The Digital Coach

Book excerpt: Thanks to digital media, coaching doesn ́t have to be constrained by geographical and temporal boundaries. Using digital media to facilitate coaching processes however, creates a distinct form of coaching practice that requires additional skill from the coach. The Digital Coach contains insights based on a comprehensive, exploratory research that analysed the discussions of a 1,000 member strong online community of coaches and several interviews with coaches to understand their practical experiences of working with technology. At the same time, the book offers information, insights, and examples that can be readily used by the coaching practitioner. Based on the developments in the field, the book provides suggestions about improving the usability of coaching software, and it offers reflections on how emerging technologies like immersive Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Artificial Intelligence might extend coaching practice. Whilst acknowledging the limitations and potential risks that may arise by integrating digital media in coaching, the book suggests that coaching success doesn’t only depend on media capabilities, but also on the coach. The digital coach develops enhanced coaching skills and adapts coaching practice to the media in use. The book is dedicated to the coaching practitioner who uses digital media or who is considering doing so, and is relevant for coaching supervisors, buyers of coaching services, human resource professionals, and software designers.