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Telephone or Face to Face Coaching?
Rhonda G Hess
When just starting a coaching business, coaches are often
surprised that the majority of coaches offer their services
by telephone. This industry is perfect for the virtual entrepreneur
- someone who runs their business primarily from a home office
using digital methods for coaching, putting on events, and
marketing.
The Many Virtues of Virtual Coaching
1. International vs. Regional
With face-to-face coaching your clients must be in your region.
Telephone coaching expands your territory to the whole world.
2. Higher income/less non-billable time
Due to cultural mores, when meeting face-to-face you'll add
10 - 20 minutes of non-billable time to each session. Gracious
coming and going takes more time when in the same physical
setting than just verbal hellos and goodbyes.
3. Low overhead
While some coaches do meet clients in their home offices,
many opt for an office away from home to base their business
in a metropolitan area with a more professional front. The
cost of the lease combined with liability insurance significantly
increases expenses, decreasing profitability.
4. Quicker intimacy
Because of the automatic boundary telephones provide, clients
seem to more quickly trust and disclose private information
to their coaches than they do in face-to-face coaching. Speaking
right into each other's ears is quite intimate.
5. Increased effectiveness
I'm not sure why this is, but I've found that clients move
further faster with weekly telephone coaching than with face-to-face
sessions. I'm guessing it might have something to do with
intensity and directness. There is more potential for distraction
from the surroundings as well as the energetic strain of being
in each other's presence. After telephone coaching I feel
energized where face-to-face coaching seems to take something
out of me.
6. Convenience
Clients can call you from where they are. They don't have
to take much time from a busy day. If you're traveling, you
can keep appointments with clients. Your business gains a
freedom not possible when meeting face-to-face. I've coached
far from my home base -during an extended Hawaiian vacation!
I've heard of coaches who do their work from yachts and mobile
homes as they travel around.
7. Deeper listening Masterful coaching requires listening
on the deepest levels. When you limit your perception to verbal
and energetic, you may develop greater depths in listening
skills faster. I find I can hear body language through voice.
I've done somatic coaching and other specialized practices
originally designed for face-to-face work with great success
by telephone.
Offer What You Want
To All that said, I acknowledge that some coaches may prefer
face-to-face coaching. The most important thing is to offer
only what you want to offer otherwise you'll find yourself
dissatisfied with your business. There is no need to offer
either telephone or face-to-face coaching if you'd prefer
one or the other. Your clients will comply seeing that you
run your business like a professional and your business will
thrive.
Value Your Time
If you do offer face-to-face coaching consider charging about
25 - 30% more than you do for telephone coaching. To be financially
successful in your coaching business, value your time highly.
Because face-to-face coaching requires significantly more
time than telephone coaching be sure your rates reflect the
time dedicated to that service.
Similarly, if you travel to your client to coach, make sure
your rates reflect all the time/expenses that go toward serving
the client.
Rhonda Hess is a business success mentor coach for
professional coaches and other entrepreneurs. Her new business,
Prosperous CoachTM -- a professional development resource
for coaches -- launches early 2007. To learn more and receive
special offers, subscribe to Coaching from Center ezine http://www.bubblingwell.com
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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