In recent years we have seen a significant increase in the demand for coaching, at a similar time, we saw a rise in efforts to improve diversity and create equitable and inclusive environments. It is no surprise to me that these two movements have moved in a similar trajectory until perhaps more recently. In today's blog I look at the topic of Inclusivity in Life Coaching and share some steps that all coaches can take to create inclusive practices.
Logic flows that as the disparity between you and someone else becomes apparent, those with access to spiritual, emotional, and material capital would invest in their future. For me, this connection is not only important but, I would argue, inseparable on the basis that coaches coach people, and we all hold various identities. This is why, following my coaching training, I launched my company, RELYTE. We, at RELYTE, find ourselves at the intersection of Coaching and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). My argument, however, is that all coaching 'should' inherently be inclusive.
Under the ICF’s core competency 'Demonstrates Ethical Practice,' it clearly states that the coach is sensitive to clients’ identity, environment, experiences, values, and beliefs and uses language appropriate and respectful to clients, sponsors, and relevant stakeholders. This clearly demonstrates that inclusion is at the heart of ethical practice, and with that, we, as coaches, foster inclusive practices. Digging deeper, it evokes the question: what does the phrase 'sensitive to' mean and what does 'appropriate language' entail? If I offer an example, if there’s a coach marketing themselves as a coach for Black Professionals, I would definitely fit the bill as a potential client. Yet, I am also Queer and from a working-class background – how then would that coach be sensitive to my identity? And would they know what language would be appropriate for me?
If anything, I hope my example makes clear how nuanced the term identity is. A single person has multiple intersecting identities. ‘Intersectionality is an analytical framework for understanding how groups' and individuals' social and political identities result in unique combinations of discrimination and privilege. Examples of these factors include gender, caste, sex, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, religion, disability, weight, species, and physical appearance. The term 'intersectionality' was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersectionality#cite_note-Tucker-2).
This framework creates a useful basis for how we, as coaching professionals, can open up to what it means to be sensitive to our clients' identities. If we consider how many different intersections any one person can have, it certainly seems vast in scope. We often see coaching offer as identity-based niches yet, these are often singular in focus. Considering intersectionality suggests that we, as coaches, can continue to broaden our scope of study.
To be truly ethical, we must be a coach for all, and there are helpful ways as coaching professionals we can lean into this. The pool of knowledge from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion compliments coaching.
There are indeed some steps that all coaches can take to create inclusive practices. Here are a few:
Life Coaching is an inherently equitable practice; this is clear from the theoretical basis of coaching. Moreover, global institutions dedicated to advancing the life coaching profession make it clear in their competencies that being sensitive to the client’s identity and language are paramount to demonstrating ethical practice. When we look through the identity microscope, however, there’s nuance, as people hold multiple intersecting identities.
So, as coaches, we must be able to hold space for intersectional coaching. We can do this through appropriate, consistent, and thoughtful investment and action into creating inclusive practices.
Bio:
Tashan Nicholas worked as a Data Analyst before training to become a Coach with The Coaching Academy, after graduating he was featured as one of our Storytellers. He now runs his own coaching company RELYTE with a mission to empower diverse individuals and communities to maximise their creativity and live their most authentic and effective lives.
If you are interested in finding out more about the topic of Inclusivity in Coaching it is one of the many topics that we discuss on our monthly Coaching Conversations webinars - you can book your place on our online coaching training event calendar, as well as view past Coaching Conversations on The Coaching Academy YouTube Channel.
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