Don’t be fooled. While online courses make up a chunk of the coaching market and seem convenient — that doesn’t mean they offer better outcomes overall.
If you’re shopping for a coaching course, here’s 7 reasons face-to-face learning triumphs online learning — every time.
1. COMPLETION RATES OF IN-PERSON TRAININGS ARE 6X HIGHER
Yes, really! In a 2019 study conducted by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), courses delivered entirely online have far lower completion levels than other modes of training — averaging at just 10%-15%.
We’ve all probably been there. You’ve paid a not-insignificant amount of $$ for your program. But you’re running out of steam. You’re struggling to stay committed to the course each week and month. Life inevitably interferes.
In contrast, the completion levels for The Life Coaching College’s in-person coach training courses come in at 99%-99.4%! That’s a staggering 6X higher success rate for live training compared to online training.
2. THERE ARE FEWER DISTRACTIONS + YOU’RE MORE COMMITTED
When you’re learning in-person, there are no distractions. “You’re almost a prisoner in the room, but in the best way possible!” laughs Glen Murdoch, Founder of The Life Coaching College. Ultimately, this means you can give the training your full focus.
In contrast, it can be incredibly hard to focus when you’re learning online — surrounded by distractions like household chores, family responsibilities, phone notifications, the temptations of the internet. The “convenience” of studying at home comes at a cost.
Not only that, but face-to-face learning is an immersive experience that doesn’t drag on. It’s efficient! If taught online, our 56-hour NLP training would be spread out over 28 two-hour webinars!
That’s weeks of studying online to complete one 7-day in-person immersion. This is the downside of online learning: it’s more dispersed and rife with distraction.
3. YOU’LL GET REAL-LIFE PRACTICE + REAL-TIME FEEDBACK ON YOUR COACHING SKILLS
Every single face-to-face training here at The Life Coaching College prioritises practice and feedback, and is structured in 6 parts:
- Teaching on why we use a coaching model
- Live in-room demo from an expert coach
- You practice as a coach
- You receive feedback
- You practice as a client
- You give feedback
So, for each coaching technique you learn — you’ll practice on real people, in real situations, and you’ll receive personalised feedback from your “client”, your peers, and your trainers.
This practice and feedback loop gets you in-action and improving, right from the get-go — and gets you over the fear factor of coaching and learning new techniques.
Plus, if any trainers notice you going “off-piste” (perhaps giving advice rather than asking questions!) they’re able to bring you back on track instantly.
4. COMPETENCY CAN BE MORE ACCURATELY ASSESSED (+ ACHIEVED)
The entire goal of training is to get you to the point where you’re confident and competent as a coach. However, questions have been raised around how online learning is an effective delivery mode, since the coach training sector is underpinned by this competency-based training system.
This problem was addressed in a recent NCVER study, which asked: for practical skills, such as coaching, how can competency be accurately assessed without face-to-face learning and assessment? (The answer? It couldn’t always.)
“Every time you’re in a live training, you’re being assessed,” says Glen Murdoch, Founder of The Life Coaching College. “The trainer and the crew are listening and watching you practice. They’re making sure you’re coping with the new techniques and models you’re learning — and this is for your own benefit.”
5. TEACHING + LEARNING ARE MORE EFFECTIVE IN-THE-ROOM
Live, face-to-face training means teachers/trainers are able to provide individualised feedback, teaching and support — and can tailor the content of each session to the group where needed, making it more relevant and engaging.
“Knowing what every one of my students need in any given moment is my greatest superpower as a teacher. Being present in the room with them is the only way I can do that,” says Glen.
Learning is often better experienced in-person too. It’s good to see other students taking action and asking questions. Their shared experiences can be golden — furthering your own growth and understanding.
And since you’re only as good as the questions you ask? This pooled questioning is a powerful ‘plus’! “You’d be surprised at how often someone will ask the very thing that you’ve been worrying or wondering about, or the one thing that you didn’t even know you needed to know…but did.”
6. ESSENTIAL COACHING SKILLS (NLP + CONSCIOUS HYPNOSIS) CAN ONLY BE ACCREDITED WHEN TAUGHT FACE-TO-FACE
NLP and Conscious Hypnosis are two powerful tools you’d do well to have in your coaching tool-box if you want to become a master of your profession and get real results for your clients.
They should both be taught face-to-face for optimal results and client outcomes. In fact, the NLP Association of Australia won’t allow practitioners and coaches to be accredited without 49 face-to-face training hours, at a bare minimum.
Why do you need to be accredited, you may be asking? Well you don’t — but according to a 2016 study by the ICF, if you have accreditation you’re more likely to receive clients, command higher fees, and earn a higher annual income.
7. ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT? IT’S JUST MORE FUN!
There’s an energy in the room that simply can’t be matched on a Zoom call. There’s a reason why people go to see Pink in concert, rather than just listening to her ‘This is Pink’ Spotify playlist…and that is a big part of WHY our completion rates are so much higher!
Online learning can be soulless. Drawn-out. It’s hard to motivate yourself day-after-day. In-person training is vibrant, engaging, challenging, and brings you out of your shell and into action. Plus, you can build relationships, both personal and professional, that last a lifetime!
If you’re interested in becoming a life coach in 2021, click here to explore our courses. All of our courses prioritise live, in-person learning to ensure our coaches’ success.
There’s never been a better time to take your knowledge and experience and use it to help others! Many of our coaches have gone on to earn 6 figures a year — some even crossing the million-dollar threshold. Read their stories, here.
