6 Challenges of Remote Working for Coaches | by Jennifer Britton MES, CHRP, CPT, PCC

An increasing number of coaches and our clients globally have found themselves needing to work remotely. While it offers an amazing amount of flexibility it includes several downsides, namely lack of direction, isolation, impact on our motivation, lack of feedback and disconnection from others.

Let's Look at Each of These 6 Remote Working Challenges in Turn:

Challenge 1) Lack of Direction

The autonomy afforded with remote work is wonderful, but if we aren't clear on where we are going or what we want to achieve, this can lead to the sense of being a "rudderless" ship.

An antidote to this can be to create a strong vision. As I wrote in Coaching Business Builder "Our vision pulls us through the chopping and sometimes turbulent waters of business and life" (Britton, 2018, Coaching Business Builder).

Action: Spend some time revisiting and clarifying - or creating a vision for your business.

Challenge 2) Isolation

Isolation and loneliness is a common feeling shared by many professionals in the remote space. The current COVID-19 situation means there are more people than ever experiencing this - you are not alone!

Some ideas to consider: What are you doing to proactively connect with others in your industry? Are you taking time to attend online learning events, participate in social networks, and/or reach out for virtual coffee dates?

Action: Schedule in time for outreach and online participation. Also consider collaborative work you could co-create with someone else online.

Challenge 3) Reduced motivation

We are all motivated by different internal and external motivators.

What are the things that motivate you? Is it the challenge of learning something new? Taking a deep dive with a client? Focusing in on a new project? Completing a long-standing project? Working with people who interest and excite you?

Action: Get clear on what motivates you. Journal or go for a walk outside and spend some time thinking about what gets you excited, what feels most satisfying. And then find ways to bring this into your remote working.

Challenge 4) Lack of productivity

When you work remotely, routine can be a key to productivity. In the remote space, boundaries between work and life can feel very fluid. So, have a plan, create clear start and end times. Are you more productive if you have variety in your day, or do you prefer to work on just one thing? What time of day do you have the focus to work on big projects?

Parkinsons' rule asserts that, "Tasks expand to fill the time we give them". So, without an external boss to say, "I need this by next Tuesday", it's easy for tasks to take as long as the time we give them. What buffers do you want to create to reduce this?

Action: Consider what habits and routines are going to support you. Learn what works best for you and implement a routine that maximises productivity for you.

Editor's Note: You may find our Supportive Daily Habits Exercise helpful here.

Challenge 5) Lack of feedback

Part of the isolated nature of working as a coach means we have minimal feedback loops as to how we are doing.

What feedback are you receiving? What are your clients saying? What other avenues do you have to pause and reflect on how you are doing?

Action: Ask questions of yourself such as, "What worked well?", "What should we be doing differently next time?" and "What should be celebrated?"

Challenge 6) Disconnection from others

Remote working may lead to a feeling of disconnection and isolation. Becoming part of a coaching group can help you to share best practices, and get feedback on your skills. These peer networks can be an important part of the development process of the coach, throughout all stages of our development. Use peer networks to grow your skills, business, to get answers to specific issues or questions - or simply for the connection!

Action: What coaching groups could you join and participate in?

Editor's Note: You may like the Coaches Helping Coaches Facebook Group here.

Wrap-up

There are many challenges with remote working. We need connection, variety, routine, clarity and  to find our own unique ways of being productive. So, explore different interests and activities that support you - like online learning, self-care, workouts and even virtual retreats! All of these can help boost our productivity - and motivation.

What are the things that are going to provide some variety for you as a coach? What are the things that are going to help you thrive as you work remotely?

Editor's Note: You may also like Jennifer's new Remote Working Whitepaper (helping you get up to speed quickly!)

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Contributing Author:

Jennifer Britton, MES, CHRP, CPT, PCC, is the author of seven books and has influenced a generation of coaches in the realms of team and group coaching. You may have read her writing, including Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010), the first book in the world to be published on the topic of group coaching; From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching; or her latest, Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World (2021).

Since 2006, Jennifer's Group Coaching Essentials and Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum programs have become known as the must-do training in the area of group coaching. Focused on providing coaches with best practices in designing, marketing and implementing group coaching, these programs have helped thousands of coaches launch their own group and team coaching programs in a wide variety of settings (public, corporate, non-profit). Together both courses are approved for 18.75 ICF CCEUs. These are the first two of 10 course pathways leading to certificates in Group and Team Coaching.

Potentials Realized's ICF-CCE programs are geared for aspiring group and team coaches, especially those wanting to work toward the New Advanced Credential in Team Coaching (ACTC) with the ICF.

Also check out our neuroscience course for group and team coaches (NLE-A), Team Coaching Essentials  and ACTIVATE Your Team and Group Coaching Superpowers. Prefer podcasts? Listen in to the Remote Pathways podcast, which explores the many different pathways to remote work, business and leadership.

Learn more about Jennifer & see all their articles here >>