The 10 Most Popular Coaching Exercises in Digital Coaching

Although every coaching relationship looks different, the ultimate goal is the same: Help people realize their potential. At CoachHub, we define coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to be the best version of themselves. The coaching process is future-focused and goal-oriented with the intent to activate internal and external resources. While coaching is a very tailored and individual process, many coaches use common coaching exercises that are backed by research and proven effective. Here are ten of the most popular exercises used in digital coaching.
1. Self-assessments and self-reflective coaching exercises
To gain clarity of individual goals and growth potential, while also building self-awareness, most digital coaching relationships begin with some type of psychometric test or self-reflection assessment.These initial assessments can help clarify a coachee’s current status and also provide a baseline to measure future progress against. CoachHub Senior Behavioral Scientist, Liz Pavese, Ph.D., said that at the beginning of a coaching journey, an assessment can help a coachee reflect on their strengths and areas for development.Some common self-assessments used in digital coaching include the Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI), the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO), the 16PF Questionnaire, and the CliftonStrengths Assessment. All CoachHub coachees complete an initial self-assessment before their first digital session.Organizational psychologist and business coach, Anne Scoular, says assessments can improve the coaching process in two main ways: (1) Assessments can help a coach better understand their client early in the coaching process, and (2) “…assessments in coaching can be the single most powerful takeaway [for coachees].”
2. Debriefing real-time feedback
While self-assessment and self-reflection are large parts of the coaching process, it’s also important to debrief feedback from managers and peers. According to HBR, “When leaders find out that others see them differently than they intend or want to be seen, they have a simple choice. Either they redefine how they see themselves, or they change their behavior.”Although many companies like Deloitte and Microsoft have moved beyond —described by some as “a relic of the industrial age”—progressive organizations still recognize the value of pulse checks, in-depth catchups, and real-time 360 reviews. Debriefing this type of feedback can be useful in a coaching relationship.
3. Strategic goal development
As a solution-focused process, Pavese said goal-setting is an incredibly important part of coaching. During the goal development phase, a coachee and coach decide on milestones, exercises and micro-learnings. The goal-setting process will vary by coach, but most goals are derived from the gaps or blindspots illuminated by initial assessments.During a time of organizational turbulence amid COVID-19, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) worked with CoachHub to support its workforce. Recent data shows that 89% of coachees reported that the coaching helped them achieve their goals. Goal-setting exercises are an essential piece of the digital coaching process.Goals may include specific objectives like increasing employee engagement, setting performance targets like strengthening conflict management skills or talent development objectives like empowering first-time managers. Each individual goal is then typically defined using a structure like the SMART framework which is used to create specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.
4. Thoughtful journaling exercises
Journaling is a versatile exercise used across contexts and coaching relationships. Coaches may recommend open-ended journaling or teach specific journaling frameworks like the Conflict Coaching Road Map for Journaling, a framework that helps professionals become aware of their conflict style and better manage conflict.SHRM reports that journaling can be used to “…gain awareness of emotions and behaviors and to track progress toward goals.” If a coachee doesn’t know where to begin with journaling, a coach may offer prompts. Organizational Behavior Professor, Nancy Adler, recommends journaling in response to questions like, “How am I feeling right now?” and “What deserves my highest-quality attention in my leadership, my life, and the world?”Pavese said another common type of journaling is future self journaling. Future self journaling asks a coachee to envision and describe their future—detailing what it feels and looks like. “As they create that vision of their future self,” shared Pavese, “…it can help them along their journey by figuring out how to better align their goals to get in more alignment with their future self?”
5. Identifying core values and principles
Values exercises are popular in digital coaching because, as Pavese said, “Clearly defined core values provide a really strong and important starting point for understanding what’s important to you. A coachee’s core values often serve as an important compass—helping coachees make decisions and take aligned action.” Research also shows that values alignment can drive employee engagement.Coaches will often assign microtasks to help coachees define their core values and increase their sense of purpose. Common exercises involve ranking values from a list, completing a values card activity, or creating a life-wheel. This is an important step because when a coachee defines their values they can more easily maximize the work that gives them a sense of purpose (and minimize tasks that do not align with their values). In fact, 91% of CoachHub coachees increased their sense of purpose after digital coaching.
6. Gratitude coaching exercises
Gratitude practices are a common exercise used in digital coaching because, according to Harvard Health, “…most of the studies published on [gratitude] support an association between gratitude and an individual’s well-being.” Pavese shared that, “If a coachee is looking to develop a more open and optimistic mindset, a gratitude practice can help expand their optimism muscle.”One of the most popular gratitude exercises used by coaches is Three Good Things, a practice created by American Psychologist, Martin Seligman. This exercise asks coachees to write down three things that went well each day and their causes. Researchers found that the Three Good Things exercise led to an increase in happiness and decreased depressive symptoms for six months.
7. Developing and rehearsing communication skills
Communication is key, especially amid uncertainty (as illustrated throughout the pandemic). In fact, CoachHub research shows that communication is the most frequently used soft skill by middle- and senior-level managers. As a result, many digital coaches focus on helping coachees develop and practice their communication skills using frameworks like nonviolent communication and active listening.For example, to help a coachee develop their active listening skills, they may role-play with their coach by reflecting the emotions of the speaker back to them. This could sound like, “If I understand you correctly, you are feeling frustrated because your manager told you one thing and your colleague told you something different. Is that accurate?”
8. Cultivating emotional regulation and resilience
Resilience, or the ability to cope with a difficult or stressful situation, is one of the top professional development goals of coachees. Fortunately, coachees can build resilience and learn emotional regulation, a skill closely tied to resilience. CoachHub data shows that 85% of managers who have received coaching from CoachHub outperform their peers in soft skills such as agility and resilience.To help coachees build emotional resilience, coaches use a variety of different exercises. Common microtasks include having coachees name their emotions (i.e. say how they feel), practice mindfulness techniques, and take detachment breaks.
9. Coaching exercises that celebrate wins and accomplishments
Coaching can provide space and time for professionals to slow down, recognize their accomplishments, and celebrate—something a lot of folks struggle to do. Celebrating means giving yourself permission to stop and enjoy what you already achieved.To help a coachee celebrate their accomplishments during a session, a coach may ask something like, “How will you celebrate the achievement of this goal?” Depending on the professional, they may treat themselves to a massage, buy a treat or note it in their gratitude journal. If the individual struggles to celebrate their accomplishments, a coach may encourage them to create a list of celebration ideas that they can easily pull from in the future.
10. Identifying and activating individual strengths
As part of CoachHub’s holistic coaching framework, coachees work toward their purpose by discovering their strengths. Strengths-based coaching is a common approach used by many coaches in the digital coaching space.The strengths approach in coaching encourages development by building on existing strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses. “Becoming more of who you actually are is at the core of my coaching,” shared CoachHub Coach, Dieter Wunderlich, “My trademark is that of the strengths coach. I help people discover and use what they are naturally strong and great at.”Although coaching is a very individual and personalized process, research points coaches toward proven exercises and frameworks. Self-assessments are often effective starting points because they help coachees better understand themselves, and they help coaches better understand their clients. Coaching sessions are also psychologically safe spaces where professionals can discuss tough workplace feedback and cultivate emotional resilience. Through digital coaching, folks can grow into highly effective, inspiring leaders.
FAQ
At CoachHub, we believe in the power of aligning individual growth with organizational objectives. Our dedicated coaches work closely with coachees to ensure that their growth plans are directly linked to your company's overarching goals. This includes addressing specific leadership development needs within different departments or teams, and recognizing that each area may have unique challenges and requirements.
To achieve this alignment, we collaborate closely with our clients and their senior leaders, taking the time to understand their organization's specific challenges, objectives, and organizational culture well. By gaining deep insights into your company's dynamics, we can tailor coaching plans that address the specific needs of different teams and individuals.
Our approach is highly customized and adaptable. We recognize that each coachee has unique requirements, and we leverage our expertise to develop coaching plans that are relevant and effective for all participants, regardless of their role or level within the organization. Whether it's helping to develop leaders, retain talent, improve leadership skills of middle management, or support C-suite executives, our coaching programs are designed to cater to diverse needs and ensure maximum impact.
By aligning growth plans with your company's objectives, we create a cohesive approach that enhances overall organizational success. Our coaches help coachees identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable strategies to bridge the gap between their current competencies and the desired leadership abilities. This alignment not only facilitates personal and professional growth but also contributes to the long-term success of your organization.
With CoachHub, you can be confident that our coaching programs are tailored to address the specific leadership development efforts within your organization. By collaborating closely with our clients, we ensure that our coaching plans are relevant, effective, and aligned with your company's objectives, driving growth and excellence across all departments and levels.
At CoachHub, we understand the importance of scalability when it comes to your leadership development program. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously, ensuring that organizations of all sizes can benefit from our services. Whether you have a small team or a global workforce, our coaching platform is equipped to handle the scale.
With our advanced digital coaching platform, we bring high-quality coaching directly to employees all over the world. The beauty of our online sessions is that participants can access them from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility empowers employees to engage in coaching without geographical constraints or time zone limitations. Whether they're working from home, traveling for business, or stationed in a different country, our platform ensures that they can easily connect with their coach and participate in sessions at their convenience.
The digital nature of our coaching platform also means that participants can enjoy a consistent and seamless coaching experience, regardless of their location. Through video calls, instant messaging, and other interactive tools, our platform fosters a sense of connection and engagement between the coaches and participants. This virtual environment not only saves time and resources but also allows for regular and ongoing coaching support without the need for in-person meetings.
By leveraging the power of technology, our scalable coaching programs break down barriers and provide accessible coaching solutions to organizations and individuals around the globe. Whether it's a small team or a multinational corporation, our platform ensures that every participant can benefit from high-quality coaching, anytime and anywhere.
Absolutely! CoachHub's leadership development program is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing talent development and performance management initiatives. We understand that every company has its own unique needs and goals, and that's why our coaching sessions are completely tailored to meet those requirements. Whether you're looking to strengthen leadership skills, foster personal growth, or achieve organizational success, our program aligns perfectly with your company's specific objectives.
By customizing our coaching sessions, we ensure that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. We take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and then craft a coaching experience that caters to their personal growth journey. This way, we can provide targeted development opportunities that directly contribute to their success within your organization.
When you integrate our program with your leadership development efforts and performance management initiatives, you create a powerful synergy. Our tailored approach complements and reinforces your existing efforts, allowing you to build a comprehensive framework for maximizing the potential of your workforce. Together, we can create an environment where employees are motivated, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to excel.
So, rest assured that with CoachHub's leadership development program, you can easily integrate coaching into your existing initiatives and achieve remarkable results that align with your company's requirements.