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Racial Justice, Equity and Belonging in Coaching
Is coaching an inclusive and diverse industry? Can and should coaching contribute towards racial justice and equity?
New research with key stakeholders across the coaching eco-system, is a call to action inspired by coaching practitioners, researchers and thought leaders seeking to deploy coaching in support of the global movement for racial justice and equity.
The research gives primacy to the marginalised voices of Black, Indigenous and other people of colour (BIPOC) who work as coaches in the industry. In addition, we interviewed senior leaders from professional bodies, university and commercial coaching training providers and coaching service providers.
The research focused on four ‘case study’ locations: UK, USA, Africa and New Zealand. This research was a global collaboration with academic colleagues from the USA, UK, Africa and New Zealand (Māori) who supported the study by providing inputs, guidance and access to local networks.
Our findings identify an attitude of ‘colour blindness’ across the coaching eco-system; we argue for a shift to a conscious stance towards race and colour, which we believe is a prerequisite to creating a coaching movement towards racial justice and equity. Our aim through this research is to raise awareness of race across the coaching eco-system and of the actions that stakeholders can take to provide a culture within the coaching industry in which everyone is welcome.
While many organisations have broad sweeping statements, our research suggests we have a long way to go in taking measurable action to create an inclusive and diverse coaching industry. We invite you to read the research report and reflect on the work you need to be doing in yourself, in your organisation or in the organisations of which you are a member.
Charmaine Roche is completing her PhD at Carnegie School of Education. She is a coach, a former school leader and a member of the CollectivED Advisory Board. Her recent research on racial justice, equity and belonging in coaching with an international and inter-sectoral focus was conducted with Professor Jonathan Passmore of the Henley Business School at the University of Reading. Professor Vini Lander and Professor Rachel Lofthouse were privileged to support Charmaine as part of the steering group for this research.
Read the research report in full here.
