One of my dreams came true the other day. I did my first coaching session via webcam. OK, maybe it’s not what every small boy dreams of when he’s growing up, but I’ve been waiting a long time for the technology to make this possible. It looks like that day has arrived.
As well as using the webcam for coaching, I’ve been talking to friends as far away as Japan and Australia – I’m amazed at the picture quality and there doesn’t seem to be much of a time-lag, even at such a distance.
Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting of course. But having delivered hundreds of coaching sessions by phone, I can say that the webcam beats the phone hands down. Being able to see someone’s changing expressions, their gestures, their whole body language, makes it so much easier to get a sense of their emotional state, and really helps to bring the conversation alive.
I’m excited as this means I can offer coaching to people who are so far away that we wouldn’t normally get the chance to meet up. It also means I can be more flexible in the timing of appointments – it’s much easier to schedule a web appointment than to arrange for us both to be physically in the same place at the same time.
To me this is another example of the potential for technology to bring people closer together – I’ve already met quite a few people in person as a result of this blog, hopefully the web coaching will help me connect with a lot more.
If you fancy trying it, drop me an e-mail.
(This is the kind of thing I do: for freelancers and companies.)
Mark McGuinness
Mark is a business coach and trainer for innovative organisations. For more tips and advice about creative business, sign up for free updates from Wishful Thinking. And for bite-sized inspiration, add Mark on Google+.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Mark M!
)
Thanks for the generally really spendid posts and comments (“generally splendid” cause at times there are ones that just make me get up, walk away and thik a while
Can you share with us which technology or suite of apps you might be using to get the “amazed at the picture quality” and service you’re experiencing? Not too worry, not going to be competing with ya or anything, just always looking for real world, real working stuff that I can find use for.
OH, and are those three images of you par of your “Johnny Mnemonic” video password thing that we need to use to decode some secret hidden meaning?
Thanks, James.
Hi James, thanks for the feedback (and would be really interested in what kind of thoughts the other posts provoke
)
I’m using a Macbook pro, and have experimented with Skype and iChat, talking to Mac and PC users. iChat is the best, but Skype is still very impressive.
If anyone can recommend other good videochat applications, I’m all ears.
Finally – there’s a hidden meaning in everything on Wishful Thinking, surely you knew that
That very first one that a friend forward was on Enthusiasm.
Needless to say, I became an Enthusiastic feed subscriber immediately after reading that article!
Keep bringing us the good stuff Mark!
Thanks!
James.
Good to hear the enthusiasm is infectious…
Hi Mark,
Another generally splendid post. It might be fun to try it sometime with you. I’ve got a MacBook Pro but have never used the built-in conferencing feature.
Roger von Oech
Hi Roger, it would be great to chat with you sometime, let’s do it!