get almost instant results. You can use video-conferencing for group coaching and mastermind sessions. You can offer instruction using webinars, with the benefit of being able to replay the webinar for future clients. You can make eBooks, audios and videos available online for free or for sale. Today, you can do all of this using PCs, laptops, tablets or smart phones. And you can do them from anywhere in the world, like from that beach Tim Ferriss is always talking about.

Transitioning into Being an Online Personal Coach

If this all sounds good to you that’s great, because all of the tools and infrastructure are in place for you to transition into being an online personal coach. Just remember to give your client the choice of working online or not. Introduce them to new technologies at a pace that they are comfortable with. For example, you might start with having them fill out an assessment online rather than with paper and a pencil. Remember let them set the pace and don’t assume that they are as excited as you about technology. Pretty soon you will be doing the majority of your personal coaching online.

By the way… you’re invited to claim your FREE step-by-step “30-Days to Become a Coach” video toolkit. Just go HERE now to get your 30-day coaching blueprint videos.

Dave Iuppa
JTS Advisors Strategy and Accountability Coach