Phillippe Rosinski suggests using “informed
caution” when applying the knowledge of cultural
differences to coaching. Just like with any other
coaching tool, cultural norms aren’t always
applicable. Sometimes being late isn’t a cultural
difference—it’s a behavior communicating
something else that needs to be addressed.
Researching and understanding cultural norms
and communication styles will give you more tools
for understanding and coaching your clients, but
as with most techniques, they require the work of
self-reflection. In working through the coaching
competencies and building trust in your coaching
presence you will notice through active listening
and powerful questions there might be patterns
attributable to a cultural difference from your
own background. And it’s up to you to identify
where those cultural differences get in the way
of clear communication. Imagine what would
have happened if I only understood Helen to be a
harsh, ambitious individual who ignored American
social norms: We might not have found an
equitable solution to her need for 6??WfV?V?B??'????V?V?F??r6?6???r&7F?6RF?@?66?V?G2f?"7V?GW&?F?ffW&V?6R?WfW'?&?G?v??3??F?R6?V?B?F?R?&v?F????BWfV?F?R6?6???v??W?W&?V?6W2F?Rw&F?f?6F????b6VV??rF?P?6?V?B7V66VVB?G&?6?vV???B?WfW&vW2?W"?V'2?bW?W&?V?6P????6?W2?B?&?WF??r??vV?V?B???W"&?fFP?&7F?6R?6?6???r'W6??W77V??RF?FWfV???@???vRF?V?"W?V7WF?fR'&?G2?6?R?2&6VB????0??vV?W2?6?b?6??F7B?W"Bt6vSF6??vR?6????4bGf?6R#>( @????FW&7F?fR?&?'W7@?&?w&?F?Gf?6P???W"6?6???r6????2'????7&V6??r??W"7V?GW&??6??WFV?7??????W0?2vRFVf??R7V?GW&??6??WFV?7???6?6???p??BG&????r7F?F&G3??W???&R66R7GVF?W0??BFV???7G&F???2?`??7FW&gV???7V?GW&???6??WFV?B6?6???r?@??G2??7B??6?V?G3??@?FWfV?????B&??V7G0?F?Gf?6FRf?"7V?GW&??v&V?W72??F?Rw&VFW ?6?6???r6???V??G???GFV?F?6Rf?"F??0???F??FRWfV?B?2??FV@??&Vv?7FW"F?F?B?6b?F??Gf?6P??F?SwVW7G2?