7: Being a Culturally Sensitive Coach or Mentor Available to Purchase

In some contexts, part of the purpose of coaching and mentoring is to bring pairs together who have something in common. This could be their professional area of work, or a shared interest in a particular sport. However, within the context of youth work, it is more likely that the pairing brings together people from very different backgrounds and life experiences. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as differences can promote learning opportunities for both parties. However, it does require the coach or mentor to be culturally sensitive and aware and to be respectful and mindful of potential differences around values and/or beliefs. In this chapter, we examine the views and experiences and possible unconscious biases that the coach or mentor brings to the relationship, requiring considerable reflection and self-awareness so as not to impose viewpoints or judgements on the young people they are working with. We look at the importance of being culturally sensitive and what this might look like in the conversations that take place during coaching or mentoring. We explore ways in which the coach or mentor may want to challenge some of the viewpoints held by the young person which may surface during their conversations. This includes ‘coaching for emancipation’ which suggests that coaching can help the coachee look at themselves or situations from perspectives not previously considered. These all fall under the belief that all coaching and mentoring should be inclusive and working with someone close in this way is going to provide opportunities for both parties to learn from each other based on different life experiences.