We often have a propensity to coach people who are similar to us simply because it feels comfortable. In this workshop, we will explore how “affinity and diversity” play out in our coaching practice, discuss pros and cons of both coaching scenarios, and offer participants an opportunity to start creating a path for professional growth in today’s global, diverse economies.
It's common knowledge that diversity and inclusion is good for business and community development. Hence, corporations, government agencies, and HR organizations such as SHRM have been promoting and pushing “diversity and inclusion” as the right and most profitable thing to do. Yet, despite the potential benefits for all, “diversity and inclusion” are still hard to achieve in practice.
We all have a comfort zone. We have been routinely socialized, especially in the dominant American culture, to avoid honest discussion on race, class, national origin or social injustice. Even highly skilled coaches are not completely free from these biological and social behavioral patterns that hinder the practice of “diversity and inclusion.”
This workshop is offered to break these behavioral patterns that work against the practice of truly being "present" with our clients, like us, and not like us.
Objectives:
1. Determine the extent of affinity and diversity coaching in their coaching practice
2. Explore and discuss positive and negative pitfalls of affinity and diversity coaching
3. Identify steps to becoming present with your clients, like you, and not like you
4. Reflect on paths to grow professionally as a coach, in both affinity and diversity opportunities
Presenters: Shizuka Modica & Karen Gulliford
Shizuka Modica is an executive coach and consultant and helps decision-makers and policy makers become more effective in the global marketplace. Shizuka was born in Futami, Mie, Japan, a coastal farming community, and grew up in Kyoto, a mecca of Zen and mindfulness practices. She has lived in the States for over 20 years and received her master’s in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Virginia. Working with managers and executives of corporations and colleges/universities, she offers workshops on high performance and leadership, coaching services, and organizational development consulting services. She also teaches organizational behavior and leadership at college and graduate levels.
Karen Gulliford has more than 25 years of experience as a Human Resources and leadership consulting professional. She is the current owner of Great Workplaces LLC, a business dedicated to leadership development, organizational development, executive coaching, and individual career development. Her coaching experience includes clients from all walks of life and stages, including CEO's, pilots, senior leaders, physicians, nurses, accounting and IT professionals. Karen's consulting work spans many industries including Nonprofit, Healthcare, Law, Universities and Colleges, Government, Insurance, and Technology Services. She holds a M.Ed. in Adult Education, with a concentration in Human Resources Development, and is certified in Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Dynamics and other assessments.
