Spoken English, American Accent Reduction and Cross-Cultural Coaching

Q. Describe three recent jobs you've completed.

A. 20 hours of Spoken English coaching for a corporate BPO / offshoring client in India. Completed over the span of three months. (Included techniques on enunciation /making the correct sounds, confidence building, cross-cultural communication strategies, vocabulary and idiom lessons).

Full day cross-cultural training program for corporate employees going to the US from India. (Topics - prepare for travel, visa suggestions, per diem training, American mindset and values, more.)

Leadership and Motivational workshops for MBA students and professionals. (Use of gap analysis and Johari window for interactive exercises on personal development.)

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Five steps to finding and hiring a cross-cultural coach by Jennifer Kumar, Cross-Cultural Coach.



Steps to Hiring a Coach:



Step 1

Determine what aspects of your cross-cultural experience do you want support with?



This depends on you and your unique situation. Here are some examples of why some people want to hire a cross-cultural coach:

- Making decisions on where, when and for what reason to move.

- Deciding on the degree of and approach to cultural immersion that suits your personality.

- Maintaining success and balance in your overseas life (study abroad, expat assignments, living as an expat wife/spouse, etc.).

- To develop an open mind, problem solving and communication skills with 'someone else'. That could be an interfaith or cross-cultural family member/spouse (husband, wife, significant other), managers, coworkers, friends, relatives or other important people in your life.

- Learning how to integrate your child's culture into your home, if you adopted cross-culturally or internationally.

- Setting and achieving goals in American English Communication Skills and Culture Lessons. These are individualized lessons and it is something that not all expat or cross-cultural coaches offer. I decided to offer this as it is a practical skill and ends up encompassing most of the other above topics.





Step 2

Determine how do you want to relate to your coach?



Some people prefer a coach who's been through what they are experiencing.

Some people want a coach with credentials and education to back them up.

Some people prefer a coach with particular programs for them to choose from.

Some people prefer a coach of the same gender, similar age, and other factors.

Some people prefer a coach with a 'cheerleader' approach, while others prefer a coach with a balance of cheerleading and strict accountability.



Brainstorm all the characteristics of a coach you think you'd prefer. These preferences will help you feel more comfortable with your coach and possibly create more long-term success.





Step 3

Do some internet research.



Search for cross-cultural coaches online. Check out their credentials, bios, programs, testimonials, and anything else you deem important to make your decision. Some coaches may put 'intake forms' or a 'welcome packet' on their site. If you can find this, download it and go through it. It will give you an idea of their approaches and philosophy.



If you do keyword searches for cross-cultural coaches online, use any of the following key words:

"cross cultural coach", "interfaith mentor", "expat coach", "multicultural advisor", "expat life coach". or any other similar key words. If you find anything else, let me know!





Step 4:

Set up an appointment to 'interview the coach'.



Many coaches offer the first introductory meeting for 30 minutes or 1 hour for free to new clients. Use this free meeting as an opportunity for you as the coachee to 'interview your coach'.



Though you are going to the coach for help, you are their 'employeer' while you receive their services because you are paying your hard earned money for this assistance. Treat it as if you were hiring an employee to be your 'personal coach'- coaching your inner and personal needs



A Few Days Before the Call:

- Prepare the intake paperwork if required.

- E-mail or fax the intake paperwork along with a brief about what kind of help you're looking for to the coach for a reminder.

- End the note with a line like "Looking forward to getting to know you on Tuesday, December 6 at 4pm. I will call you then."



During the Call:

- Have a list of questions ready based on your research from their site.

- Have a pen and paper ready to take notes.

- Leave room for spontaneous responses based on the coaches answers.

- Have any intake paper ready, and possibly e-mailed to the coach before hand.

- Leave time for the coach to 'try to coach you' so you can 'feel the methods'.

- Ask the coach if they have any questions for you.



This may be a lot to cover in one hour, and even more to cover in 30 minutes, so don't forget to follow up.



A few days after the call:

- Write a "Thank you" note to thank the coach for their time.

- Ask any questions you did not get answered during the session.

- Clarify fees or program structure.

- If you are ready to decide, decide or ask to write the coach back in a few days.

- If you have decided YES, then begin by asking to set up a coaching schedule and ask if there are any forms or agreements to sign.

- If you have decided "MAYBE" or "WANT TO TRY", inform the coach that you do want to try but are reluctant to sign any long term contracts. Ask if it is ok to try a few sessions, assess progress and interest and decide to continue or not. Of course, by trying, all consequent sessions you sign up for as a client are not complementary (they are paid as per that coach's fee schedule).

- If you have decided NO, inform the coach that you are not interested. If you do not know where to go next or do not have any other options for coach contacts, you could ask the coach for recommendations based on their interaction with you up to this point. For example, "I regretfully decline to hire you as my coach. I have contacted a few other coaches, but have not yet found a good match for me. Based on your interaction with me, do you have any recommendations from your network for me? Thank you."





Step 5:

Feel empowered by your choice to hire or not hire a coach.



Treat hiring your coach like a business would in hiring employees. You are hiring someone to help manage your LIFE. This is no joke. It is precious and important. Do not take it lightly. In addition to that, you are paying your hard earned money to this person to help guide you. Make the best use of your resources (time, money, etc.) and hire the person best suited for the job.



Don't be afraid to say NO. Often we don't want to say "NO" to hurt the other's feelings. But whose feelings are we hurting more by saying "YES" when we really mean to say "NO"? In fact, we do a disservice to both ourselves and the coach by saying YES when we mean NO because as a coachee it's harder to be truly invested when we aren't truly dedicated to it.





I hope this article has been helpful. Some of the advice in this article could be used to hire any kind of coach or helping professional. Don't forget, it's your life and you are the one who makes decisions for your life's direction- both in the outer and also in the inner world! I wish you all the best on your life's authentic journey.





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Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. To-be clients should understand there is work to be done by them to make this process successful for us both. Unlike a self-help book where one 'party' is passive, both of us will be very active to help you with the concerns you want to resolve.

In order to understand this process better from before it even starts, I suggest to visit my site and fill out the intake forms. Besides being part of the process, filling out these forms will give you a chance to do a little self-development work before we even get started- FOR FREE!

These forms include:
- Intake packet
- Client and Coach Roles/Responsibilities
- Confidentiality Forms
- Release of Information

The forms can be found here:
http://authenticjourneys.blogspot.com/2010/09/coaching-and-tutoring-intake-forms.html

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I individualize sessions and lessons for each person. I prepare for 30-60 minutes before each meeting. After each meeting, I write up notes and recommended activities/homework for personal development. This is sent to the client within 48 hours of service delivery.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Getting to know each person as a unique individual who inspires and grows is a real inspiration to me.

I enjoy creating individualized lessons and homework to help that particular person shine.

I enjoy helping each person to create goals and a 'road map' to achieving their cross-cultural adjustment goals to help them live the best life anywhere they are in the world!

I enjoy really listening to each person and helping them draw on their innate knowledge by asking probing questions that bring out life lessons.

I enjoy realizing I can make a difference in a person's life, one person at a time.

I enjoy getting feedback from satisfied clients and also their ideas for my improvement. I work for them. If I can improve myself to help them better, I will.