How can you use your identity to build rapport with diverse coachees?

1 Acknowledge your identity

The first step to using your identity to build rapport is to acknowledge it. Your identity is not just your name, title, or role. It is also your gender, race, ethnicity, culture, age, sexuality, ability, religion, and more. Your identity shapes your worldview, values, assumptions, and behaviors. It also influences how others perceive and interact with you. By acknowledging your identity, you are showing your coachees that you are aware of your own strengths and limitations, and that you are open to learning from them. You are also inviting them to share their own identity with you, and to explore how it affects their goals, challenges, and opportunities.

2 Respect their identity

The second step to using your identity to build rapport is to respect their identity. Respecting their identity means recognizing and appreciating their uniqueness and diversity, without judging, stereotyping, or imposing your own expectations on them. It also means being curious and empathetic about their experiences, perspectives, and needs, and asking questions that show genuine interest and care. Respecting their identity also means being mindful of your language, tone, and body language, and avoiding any words or actions that might be offensive, insensitive, or inappropriate. By respecting their identity, you are creating a safe and supportive space for your coachees to express themselves, and to feel valued and understood.

3 Adapt to their identity

The third step to using your identity to build rapport is to adapt to their identity . Adapting to their identity means adjusting your coaching style, methods, and tools to suit their preferences, learning styles, and communication styles. It also means being flexible and responsive to their feedback, and making changes as needed. Adapting to their identity also means being aware of your own blind spots, biases, and assumptions, and challenging them when they interfere with your coaching effectiveness. By adapting to their identity, you are demonstrating your respect and appreciation for their diversity, and your willingness to meet them where they are.

5 Leverage their identity

The fifth step to using your identity to build rapport is to leverage their identity. Leveraging their identity means helping them to use their diversity as a source of competitive advantage, innovation, and impact. It also means supporting them to overcome any barriers, challenges, or biases that they might face because of their identity, and to access any resources, opportunities, or networks that they might benefit from. Leveraging their identity also means encouraging them to embrace and celebrate their identity, and to use it as a motivation and inspiration for their goals and aspirations. By leveraging their identity, you are empowering your coachees to achieve their full potential, and to make a positive difference in their organizations and communities.

6 Enhance your identity

The sixth and final step to using your identity to build rapport is to enhance your identity. Enhancing your identity means continuing to develop your own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to diversity and inclusion, and to seek out new learning opportunities and experiences. It also means expanding your network and relationships with diverse and inclusive coachees, peers, mentors, and experts, and to learn from their best practices and insights. Enhancing your identity also means reflecting on your own identity, and how it affects your coaching practice, and to make changes as needed. By enhancing your identity, you are not only improving your coaching effectiveness, but also your personal and professional growth.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?