There’s nothing worse than distractions caused by technical issues during an online coaching session. As coaches, we help set the tone by offering positive, productive learning environments. Video calls are no exception. Scratchy mics, blurry cameras, and poor lighting all detract from your coachee’s ability to stay fully present and focused.
With some investment in time, resources, and intentionality, we can elevate our coachee’s virtual experience.
During a recent team meeting, Certified Executive Coach and Program Director for Essential Impact, Ed Temple, shared some of his top tech strategies. We’ve benefited from his expertise so much that we decided to share a few of our favourite tips!
1. Audio Clarity
Clear communication is key for a coaching session. Your coachee needs to hear and understand you to be able to benefit from your time together. Investing in a reliable mic or headset means you’ll be able to offer crystal clear communication.
But what should you buy?
Wired headsets are certainly an option, but they aren’t ideal if the microphone sits so low that it scratches against your clothing. Alternatively, freestanding studio desktop mics will never sound scratchy, but they can also be a bit more expensive. If you’re looking for something more reasonably priced, consider a high-quality Bluetooth headset.
No matter what you choose, make sure you test it. Set up practice calls with friends and ask for feedback. Record yourself speaking and take time to listen to the recording. Ask yourself a few questions like:
- What can I hear in the background?
- How clear is my voice?
- What, if anything, might detract from the audio clarity?
2. Video Quality
According to pioneer researcher of body language, Albert Mehrabian*, about 55% of our interpersonal communication relies on visual cues like body language and facial expressions. This means that poor video quality can seriously impact a coaching session.
Because your laptop is continuously processing information, the built-in camera cannot always resolve video discrepancies in real-time. So, if you bump your desk or use visual aids during coaching calls, your laptop camera may not be able to focus effectively. As a result, your coachee might experience blurry video quality or lags in the recording.
While this may seem minor, it can be enough of a distraction to cause your coachee to lose focus and/or impair their ability to read your body language: both of which can lead to miscommunication or missed opportunities.
High-quality external video cameras, however, have a singular function. Their only job is to process video quickly. This means no lag time, no blur, no distractions.
The additional benefit of an external video camera is the opportunity for increased eye contact. Because they can be mounted in a variety of ways, you can position your camera so that you can look directly at it instead of looking up or down.
Once you have an external camera, spend time testing your new tech in the same way you tested your mic. Questions to consider include:
- Where can I mount my external camera to maximize eye contact?
- What distractions, if any, is my camera capturing from my background environment?
3. Lighting
Lighting also influences your non-verbal communication. If the lighting in your space casts long shadows or doesn’t light you at all, your coachee misses out on the subtle visual cues that convey connection and engagement.
Consider having at least three sources of light in your coaching environment. Natural light is ideal, so long it’s positioned behind your camera so it’s lighting your face.
If that’s not an option for you, be sure to invest in lamps and/or ring lights. Ring lights are relatively affordable, provide bright and even lighting in your space, and come in a variety of sizes and colours. Depending on your needs, some can also be mounted to your computer monitor or attached to the wall.
Again, you’ll want to test your lighting. Hop online with a friend or record yourself so you can position your lights just right. Ask yourself questions like:
- How does my lighting change, if at all, depending on the time of day?
- Where can I position my lights to eliminate shadows and brighten my face?
- What could be distracting about my lighting for me or my coachee (i.e. lighting reflecting on my glasses?)
What about Phone Calls?
With video fatigue on the rise, many people prefer phone calls. Coaching over the phone is incredibly effective. When Mehrabian discovered that 55% of our communication was non-verbal, he also found that 38% of communication is vocal. Our inflections, tone of voice, and rate of speech communicate more to others than the words we use.
While a phone call’s technical requirements might be different from a video call, the overarching principle remains the same. As a coach, you help set the stage for the session. With that in mind, when you think about coaching over the phone, what technical elements might enhance your vocal quality for your coachee?
Bonus Tip: Build a Backup Plan
We’ve all experienced unexpected technical issues. From faulty headphones to full-on power outages, tech issues can be embarrassing, frustrating, and sometimes even costly. It’s worth reviewing your systems and figuring out what your backup plan looks like before a tech failure. Take time to consider how to prepare your coachee as well.
Closing Questions
Remember, you help create the space for a positive and productive coaching session. How can you set both yourself and your coachee up for success? What’s one step you can take today to make that happen?
If you have additional tools, techniques, or tips from your coaching sessions, we’d love to hear them! Drop them in the form below. We’d love to share them with this community.
