Enhancing Team Collaboration: Virtual Coaching Benefits & Best Practices

1. Conservation Coaches Network New Coach Training Virtual Coachingthe next best thing to being there

2. What is Virtual Coaching? Virtual Coaching

3. What is Virtual Coaching? Virtual Coaching • Coaching techniques used when the coach and team(s) can’t meet in person • Not as effective as in-person coaching, but may be used when meeting is impossible • Also can be used to increase level of interaction between meetings

4. A Gradient of Interaction Virtual Coaching

5. Why Do Virtual Coaching? Virtual Coaching • Cost-effective way to reach teams all around the world • Lower carbon footprint than in-person meetings • Efficient way for a few coaches to assist many teams • Facilitates scheduling • Allows for short, intense sessions (don’t need to cover all CAP steps in single meeting) • Allows for greater interaction (relative to e-mail or multiple phone calls) when revising or refining CAP components • Can bring teams together that otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to interact and learn from one another

6. Example of Webinar-based Virtual Coaching Virtual Coaching • Bring project teams together through webinar and conference calls. • Audubon example: 9 project teams in 3 groups (3 teams per group, 1 coach for each group) • Small group sessions in which project teams present their work and receive feedback from their peers and coach (Efroymson model) • Large group sessions – presentations and Q&A

7. Example of Webinar-based Virtual Coaching Virtual Coaching

8. Example of Webinar-based Virtual Coaching Virtual Coaching Real-time dialogue, everyone focused on webex and talking via conference call

9. Common Issues & Recommendations Virtual Coaching • Hard for people to “connect” with one another virtually and develop relationships • Harder to keep people’s attention during remote interaction • Inability to read body language and adjust pace and content to it • Harder to ensure participation from everyone • Can be harder to make progress, ensure quality • Technical difficulties in webinars

10. Common Issues & Recommendations Virtual Coaching Issue:Harder to Develop Relationships, Team • If possible, start with in-person meeting, to form bonds • Coach could call team members prior to 1st meeting • Include pictures of team members in intro PPT • Participants introduce themselves with audiovisual aids • Make map of team members

11. Common Issues & Recommendations Virtual Coaching Issue: Keeping Participants Engaged, Not Distracted • Make presentations as dynamic as possible • Keep things interactive, asking people to comment on one another’s work, calling on people, etc. • Break the ice with humor • Allow uncomfortable silences

12. Common Issues & Recommendations Virtual Coaching Issue: Limited Ability to Read Body Language, Adjust • Make personal calls to establish relationships prior to 1st meeting (makes it easier to understand interests and draw people into discussions) • Use virtual whiteboards • Send personal chat messages to participants who are quiet or critical, to prompt participation

13. Common Issues & Recommendations Virtual Coaching Issue: Harder to Make Progress, Ensure Quality • Need clear goal for meeting, good agenda • Start on time and limit webinar to 60-90 min. • Send materials out ahead of time for participants to review • Require teams to present their work to one another for peer review • Set standards, ground rules

14. Common Issues & Recommendations Virtual Coaching Issue: Technical Difficulties (connecting, noise, etc.) • Encourage logging into webinar 10 min. prior to start • With large groups in webinars, participants need to be on mute to reduce background noise • Make materials available via website (Google site) or email • Second facilitator can help with technical difficulties • Have participants’ phone numbers to call them back if they get disconnected