Executive Coaching - A Guide For The HR Professional.pdf

118 EXECUTIVE COACHING
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• To identify key cultural differences and similarities and
their application to work-related tasks.
• To develop and practice skills and techniques for dealing
with cultural and business issues in an international
environment.
• To accelerate cultural adaptation and improve their
interactions with others from different cultures.
Cross-Cultural Coaching Clients
Cross-cultural coaching most often includes the development, orientation,
and preparation of expatriates and their families before,
during, and after foreign assignments. Cross-cultural coaching helps
clients to develop self-awareness and specific skill sets that will
enable the client to function in specific cultures. Furthermore, the
clients are provided with guidance, follow-ups, and progress evaluations
during their time abroad. This can be done either by a coach
in the home country via phone or email or by a coach in the host
country. Since spousal adjustment is critical for the expatriate’s success,
coaching may also be provided to the spouse as well.
Another critical transition occurs when the expatriate returns
to the home country. Repatriation often causes anxiety and the
need to readapt to one’s own culture. In this case, the coach helps
the client to become reacquainted with the procedures for conducting
business in the home environment. Spouse coaching has
gained more importance as the adjustment patterns of the family
have been proven to contribute to an expatriate’s success. Spouse
coaching is often provided through groups. This allows the spouses
to develop a support group and minimizes the isolation of being
“different” in a foreign country.
Multi-cultural coaching can be useful in developing employees
in headquarters’ functions who are responsible for the management