Keys to Effective Online Coaching

Employee coaching and development for businesses continues to swiftly make a shift from a negotiable to a necessity as the benefits have proven to be well-worth it. Online coaching provides your employees with the tools, skills and mindsets they need to grow and develop in thriving environments, which in turn will positively reflect a business's engagement rates, productivity, and ultimately profitability. But with all of these benefits, it’s important to understand what makes a good coaching platform before committing, so you can decide on a program that is right for your business and for your leaders. 

Benefits of Workplace Coaching

While there are several avenues an employer can take to contribute to employee development, coaching stands out amongst other options because of the lasting impact it has on performance. With the guidance a leadership coaching provides, leaders are able to focus on areas that require improvement, which leads to increased efficiency and higher quality work. In addition, with newly adopted skills, leaders approach scenarios with innovative solutions, boosting confidence and employee satisfaction, which further reduces employee turnover and burnout. All of these benefits have a lasting impact on the health of the business and the culture in which the overall business operates.

What to Look for in an Online Coaching Platform

The key to rolling out a successful coaching program for your business is to ensure that it will meet your needs and provide the best experience possible for your employees. There are a few key elements to look at in every platform to make an informed decision.

1. Accessibility and Ease of Use

While employees might have varying responsibilities and workloads, it’s important to find a platform that is convenient for everyone. Having an easy-to-navigate platform means that your employees can spend less time acclimating to the platform and more time developing their skill sets and approach. 

When discussing platforms, it might be important to bring up the following:

• Request a demo or walk through of the platform so you can understand how it works and how seamless and/or accessible it is. 
• How/when can their employees access the platform?
• What happens if they run into any issues with the platform?

For example, Valor’s easy-to-use, comprehensive online platform can be accessed through desktop, tablet, and on a mobile app. It also includes unlimited access to ongoing courses, micro-exercises, and assessments; so your employees can track their progress and reflect on their growth at any time, anywhere.

2. Customization and Personalization

Since no two businesses are the same, it’s important the coaching program you move forward with is tailored to meet each individual employee’s needs as well as the overall goals of your organization. Features such as personal assessments, progress reports, and customizable training paths will greatly enhance an individual’s experience. 

Questions you might ask regarding a platform you’re considering might include: 

• What is their coach matching process? 
• How does the platform cater to the needs of the business and the individual’s strengths and weaknesses? 
• How are the exercises customized for each individual? 

By completing Valor’s 360º self assessment, recipients provide our team with valuable insights to accurately predict strengths and areas of opportunity amongst leaders and their teams. Following the assessment, we use advanced AI software, to match individuals with the most appropriate coach for them based on experiences, preferences, and career path. 

3. Reporting and Analytics

Reporting and analytics are potentially the most important feature when investing in a coaching platform. Tracking progress is crucial to both employee success and organizational success. Furthermore, tracking allows you to review what is working and what might need to be revised. 

Questions to ask potential coaching partners:

• What data is tracked and reported?
• How will aggregated data influence potential coaching partnership expansions? 
• Who has access to what data and reporting?

Valor provides insights through data metrics, like benchmarking against comparable companies, to help you understand your team's mindset and the impact Valor Coaching has had on performance. 

4. Quality of Coaches

Another important element to look for is the caliber of coaches available. Not all platforms offer the same level of expertise amongst their coaches. You want to make sure that the coaches working with your leaders have experience that is relevant and applicable so your leaders can have an expert resource to help them navigate through adversity.

Questions to ask potential coaching partners might include:

• What are some of the professional backgrounds of your coaches? 
• What type of certifications do your coaches have?
• What industries have your coaches worked in and with?

Valor Coaches know firsthand how to excel in hyper-competitive situations. They have performed on the world's toughest stages as CEOs, professional athletes, equity derivative traders, and military specialists, with years of experience in performance mindset coaching. And from their experience coaching top performers around the globe and their expertise in the science of excellence they know how to help others be in the right mindset, at the right time - consistently.

Finding the Right Coaching Platform

Finding the right platform for your business might seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. First and foremost, remember to evaluate your employee’s needs. Understand what they find important and what skills they want to develop in their careers. Secondly, compare cost and value and be sure to review user feedback and reviews. Finally, refer back to the questions listed above and make sure they align with your organizational goals. Utilizing these steps will lead you in the right direction for your needs. 

Enhanced performance, increased employee satisfaction and engagement, and reduced burnout are just some of the reasons to invest in coaching for your employees. Know what to look for when evaluating your options, such as ease-of-use, customization, and expertise of the coaches. And as with any investment, do your research so you can be certain that you’ve chosen correctly. Providing your leaders with the tools they need to reach their full potential demands a delicate approach. Valor coaching applies a customized model for each individual within every organization while measuring scalable progress. Schedule a demo to explore Valor coaching.