Online Life Coach

Will having an online life coach work well for you?

Many people are intrigued by the concept of an online coaching relationship but it's important to be familiar with the positives and negatives before making a decision.

There are some differences between them, so I’ll cover their pros and cons separately.

Life Coaching by Email Pros:

• Ultra-Convenient--Emailed messages can be sent at any time from any location.

• Nearly Unlimited Contact--I promise a response within 48 hours of your email. And there is no limit on how many emails you can send me.

• Most Economical--Life coaching by email is the least expensive option.

• No Limit on Length of Email--You may write as much as you want in your emails. In fact, you may find it cathartic to use your life coaching by email as a sort of journaling process.

Life Coaching by Email Cons:

• Progress Can Be Slow--With email coaching it’s hard for the efficient back and forth conversation that is essential for quick progress. Each question, misunderstanding, or response to feedback requires several back and forth emails which is time consuming and inefficient. Very unlikely for in the moment feedback and interaction.

• Impersonal--Having an online life coach can seem impersonal and sterile. Although I try hard to establish and maintain a relationship no matter the mode of coaching, just conversing through email can make the coach and client feel less connected.

• Misinterpretation Easy--Emoticons are very helpful, but misinterpretation is still common when using email. You know how easy it is to misread an email when you can’t get a sense of tone, inflection, and gestures to help you interpret it accurately.

• Convenient--While sessions are scheduled, you can do them anywhere you have internet access.

• Dialogue--There is more of a dialogue with the near instant back and forth nature of IM.

• Text vs. Talk--Communicating through typing may feel more comfortable to you.

IM Cons:

• Proper or Not?--If you’re used to typing with abbreviations, some of your meaning may get lost in the translation, so to speak. On the other hand, you may find it distracting if you try to write in "proper" English sentences.

• Keep it Short--IM is ideal for short thoughts and phrases which makes a detailed explanation or description challenging.

• Keeping Focused--It may be hard to remain focused while waiting for replies. And because of the quick nature of IMing, it’s possible to lose track of valuable points or issues in the back and forth responses.

While telephone coaching is the most widely used method, online life coaching can offer flexibility and convenience that may suit you better.

• It may be more convenient to use IM during your work lunch hour.

• If you really want a coach but are concerned about the cost, life coaching by email may be a good start for you right now.

• Or maybe you want to give coaching a try but are a little reluctant to actually connect with someone voice to voice over the phone. In that case, both email and IM coaching provide a bit of distance in the coach/client relationship.

All of those situations are valid and important and I am happy to discuss which way might accommodate you best.

No matter which option you choose, all initial sessions are held over the phone. So you will get a chance to experience how that feels for you before deciding on which method you’d like to continue with!

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