Even in today’s high-tech world, many coaches still hesitate to introduce technology into their work with customers. In a lot of ways that makes sense, among the foundational elements of a successful coaching relationship is the argument that establishing deep connections with your clients contributes to greater coaching outcomes. It may really be true that under specific conditions technology can have a dehumanizing effect on how we interact with others. The desire to not use technology can significantly limit coaches looking to stay on top of their game as technology used in business coaching proves an effective tool in growing their business. Listed below are a few examples showing how technology can positively influence coaching. 

Much Better Communication

Talk of millennials at work may be overhyped, but the fact remains, younger individuals tend to be technology driven. For trainers working with millennials, using technology to expand communication may have a powerful impact. For example, communication with clients via SMS or chat between sessions helps coaches increase their effect. It also introduces new issues to consider such as establishing bounds and adjusting the cost of engagement to reflect between-session communication. It is important for individuals to put their own goals and see improvement within the span of their coaching engagement.  

Progress tracking

Using technology to gather feedback from peers and stakeholders can be a highly effective training tool. Tracking progress over time helps individuals better understand their strengths and areas requiring improvement. Clients feel empowered if they can look back and see how their job with their small business coach has helped them develop professionally.  

Big Data

In today’s world we can now collect and compare data across groups and easily create reports that would otherwise take months to manually aggregate and analyze. Tech-driven data collection is essential for training practice leaders which have to demonstrate the value of training to stakeholders. Measuring progress and benchmarking results helps leaders make better choices regarding coaching in their organisations. Big data not only assists customers, it may also help you as coaches understand trends, standards and norms in ways that inform your own coaching practice and evolve the coaching profession as a whole.  

Although these are just a couple of brief examples, you can see how technology may be used to support many areas of coaching. In the technology industry, we frequently speak about “tech piles,” or the mix of software products and frameworks necessary for web development. When it comes to running an online coaching business, putting together the ideal tech pile can help productivity not just in the processes that take place outside of coaching sessions but also in truly helping customers achieve measurable results.   

Virtually, all coaches utilise technology for different elements of the company, but knowingly developing a tech stack with the intent of streamlining your entire training practice involves an understanding of how different technologies can be utilised in a complementary fashion to meet the various demands and requirements of your business. Think about a few of the basic areas involved in conducting a coaching business. Areas like advertising, contracting, scheduling, video conferencing, target planning, surveys, articles sharing and billing. 

For many trainers, considering their tech strategy could be an intimidating process. A word of business advice is to start small. Make a list of the technology you are already utilizing. Consider how the use of these technologies makes it possible to run your business more efficiently. What is your client experience  like? Is the video conferencing platform easy to use? How can you help clients keep track of their goals? Are you currently collecting comments from stakeholders? What method(s) are you using to send bills and collect payments? 

Embracing technology can help coaches not just streamline the manner in which they operate their business but also function as a means to remain current with technologies and comprehend the modern office, with its ever-increasing use of technologies that require people to remain in tune.