Online group coaching: building trust through a small window

Question 1

🔊

1. Active listening and focused attention

Answer

Listen carefully to what is being said! Listening, of course, a foundational skill in any coaching or facilitation. But also note what is not being said by participants. Since body language and visual cues are absent or limited, coaches must pay even more attention to detail to vocal tones, pacing, energy, and pauses to interpret participants’ emotions and engagement levels.

How to improve active listening:

Pay attention to subtle changes in tone, speed of speech and pauses in it.
Show participants that they are heard. Acknowledge their contributions verbally.
Use reflective listening: paraphrase or summarize what participants have said to confirm understanding.
What is unspoken? Check for underlying emotions and concerns by asking clarifying questions like, "Can you expand on that idea?" or "How does this resonate with you?"

Question 2

🤝

2. Building trust and psychological safety

Answer

For participants it is harder to open up and share in virtual environments. It can feel impersonal when, in reality, one sits somewhere alone with one's phone or notebook. It is up to the coach to overcome this and create an atmosphere where everyone feels secure, valued, and understood.

Here are some strategies to build trust:

Establish ground rules in the beginning: Talk through expectations for participation, set confidentiality agreements, and respectful communication norms.
Introduction is a key: Let participants share their goals and experiences at the start of the program. To help them, you can use icebreakers and storytelling exercises.
Be authentic: Share a bit about yourself to evoke reciprocity and create an environment that models openness.
Use inclusive language: Ensure all voices are valued and acknowledge diverse perspectives.

Question 3

👩🏻‍💻

3. Mastering call management

Answer

Can be challenging to run smooth group communication online. Someone turns on water while the other participant struggles to explain nuanced personal feelings. You want to think through all the details of the call management to ensure smooth operations. This includes handling technical issues, managing time effectively, and maintaining participant focus.

Best practices for call management:

Prepare in advance: Test your technology, including microphones, cameras, and breakout room features.
Establish clear guidelines: Make sure participants are instructed how to use mute/unmute, raise hands, or ask questions.
Handle disruptions professionally: Don’t hesitate to address background noise by politely asking participants to mute themselves. Interruptions can be managed through private chats.
Time management: A timer will be indispensable to keep the focus clear on the agenda and allocate sufficient time for discussions and exercises.
Monitor engagement: Offer participants the opportunity to answer a real-time poll check-in regularly to recalibrate the session's flow. Add elements of fun and competition here and there!

Question 4

🎯

4. Engaging in meaningful ways

Answer

People get easily distracted from monotonous calls, so they start scrolling or multi-tasking. A coach must design interactive activities that involve everyone and sustain their focus.

Techniques to enhance engagement:

Changes activities frequently: Switch between presentations, discussions, breakout rooms, and interactive tools (e.g., whiteboards or collaborative documents) every 7–10 minutes.
Use polls and quizzes: Gather opinions, test knowledge, or initiate discussions.
Encourage group participation: Assign meaningful roles to members of the group so they feel invested in the session’s success. Someone gets to be a timekeeper, another a discussion leader.
Acknowledge contributions: Encourage more quiet people to join in and share their thoughts.

Question 5

🖇️

5. Build up connections

Answer

Online calls don’t offer all those chances for spontaneous social bonding that occur naturally in face-to-face settings. You have to be the one who creates these opportunities for participants so they can build relationships.

Ways to create connection:

Pair learning partners: Collaboration makes a deeper bond and reinforces learning.
Create breakout groups: Discuss specific topics in smaller groups where interactions are always more intimate, and each participant has more opportunities to contribute.
Encourage asynchronous interactions: It’s great if communication sustains outside the session setting. Use private forums, chat groups, or shared boards. For example, Seturon can offer these tools to keep conversations going between sessions.
Celebrate progress together: Recognize group achievements to emphasise a sense of collective accomplishment.

Question 6

🌱

6. Adapt and response

Answer

The session can always go unpredictable ways, from technical issues to participant energy levels. Be prepared to act.

How to be adaptable:

Have contingency plans: Prepare backup platforms, alternative exercises, or additional materials.
Read the room: Adjust pacing or activities on the go.
Be open to feedback: Ask participants what’s working and what isn’t.

Question 7

📢

7. Clarity in communication

Answer

Misunderstandings are deemed to happen when a group of people who talk about sensitive matters is not present in the same room. Concise communication is critical to minimise it.

Tips:

Set expectations: Be sure to make all agreements on shore.
Provide a clear roadmap: Virtual environments can be disorienting, so everyone needs to be clear on how the session will progress and what is their role in it.
Recap key points: Summarise discussions or decisions throughout the session.
Use visual aids: Supplement verbal communication with slides, diagrams, and written instructions.
Speak with intention: Don’t rush, and use pauses to recap key points and indicate what’s coming next.

Question 8

😎

8. Less is more

Answer

Keep it simple! Simplicity is a hallmark of an effective virtual session. Facing overload with information or activities, participants will just disengage. Instead, try to create opportunities for dialogue, reflection, and active participation.

How to apply this principle:

Prioritize key points: Identify the 2–3 most important takeaways for each session and build activities around them.
Leave space for interaction: Participants are better to spend more time discussing than passively listening.
Use the 80/20 rule: Share only 80% of your planned content. This will allow flexibility for participant-driven discussions.

Question 9

🚧

9. Reduce barriers to participation

Answer

Proactively address logistical and technical difficulties to ensure everyone can participate fully.

Strategies to reduce barriers:

Pre-session technical support: Offer tutorials or office hours to help participants familiarise themselves with the platform.
Minimise confusion: Share materials like slides or instructions to the group in advance.
Minimise distractions: Advise participants to use quiet spaces and turn off the phone sound.

Question 10

🗓️

10. Pre-program calls and pre-work between sessions

Answer

One-on-one or small-group pre-program calls allow you to set the stage for success. It will help you to get personalized insights, clarify logistics and build rapport before the formal program begins.
Pre-session assignments help participants prepare and then maximise their engagement during live sessions. You can utilize reflection prompts, surveys, or preparatory readings that provide context for the upcoming discussion.

Online group coaching: building trust through a small window

What is online group coaching?

The continuum of group processes

In-person vs. virtual group coaching: advantages and disadvantages

Types of online group coaching programs

10 key principles to keep in mind

Adapting traditional exercises for online coaching

Conclusion

FAQ

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