How Email Coaching Can Be Good For You

I first used email coaching with a client based in eastern Europe. Unfortunately the company MD spoke no English and we realised that translation over the phone just wouldn’t work. So we did the next best thing: we used email.

In reality using email was a nightmare. The emails I wrote to the client passed through a translator who then passed the translation to the client. The client then sent back their feedback, answers and progress through the translator.

Using a translator really spread the coaching timeframe out and made it difficult to keep track of what was happening. Also whilst I felt that I got on well with the translator I had no idea about what the real client thought or even how much effort they were putting into what I was suggesting.

Because I found the act of writing down suggestions, advice, hints and feedback so incredibly useful I decided to offer or email coaching to other clients. With one proviso: They could speak English!

From that I found there were 10 good reasons for using email coaching:

1. It’s less costly because there are no call charges and no filler, fluff or off-topic conversation
2. It allows each person to fit in the coaching at their own convenience
3. Commitments are typed in and are held on email that both coach and coachee can see
4. There is time for thought about each point both people make
5. Short follow-up emails are possible to clarify points
6. It’s a permanent record of progress
7. Coaching by email is less liable to interruption from other people
8. Emails can be shared with others in the company who will benefit
9. Key pre-written emails can be used for key questions that are always asked. That means the coach concetrates on giving the best possible answer to a common question and can immediately send an email to the client about it when it arises
10. Using email allows URLs, downloads and attachements to be easily shared.
11. Using email means that I can more easily demonstrate the changes in marketing copy to a client that will pull better for them

I’ve also coached using Skype Immediate Messaging but that is not as effective as email because it still requires off the top of the head answers from both coachee and coach and for them both to be present at the same time.

Tags: coaching, mentoring, email coaching, email mentoring, marketing coaching email marketing coaching, Jim Symcox,

Powered by Qumana