Systemic Thinking and Transcultural Approaches in Coaching Psychology: Introducing a New Coaching Framework

Abstract

Coaching in organizations has become a prominent tool to address challenges experienced by individuals and teams. Different approaches in coaching are used, such as individual, team or business coaching. Certain approaches to coaching, such as psychological coaching, aim to increase optimal functioning, wellbeing and mental health for personal growth and development. The effect of psychological coaching in organizations has been empirically researched and discussed in the literature. In today’s organizations, coaching is a well-established domain in theory and practice. However, studies show that transcultural (In this chapter the authors refer to the concept of “transculturality” due to the fact that the coaching framework presented is based on a “transcultural” approach. “Transculturality” refers to a world view which is based on the notion of hybridity and blurring spheres of cultures which are interconnected, mixed and integrative (Welsch W. Kultur aus transkultureller Perspektive. In Treichel D, Mayer C-H (eds) Lehrbuch Kultur. Lehr- und Lernmaterialien zur Vermittlung kultureller Kompetenzen. Munster, Waxmann, pp 149–157, 2011). In transcultural settings, culture is viewed as a dynamic and “active factior” (Welsch W. Transculturality – the puzzling form of cultures today. In Featherstone M, Lash S (eds) Spaces of culture: city, nation, world. Sage, London, pp 194–213, 1999, 2003) that is inclusive and the opposite of exclusive, homogene and fixed.) organizational contexts require particular systemic and transcultural perspectives to adequately address the challenges of individuals, teams and the organizations within their local and global contexts. Yet these systemic and transcultural approaches have hardly been explored in coaching transcultural organizations. The aim of this chapter is to show that systemic thinking and transcultural approaches in coaching psychology can provide a sound theoretical base and practical intervention method for psychological coaching within globalized and transcultural organizational contexts. A new coaching framework is introduced that is based on three phases: the input, the process and the output. Within these phases systemic and transcultural approaches and aspects are discussed, the profile of a coach is presented, and practices and interventions are explored. Recommendations are made for theory and practice.