I attended a coach training session the other day, and we discussed the following questions to pose to a client: “What do I want?” and “What do I need?” The simplified version, unpacked by the facilitator, was: “What are you comfortable with, or what feels like ‘home’, and what brings you discomfort?”
I started to reflect on this and its implications for me as a Professional Coach and DEIB Director and Leader, which inspired me to write this blog post.
As Professional Coaches working with leaders and executives, it is important that we model the behaviours that we want from our clients. Coaching as a profession is a commitment to ongoing growth and development — not only for our clients, but also for ourselves as Coaches.
As a third-generation South African Indian female, a medical doctor who consciously chooses to follow her God-given purpose and passion for Professional Coaching, and someone who has been living with a condition called Spasmodic Dysphonia since 2020 — a voice challenge and disability (though not classified as a disability in South Africa) — I have not always felt “included” and, at times, have been purposely “excluded” in various settings, including among Professional Coaches, in society and in boardrooms. I started to reflect more deeply on what the deeper wisdom might be for me.
As the DEIB Director at SA-ICF and a co-lead in various Global DEIB Communities, the concepts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging have deep personal meaning for me.
The words from my facilitator yesterday — “What are you comfortable with, or what feels like ‘home’, and what brings you discomfort?” — suddenly brought me new insights.
South Africa, with its unique history, has resulted in deep cultural groupings based on commonalities such as skin colour, language, cultural customs, traditions and ancestry. Even though it has been 31 years since we became a democratic society, have we truly healed to become One Nation, or are we still divided into separate “entities” or “groupings”?
My new insights yesterday revealed the following “gift”: Does “inclusion” and “belonging”, which bring lots of “comfort” and feel like “home”, not limit me in my personal growth and development as a Professional Coach?
Is there not a “gift” in not being included and not belonging — one that sets me apart from group thinking and empowers me to step into my full potential as an Authentic Leader?
This was an “aha” or “wow” moment for me. I am still going to unpack this new thinking and what it means for me in terms of how I show up in the world, but I am excited about the unfolding of God’s intention for me.
This is why I know my God-given purpose is Professional Coaching, and this is why I am so grateful and feel so blessed to have found my true purpose in life.
If this stimulates your thinking, please let me know your thoughts or email me at icfsadeib@coachingfederation.org.za. I would love to hear from you.
It is my intention, as DEIB Director, to launch two initiatives where Professional Coaches can gather and join the DEIB Community:
These sessions will present an opportunity to share your challenges as a Professional Coach, be inspired by and network with other coaches, and explore opportunities for business and collaboration.
These sessions will provide an opportunity to unpack DEIB within the context of South Africa and explore what this means for us as Professional Coaches. Ultimately, the intention is to move towards One Nation, share our thoughts, and contribute to carving a path forward for South Africa — from a history of division towards creating a society that embraces the “Wholeness of Humanity.”
Unity is strength. For us to have global impact, we need to unite as one nation.
I believe that Professional Coaching can be a catalyst for social transformation in South Africa — transforming us as a nation so that we can ultimately model this for the world.
If you would like to join me on this journey, please reach out to me at icfsadeib@coachingfederation.org.za.
I look forward to seeing you in the sessions, and thank you for your contribution as an ICF Coach to the world of coaching.
Dr Feroza Mansoor
SA-ICF DEIB Director
