Web coaching: An alternative and complementary form of meeting

Abstract

In a project during the spring of 2012, an alternative communication method was evaluated. Employment specialists at Misa AB replaced some of their face-to-face meetings with clients having neuropsychiatric disorders, with scheduled written chat meetings over the web. The project was referred to as web coaching, and the aim was to determine the usefulness of this form of meeting. The main reason behind this project was an identified need of alternative communication forms between employment specialists and clients. The results showed that web coaching was perceived as a good complement to physical meetings. However, in most cases it was not possible to use web coaching as the only way of communication. Clients and employment specialists both experienced web coaching as useful when communicating practical information. Although both parts identified the risk of losing the possibility to read mood and reactions while using web coaching, it was considered a good way for the client to save time, energy and money.