ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on directional versus non-directional cross-cultural coaching styles, the importance of the coach's alignment to values, and a higher meaning and purpose of coaching with collective intelligence. Rigid adherence to tools and models can undermine the importance of the coaching relationship and the need to create a safe space, which could be more important in some cultures than others. Without patience and time, this could be extremely detrimental in a relationship-orientated culture such as China. Cross-cultural wisdom may be manifest by a community of global executive coaches. These coaches are engaging in transformational conversations that build bridges, break down prejudice and stereotyping, and engage in a diversity of views derived from differing value sets. Working to leverage cultural differences by building bridges may be initiated by best practice and values elicitation. Corporate values must be built into business strategy and embedded in day-to-day business practices, and the global executive coach can strive to facilitate this.