Viral Lesson on Virtues of being Virtual

We learned a few important lessons when we rescheduled a physical Coacharya workshop event to a virtual one recently. We wanted to be virtuous in the global context in dealing with the as yet untamed, incurable virus. The responses were interesting.

A few declined our offer, not serious enough to postpone. The first lesson was that people, at least coaches who are our community, seem to be environmentally conscious and receptive to change.

Some inquired whether we would reduce fees. We were happy to waive all costs related to the venue and travel. The second lesson was that our audience, as we expect them to be, are cost-conscious and we needed to fulfill and exceed expectations; so far so good.

A few said that they wanted a touchy-feely classroom experience in learning, which the virtual programs don’t offer yet. We gladly released them with a refund.

However, I was surprised to see educated professionals equate physical classroom learning with learning effectiveness. Do they expect pedagogy or andragogy?

Even without the pandemic, the world is moving virtual for multiple reasons, some about decreasing carbon footprint, greater flexibility, and more effective use of time, space, resources and money. The move to virtual is already reducing congestion in inner cities, and stilling the mind and body. It’s chilling when we realize we needed a pandemic to achieve what should be our nature.

It is not that people will not travel anymore, drive cars or stay in hotels - it’s just that they would be far more aware of the indirect costs and penalties associated with these. Frequent fliers and frequent stay schemes that appeal as freebies may become less attractive (besides the fact that your chosen dates are always red) and socially less acceptable.

Reverting to learning, the mindset of those whose belief system is that virtual learning is less effective needs to be better understood despite the following facts.

●     Learning studies, including research by Center for Creative Leadership, have established that short sessions over a longer period are far more effective than long or even weekend-long programs since they allow action learning, which is how learning gets anchored into new habits. To conduct short sessions over longer periods in a physical setting is often impractical.

●     Sensory learning studies indicate that the visual mode is the primary learning mode, followed by auditory sense. Current virtual learning platforms are audio video enabled with multiple other learning aids such as chats and recordings.

●     Visual and auditory needs, multiple intelligence needs, as well as interpersonal and intrapersonal interactive needs in learning are fulfilled very effectively in today’s virtual technology, possibly better than the distracting physical spaces. I can speak to this first hand since Coacharya has trained hundreds of coaches globally via 4-10 month virtual programs. This includes all our Master coaches, all of whom completed their training virtually.

●     We are not looking at social nearness, hugging needs of some, or the desirability of smell (ugh) and taste in a physical environment. We are looking at learning needs. For these other needs, such as those of adventure one should engage in the risks of travel.

What then makes people yearn for the classroom that one experienced in childhood? As a coach I am curious. Is it insecurity? Or merely a yearning for the good ole' days?

For corporate entities, the writing is on the wall. Companies can no longer be environmentally insensitive. If they do not transform their nonessential physical space activities to virtual activities on their own volition, they will be forced to by socio-environmental-economic factors.

For individuals, this may still seem a choice that isn’t any more. Adapt to learn virtually, or you will be left behind. For all of us, the lesson is to learn to enjoy being alone and yet not lonely.