This blog series is intended to highlight the importance of making coaching accessible for all and includes insights on diversity, inclusion / regard, bias, and economics as factors.  A few key thoughts to set up these posts:

The Challenge: Increase the Reach of Coaching

The Reason: Coaching works and it simply makes sense that it be widely available.

The Conversations: Diversity, Inclusion, Cultural Awareness, Accessibility, Bias, Subconscious Bias, Lack of Equity

Possible Obstacles: Diversity, Inclusion, Cultural Awareness, Economics, Bias and Subconscious Bias, Lack of Equity

What can one coach do to make a difference?

1. Learn about diversity, inclusion / regard, cultural awareness, and access barriers.
2. Check personal biases and sub-conscious biases.
3. Communicate openness with images and language on your website, social media profiles, and in your emails.
4. Offer a sliding scale fee or pro-bono coaching for people who cannot otherwise afford it.
5. Provide pro-bono coaching for economically disadvantaged or marginalized people.

Definitions to get us started:

Diversity:  Merriam-Webster says: “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements: variety especially: the inclusion / regard of different types of people (such as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization.”

Inclusion:  Merriam-Webster says: “a relation between two classes that exists when all members of the first are also members of the second.”

Let’s take this further. On http://www.diversityjournal.com/1471-moving-from-diversity-to-inclusion/  it says “As a start, a common definition of “diversity” and “inclusion” is needed. Diversity means all the ways we differ. Some of these differences we are born with and cannot change. Anything that makes us unique is part of this definition of diversity. Inclusion involves bringing together and harnessing these diverse forces and resources, in a way that is beneficial. Inclusion puts the concept and practice of diversity into action by creating an environment of involvement, respect, and connection—where the richness of ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives are harnessed to create business value. Organizations need both diversity and inclusion to be successful.”

Cultural Awareness: Collins Dictionary says: “Someone’s cultural awareness is their understanding of the differences between themselves and people from other countries or other backgrounds, especially differences in attitudes and values.”

Bias: Merriam-Webster says: “a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment.”

Subconscious (or Implicit) Bias:  Merriam-Webster says subconscious is: “existing in the mind but not immediately available to consciousness.”

Vanderbilt says Subconscious Bias is: “prejudice or unsupported judgments in favor of or against one thing, person, or group as compared to another, in a way that is usually considered unfair.”

Equity:  Merriam-Webster says: “freedom from bias or favoritism.”

This a great opportunity to pause and consider these definitions and what they mean for you at home, with friends, and at work. Come back for the next blog as we continue to explore these topics.