ICF annual conference 7 May
We should start with the end user when it comes to assessing technology in coaching and avoid “assumptions that lead to white elephants that never get used”.
This was the core message from Clare Norman from her session at the ICF conference on: Re-imagining Technology to Meet our Clients’ Needs.
“The best technology starts with the end user – what are their needs and desires and how can technology support those? This should be where we start when we’re assessing technology – how well does it meet end users’ needs; and even before that do we even know what our end users do need? Have we asked them?”, said Norman, speaking to Coaching at Work after the conference.
“We need technology to help people think for themselves, not to spoon-feed them. There are many technology platforms coming onstream that curate bite-sized nougats of learning, mimicking the way that younger generations access their learning via YouTube, etc. It’s just-in-time content, but does it help people to think for themselves? Does it strengthen their own thinking muscles, such that they change their habits?” she asked.
In her session, Norman hosted and gave a flavour of five technology providers, as follows:
Firstbeat: “a professional grade coaching assessment and monitoring tool to help clients manage stress, enhance recovery and exercise correctly”; HeartMath: “a system which integrates techniques, tools and biofeedback technology to help people learn how to self-regulate physiology, emotions, thoughts and behaviours to boost happiness and wellbeing”; StoryTagger: “a user-generated video tool for learning, coaching and performance which captures thinking, reflections and rich feedback on what’s working”; SmartHabit: “makes it easier for coaches to help their clients build the mindset and skills necessary to achieve more while experiencing less stress during the workday”, and me:mycoach: “an online framework for ‘active reflection’ on recent coaching conversations, enabling a coach to stretch, learn and grow.”