In a world where globalisation reigns and we are more digitally connected than ever, many of us are starting to open to the idea of going international with our businesses.
The current pandemic and working from home has made us more familiar with the world of online sessions. Who hasn’t been on Zoom a few times throughout 2021?!
Now more than ever, we can work from wherever we’d like. This might be the time you finally take that leap of faith, and move to that country or city you’ve always dreamt of.
In this blog, I want to give you three guiding tips to ensure you build fantastic rapport with your clients, regardless of where they come from.
1. Avoid Making Assumptions
My number one piece of advice to you coaches is to always remember the weight your actions and words have on others. As coaches, we have a duty of care to respect and follow.
Our sessions should always remain a safe space for our clients to open up, without ever feeling judged or dismissed.
Assuming that an Asian client will be shy and quiet and you will be doing all the talking for them would be a terrible thing to do, and branding a client as ‘Passionate’ or a bit ‘Intense’ because they come from a Latin country would be discriminatory.
When we put labels on our clients, not only are we failing to defend this duty of care, but we are also very likely treating our client in a slightly different way. This is unfair and unprofessional.
Avoid generalising, and remember that not everyone is the same. Each client that comes to you will be a completely different individual that has gone through completely different experiences, and their background should not determine how they are perceived.
2. Pay Attention to Social Cues From Day One
This applies to all your clients.
During your first session, I recommend observing carefully how your client reacts to things like eye contact, touch, gestures, tone of voice, and physical distance.
Pay attention to how they react to you and your ways. You may have to adapt to your client.
Here are some aspects to take into consideration:
- While maintaining eye contact is normally a sign of truthfulness and confidence in western countries, in Asian countries, this can be considered rude and intrusive.
- Touch is considered inappropriate in most cultures. However, Mediterranean cultures and Latin cultures are more prone to, for example, hugging goodbye or placing a hand on your shoulder to offer ‘emotional support’ and understanding.
- A simple handshake or a nod are normally more than enough for most Asian cultures.
- While Europe is more prone to a hug and kiss on the cheek to greet someone, the US and Australia are not.
- Avoid using slang for effective communication, speak slowly, and keep things simple.
- Finally, when it comes to physical distance, the golden rule is to always give more space to your client than what you think they will need.
3. Educate Yourself
Go online and find out more about your client’s culture.
Learning about cultural differences will help you create an inclusive coaching space where all your clients will feel equally valued and appreciated.
Learn about the holidays they celebrate, the typical food in their countries, and even popular sports, so that you can show them from day one that you care about having a real connection with them.
Just the fact that you are here reading this blog, means you care. You want to be a supportive coach and just by having this intention, you are halfway there.
Enjoy working with, and learning from, individuals from all around the world.
After years of experience, I can say that it is not only gratifying, but also incredibly enriching and eye-opening!!
Feel free to leave a comment and share your experience with us.
Featured image by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash.
All other images used belong to Canva.
Author:
Maggie
Maggie Asensio is a Holistic Life Coach and Mind-Body Practitioner, a student of Counselling and a Teacher. Maggie is founder of the School of Vida where she focuses on helping her clients navigate the challenges of being in the middle of a life transition. At School of Vida ambitious individuals can become comfortable with the uncomfortable, by learning to embrace change and thrive in their new reality. Maggie is all about finding the motivation and the discipline necessary to achieve one’s goals. Find her on Instagram or her website.
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