Connecting across the sea

As one of the Academy NLP coaches I get the opportunity to work alongside people each week at our Croydon centre. The centre is a perfect venue for NLP coaching with a large, private open space. It’s great to meet people in this environment and it’s been the arena where a lot of people have made some amazing changes in their lives. Over the last 24 months we have been looking at other ways to connect with more people from all over the UK and the world. Overall it has been a resounding success and what I wanted to offer you today was a very simple breakdown of the various virtual coaching products and systems you can use.

Skype:

Benefits

-It’s free which is always nice.
-Compatible with many systems ranging from phones, Ipads, tv’s and computers.
- Very quick as long as you have a good internet connection.
-Best used with video, important if using NLP/Hypnosis formal interventions for the client to be in a quiet place.

Drawbacks:

Personally I prefer facetime’s in call experience which I find less echo’ey.
Overall a very good free package.

Facetime:

Benefits:

Free to use as long as you have an apple phone, Ipad or computer.
Excellent connection incredibly quick and easy to use on the move.
Very easy to use and no log in codes needed, simply connect.
Drawbacks:

Compatibility, can only be used on certain apple products such as the IPhone and Ipads. 

Google hangouts:

Benefits:

-Able to have conversations with multiple people at the same time, excellent for group coaching.
-Also can have consistent hangout groups where previous messages are stored.
-Links in well with other google systems which are all linked, coaching, google calendar, gmail, youtube ect… You could run your business database solely though google.
-Free

Drawbacks:

-Need a gmail account (personally I see this as a positive).
-Takes longer to get used to usage wise than skype or facetime.

The good old fashioned Telephone:

Benefits:
-No internet connection required.
-Very easy to use

Drawbacks:
Usually have to hold the phone unless you have earphones.
Pay for usage particularly overseas calls unlike the other mentioned above.
No video facility.

Honourable mention: Webex

Overview and constructing programs:

For me personally skype has been the easiest and most practical system to use. There are no restrictions to what platform it can be used with and it’s free as well. What is vital if you are using any of the above is that the person has a strong internet connection. There is nothing more frustrating that being in a session with someone and the internet connection is lost. It’s pivotal that the session is as realtime as possible, meaning the client is totally focused on your session as opposed to dodgy sound, poor internet, holding the handset, the dog barking ect….

Now if you are virtual coaching (skype, facetime ect..) It is vital you know your interventions inside out, I advise against doing this kind of coaching if you are not 100% comfortable with the techniques you are using as framing the interventions clearly is pivotal for the client to be able to achieve success from the session.

Now some people solely use virtual coaching software for all of their coaching. Personally I prefer to meet with the client in person where possible, but I regularly use skype and facetime with clients overseas and as a follow up tool with anyone after or in between each session so we can keep the momentum going and also troubleshoot anything that comes up after sessions as well. Year upon year technology is getting better and isn’t it amazing how many more people we can reach out to and share this great stuff that is NLP! Embrace it 