This year has improved everyone’s virtual meeting skills, so we’ve updated this popular article with the latest best practices.
Can Coaching be as effective if it’s done through a computer screen from miles away?
Absolutely!
By definition, a Crisis comes with titanic challenges. Adjusting to a huge portion of the workforce that is now using home offices and virtual meetings has been one. When a company makes a strategic pivot, teams must shift to support the new direction regardless of where they’re working from. Using Catalytic Coaching effectively through a screen can be made easy and will ensure you stay on track.
Here are 4 tips for successful Coaching via Zoom (or any other virtual platform):
1) Remove distractions. No matter where you host your meeting, best practices have always recommended reducing distractions. That can be difficult for parents who are now working from home. Young children are noisy, even if they aren’t actively trying to get Dad’s attention. School kids trying to complete their distance learning work may need to ask Mom a question at an awkward time. Dogs seem to always know the worst time to start barking.
Encourage team members to find a quiet room away from household bustle
Coaches may need to be available outside “normal office hours”
Be sure everyone has their email and other notifications set to silent so you don’t get any pop ups on the screen.
2) Be seen. It’s crucial that both the Coach and their team member see each other during any Catalytic Coaching session. Connecting is easier when you can lay eyes on the other person. Remember that HOW a Coaching form is delivered is just as important as WHAT is on the form. Most laptops have decent cameras, but external USB cameras can be used for desktops or when higher quality video is wanted.
Don’t forget to look into the camera whenever possible while talking
Create good lighting that illuminates your face
Be mindful of what is in the background
3) Prepare to share. And to follow along. After you get the meeting kicked off, whomever is presenting their Coaching sheet should be logged into their Catalytic Coaching Online account and ready to share their screen. This let’s both the Coach and the person being Coached view the sheet as it’s used as the script for your meeting and allows for real time updates to the form before submission. Remember to still keep those cameras going and adjust the viewing area as needed.
Virtual Coaching Session Best Practices Example: Two of our highly trained Coach3s recorded an example of best practices for the Blue Coaching Worksheet and how to virtually deliver it for the recent Catalytic Coaching Mastery Program. You can follow along with the example sheet they use by accessing it in the resources section of your Catalytic Coaching Online software account. Don’t have a software account? You can also access the example sheet here.
Just like in face-to-face meetings, it’s best to wait to submit your form in the software until after your meeting. This allows for updates that may arise and will prevent the need to ask an admin to reverse sheet submission.
4) Update Coaching ASAP. Pretty much everyone has had some kind of company pivot(s) that changed the Coaching someone needs. Chances are high that the Development Plan created prior to March 2020 is not as relevant now.
Use the Off-Cycle Coaching feature in the Catalytic Coaching Online software to populate fresh Coaching forms. This will let you revitalize Focus Areas for new organizational needs.
While typical best practices are to meet for Progress Updates on that Development Plan once per quarter, massive change or an overwhelmed employee may need more Coaching. During a Crisis, provide the support based on your team member’s needs.
Unfortunately some Career Paths will be derailed by a Crisis. Manager’s will need to coach their team members on how changes will affect their previous plans and how they now fit into the organization’s need.
Which Crisis of 2020 is plaguing you? Regardless of what is dragging your morale and revenue down, Gary has some invaluable insight no business leader or HR professional will want to miss.
Join him next week for this free webinar on October 21, 2020 from 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST.
Garold (Gary) Markle is the creator of Catalytic Coaching and author of Catalytic Coaching: The End of the Performance Review. He brings real world experience from 17 years in HR leadership in major corporations coupled with 20 years of teaching small and mid-sized organizations how to cultivate their leadership and ditch their detrimental performance reviews for a proven Coaching process.
Book Gary to speak to your audience about speeding your pace of significant change.
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