How to Choose the Most Effective Coaching Style for a Coaching Program
Steps to Choosing a Coaching Style for a Coaching Program
Not every type of coaching style will work for every client. Each individual learns differently, so you will have to tailor your coaching method according to each client’s needs. This will help make the learning process more effective and in return you will produce greater coaching results.
Follow these three steps to determine the best coaching style for your clients.
Step 1. Determine the client’s learning style
When choosing a coaching style it is best to first figure the client’s learning style. There are three key learning styles – visual, auditory and physical.
Visual learners need to see something in action, such as a demonstration, slides, text or diagrams.
Auditory learners like to hear what you’re talking about, such as on recordings or webinars.
Physical learners do best when they actually write something down or act it out.
Ask your clients what they like best. What type of training have they done in the past that they enjoyed most? Why? If possible, have them give you an example of a program they learned a lot from. What were the key elements of that training?
Step 2. Design a program that will work best for different styles
You may have to use more than one approach for effective results. Each approach will build on the other and reinforces what was learned. For example, a video series should always be accompanied by the audio files and transcripts for people who would rather read the content or listen at their leisure.
In addition, since you’re probably not creating a new coaching program for each person, you’ll need to cater to several learning styles at once. Make sure you have something for everyone.
Everyone’s results will be the most effective if they actually apply what they’ve learning in the real world. Find opportunities for your clients to put what they learn into practice themselves, even if it is a case study or hypothetical scenario.
Step 3. Check in regularly and adjust as needed
The first coaching program you design will probably not be ideal, but getting regular feedback and making adjustments will help you continuously improve. Check in with clients regularly and ask them what is and isn’t working. What would they like to see more of? What aspects have not been helpful?
If revisions to your coaching program are outside the scope of what you originally promised, you might need to adjust the price. You could give an additional price quote for extra services, or refer people to additional resources if necessary. You might even offer different levels of coaching for those with varying needs. This is easy to do if you have set clear expectations.
Don’t be afraid to get feedback from your clients just because it might be negative. Forcing your own method of coaching onto a client won’t work if they have a different way of learning. You’ll have to uncover their learning styles, find out what is and isn’t working, and adjust your own method to get the best results.
