A Coaching Model Created by Maria Rannila
(Cross-cultural coaching, SWITZERLAND)
This coaching model is targeted for working with people (assignee / family member(s)) who are planning a move abroad or who already have experience of their new home location since the first few months. The purpose of this model is to serve as a guiding framework in coaching to support you and/or your family settle into your new home country, to conquer the challenges that most people face when living in a new cultural environment as well as help you as well as your employer make the most of a meaningful, successful assignment.
This coaching model has its roots in the GAINS Coaching Model ((c) Angela Phillips-Stockwell) as well as on the Logotherapy philosophy developed by Dr. Viktor Frankl.
One of the major factors on an assignment is that the assignment will work well both from the point of view of the assignee as well as for the accompanying family. Some companies offer resources such as training on cultural differences or language training for assignees as well as their families to ensure a good ROI from the assignment. Coaching may be an additional helpful tool to ensure your awareness of the essentials both when preparing for the move as well as when already dealing with the cultural differences.
The underlying philosophy in this coaching model is very empowering; it assumes that you have the resources and the strength to find the responsible, constructive, positive way forward in your life – whatever the situation/challenge at hand may be. In life there are both situations we can shape; such as the decision to go abroad, as well as situations we cannot change; such as the culture of your new home country. In the latter case we still can freely choose to take a stand towards the situation. What stand do you choose to take?
Your values, your underlying beliefs and your voice of conscience will be explored during our sessions. By building more self-awareness around them will help you to understand how they affect your experience of the assignment as well as how to use your strengths to your advantage.
This coaching model represents the full coaching process during the coaching engagement of (typically) 3-6 months. The process is always flexible according to your needs and the questions below are just examples.
The point is not what we expect from life, but rather what life expects from us. – Viktor Frankl
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Identify goal
We will start by exploring your goal for the assignment, what is it that you want to get out of this experience for you and for your family?
Potential questions
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Current state
Here we explore where you are at the moment in planning the assignment or already in adjusting to the new surroundings and culture.
Potential questions
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Ideas & strategies
Next we will explore strategies and new ideas that you perhaps haven’t yet thought: what might work for you in order to get a step closer to your goal?
Potential questions
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Action & support
From planning to action; here you will make your concrete action plan: what exactly will you do to get you to your defined goal?
Potential questions
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Celebrate successes & reflect learnings
Changing your behavior is never easy. Changing the way you work, the way you approach people or being open about the way you look at something new requires mindfulness, energy and willpower. We will take time to acknowledge your successes and reflect on the impact of your relocation experience.
Potential questions
What I offer
I have a Finnish passport and have lived and worked in Germany and Switzerland (also studied for short periods of time in Sweden as well as France) for the past 8+ years. My two kids are both born in Switzerland, where I live and work with my Finnish husband since 2006. I’ve worked in global virtual teams in Learning & Development within the telco as well as financial services industry, where I’ve been responsible for developing online/face-to-face/blended soft skills learning programmes for global audiences. I’m particularly passionate about cross-cultural understanding as well as leadership development.
I will bring to our sessions:
What I expect of you
Our setup
The setup is geared towards an arrangement where your company supports you (and/or your spouse) to get a coach to support your international assignment. If you opt for engaging with a coach privately, the below set up still applies except for the parts involving your manager.
Readings:
1) Ernst & Young Global Mobility Survey 2013
2) Cartus 2014 Global Mobility Policy Practices Survey – Executive Summary http://guidance.cartusrelocation.com/rs/cartus/images/2014_Global_Mobility_Policy_Practices_Survey_Exec_Summary.pdf
3) Forbes.com: 20 questions to ask yourself before you relocate for a job http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/06/17/20-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-you-relocate-for-a-job/