Communication Options
DiversiCorp’s coaching and consulting services offer a number of options for communications with a client. To some degree it is based upon whether the critical mission will be diluted or not by an alternative to personal contact between client and the coach or consultant. In other cases, it may be an issue of cost, and in others, a matter of time or availability. Normally in the early assessment stage, the most appropriate methods will be determined.
Phone
In coaching or consulting when the principal requirement is oral communications phone calls alone may be appropriate. In such cases both the client and the coach or consultant are responsible for their own connection, be it wired, wireless or virtually over the internet. Fees are normally lower for purely telephonic services. The option for phone communications is established early in a coaching assignment or consulting engagement, and appropriateness, not necessarily cost alone, are the main drivers of phone communications alone.
In-person
Generally in coaching and most frequently consulting, there is not a substitute for the person-to-person contact in developing a rapport that takes advantage of subtleties including “body language” and the use of demonstrative tools, some of which can be used online. In person sessions are held at the coach’s offices and consulting engagements may be at the client’s location or some combination of the two.
Online
With cost and time constraints an issue but where documentation and some personal contact are important, virtual (Web enabled) options are available and have been enjoying substantial growth in professional services. Also promoting online virtual meetings is the commonality of computers equipped with Web cameras and built in microphones. Even for those without onboard gear, aftermarket cameras and microphone/headset combinations are readily available, even wireless units, all at reasonable costs.
DiversiCorp is equipped to use three virtual forms of contact with its clients. First, video and voice over the internet is available. We have determined that while connections are not absolutely perfect, E-Bay’s Skype (www.skype.com) is a preferred provider, given its ease of installation and cost. The only equipment needed are a video card, headset with microphone and a broadband internet connection.
If the requirement is more voice communication plus the sharing of documents or viewing of presentations then our preferred vendor is Go to Meeting (www.gotomeeting.com) provided by Citrix, a predominate internet services provider. There is no cost to our clients and they only need an internet connection to participate. It is also utilized for group meetings as well. In the latter case, the host can provide a toll free number and multiple parties can participate. The meeting host sends an email invite with a call in number and meeting ID and the participant simply navigates to the site, signs in and then views on their monitor what the host has open on his or her desktop. On a two person session, one person calls the other using whatever means they wish and then connects to their meeting similarly.
Finally, if a voice meetings requires multiple parties to join, DiversiCorp utilizes Free Conference Call (www.freeconferencecall.com). In these cases, the parties receive a non toll-free number and a meeting ID. When they call, and enter the ID, all parties are joined in a conference call.
Online options have discounted fees from in-person meetings and are appropriate in certain cases that are established during the early assessment stage of a coaching assignment or consulting engagement.
