Executive coaching across cultural boundaries: an interesting challenge facing coaches today

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the need for cultural sensitivity and knowledge when working as a coach with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides an overview of Hofstede's descriptions of cultural dimensions and explores how an awareness of these can be useful to coaches in their work.

Findings

Executive coaches working with managers from different countries need to be aware of the influence of local culture on the behaviour of the managers. The manager's culture will often be very different to the coach's and understanding these differences can help coaches work more effectively.

Originality/value

The article provides an alternative perspective to the more widespread behaviourally‐based coaching approaches.

Citation

Donnison, P. (2008), "Executive coaching across cultural boundaries: an interesting challenge facing coaches today", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 17-19. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777280810886391