Going virtual – how far can you go?

Dick Baker | March 11, 2020

The global lockdown for COVID 19 means, quite rightly, for the first time, all meetings and events have gone virtual. We predict many will question the need for face to face and long-distance travel in future, even as countries and organisations emerge from the immediate lockdown restrictions. Whilst for some the medium is new, we have found innovative ways to design and facilitate leadership programmes virtually for some years. We are all learning how to make this our new normal, a way of working as humanly connected as possible and that is what we prioritise in our approach.

At Future Considerations, we have a long history of leadership, team and organisational development programmes along with coaching in a virtual learning environment. Blended learning was at the core of our design for nearly 20 years where we combined face-to-face modules with action learning, coaching and peer-to-peer learning and where possible working on live business projects.

People often question how far powerful face-to-face experiences can be replicated especially given embodied and experiential practices are at the heart of our work. We continue to develop blended learning and with one of our multinational clients have, since 2014, run a programme 100% virtually through a combination of virtually-delivered modules, off-line work and small-group peer coaching that has achieved remarkable results.

Over 1500 people have now been through the virtual programme at that client – and many more at other clients like it. The feedback has been consistently one of positive surprise. We are struck by how often participants check-in in later modules with comments like “I had no idea that it was possible to do such deep work virtually – but it worked!”. We have found that we are able to include sessions and group coaching on personal transformation, mindfulness, embodiment, emotional awareness and interpersonal/influencing skills in a virtual environment with real impact – topics which traditionally might be regarded as better-suited to face-to-face sessions.

For more depth on what it takes to create impactful virtual programs, read more here.

Wondering how far you can go with virtual and blended learning? Contact us for a conversation angela@futureconsiderations.com richard@futureconsiderations.com

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