Coaching in Another Language: The Impact on Core Competencies

Managing Progress and Accountability (41 percent)

The positive impact here is attributed to simpler lists and less excuses; clarity on accountability (which is easier to express in a foreign language); and higher intuition.

Coaching happens in conversations. The language that we use in these conversations matters, and we must indeed be bilingual: speak our language and the language of our client. But what we need to remember is that this language is not defined or restricted by any native language. Coaching in different languages can actually expand our competencies as we noticed above. In the words of a participant, “As we build trust, our shared human experience becomes more apparent to both parties and the differences become a source of interest. And, through one another, we learn more about ourselves.”