28 Oct The Coaching Blend That Keeps Businesses Growing (Virtual Consistency + In-Person Momentum)

Let’s be real: business coaching used to mean two people across a table with a notebook. Today, most of the real work happens online – and when you do it right, it’s not a downgrade. It’s a force multiplier.

You get focused sessions, screen-shared scorecards, and decisions made fast – without burning half a day on drive time. Studies across workplaces echo it: digital tools and remote sessions can lift productivity and make cadence easier to sustain.

But this isn’t a “virtual is better” sermon. There’s a reason we still get people in a room on purpose. In-person resets the energy, expands relationships, and deepens commitment.

Leadership programs repeatedly find participants prefer the interpersonal spark of the room – even when both formats deliver learning. That’s why the best answer isn’t either/or. It’s both – by design.

Why We Coach Online Most Weeks

Coach Eric Knam runs the bulk of coaching on Zoom because it’s efficient, flexible, and sticky. It lets owners jump into a session, make the key calls, and get back to customers and teams – without blowing up the day.

Modern virtual workflows (screen-sharing dashboards, working live in planning templates, recording actions and owners) keep things tighter, not looser.

Research on digital connectivity backs this up: done well, virtual collaboration increases flexibility and can elevate output – especially when the goal is consistent rhythm rather than a one-off event.

Translation: online = more reps, fewer excuses, faster cycles.

Why We Still Gather In Person – On Purpose

Every quarter, we make space for GrowthCLUB—a full-day, in-person planning workshop. It’s where you zoom out, compare notes with other owners, and leave with a 90-day plan you actually believe in.

ActionCOACH chapters around the world run this model for exactly that reason: one day to get clear, set priorities, and recharge with a room full of people who “get it.”

Two things happen in that room you can’t fully replicate on camera:

Peer learning kicks in. Someone else’s hot seat exposes the question you didn’t know to ask. Peer groups have well-documented benefits: fresh perspectives, shared accountability, and better follow-through.

Commitment gets loud. In person, goals get social. That nudge matters, especially when you’re stretching targets.

The Blend That Compounds Results

Here’s the operating system behind the scenes:

Weekly (virtual): Short, focused sessions. Review numbers, unblock decisions, assign owners and dates. Repeat next week. (Consistency is the magic.)

Quarterly (in person): One full day to rebuild the plan, trade ideas with peers, and reset the scoreboard. GrowthCLUB is the cadence anchor.

That mix – virtual for consistency, in-person for community – pulls the best from both worlds. Adult-learning research calls this out: blended formats offer flexibility and connection, helping people engage more meaningfully while keeping momentum between meetups.

Does One Format “Work Better”?

Wrong question. Both work for different jobs. Virtual is about frequency and focus. In-person is about energy and expansion. Pick the tool that serves the moment, then stitch them together so your business never loses the thread.

If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect” format before you start, you’re solving the wrong problem. Start the rhythm online. Lock in the plan in person. Then run the play, week after week.