Articles
Intercultural Coaching: The Next Big Thing
Written by Kate Griffin and Richard Cook
What is Intercultural Coaching?
Intercultural coaching has the same basic tenets as standard professional coaching but also takes into consideration the coachee’s cultural perspective, and those of the people around him/her. Intercultural coaching focuses on creating an ‘intercultural climate’ that allows the coach and coachee to become more culturally aware and adapt their behaviour and expectations as appropriate. Intercultural coaching is defined as “utilising culture as a force of change to unleash the coachee’s potential”1. Both the coach and the coachee will take a look at the cultures that might be involved (national culture, organisational culture, social class, professional affiliation, etc.) and consider how to take them into account for the realisation of the coachee’s objectives.
Different worldviews
Traditional coaching has a tendency to assume a worldview that is very Western. This worldview however, does not translate universally across different cultures. People instinctively approach situations in business with their own ‘worldview’ (I.e. personal and cultural perspective). In contrast, in the intercultural coaching process it is important to be aware of the various worldviews that are in play.
The funny thing about work
Written by Matthew Hill
Humour in the workplace
It is rare for a UK meeting to go 20 minutes without someone breaking the tension with a joke – by exaggerating making fun or self-deprecation. Humour is part of the fibre of business communication yet it is rarely acknowledged, examined or accounted for.
HR directors take decisions on formal structures - new rules, tools and ideas to make work life more civilised and predictable and the work place less hostile, volatile and legally liable.
So, in what space do we break the rules, criticise the management, throw ideas in from left field or shake the tree? Humour. We can begin to see that humour carries a powerful seed of truth within a wrapping of wit.
Is humour a threat to company convention? Does it undermine authority? Does it challenge the status quo? It can do, absolutely – But how?
Coaching across cultures
Written by Richard Cook & Philippe Rosinski
Philippe Rosinski is a leading authority in executive coaching, team coaching and global leadership development sought by leading international corporations.
He has pioneered a global approach to coaching that leverages multiple perspectives for greater creativity, impact and meaning. The Harvard Business School chose his groundbreaking book Coaching Across Cultures as its featured book recommendation in the category of business leadership. A Master of Science from Stanford University, he is also the first European to have been designated Master Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation.
Richard Cook is the founder and Director of Global Excellence Ltd, a UK based global provider of intercultural and diversity training and consultancy services for corporate clients. An international OD cultural management consultant, specialising in helping clients achieve success in global business environments, Richard has worked with international clients for the last twenty-two years and has lived and worked in North and South America, Japan, Africa, the Middle East and Europe for extended periods on international assignments.
Richard has considerable experience working with senior management and with managers responsible for international teams. Richard’s beliefs and values reflect a pursuit of excellence through delivering consultancy, training and coaching that is challenging, of optimum quality, and meets the specific needs of clients. He is also a qualified Master NLP practitioner.
This article by Richard Cook and Philippe Rosinski includes several extracts directly from the book ‘Coaching Across Cultures’ written by Philippe Rosinski - New Tools for Leveraging National, Corporate and Professional Differences, published by Nicholas Brealey Publishing and reproduced by permission.
