Western Culture or Human Nature?

In a recent coach training even I led I was asked the question, “How much of this coaching stuff is culturally based? For example, will it work at a Korean church?” And it’s a question worth asking.

The coaching movement is an international movement. It can’t be said that life coaching is only a real industry in the Western world. However, it can be said that the majority of coaching is taking place in the Western world. The argument could even be made that the life coaching happening in non-Western locations reflects people who are adopting Western culture (i.e. corporations who are capitalistic competitors to the West).

The core values of coaching do seem to reflect Western culture more than some others (from my own perspective). For example, authenticity is becoming a huge value in American culture. Our leaders are no longer required to look perfect, but rather “be real” with us. Distrusting the “expert” is common is America, too, and someone who would come alongside of us rather than be “over” us to teach us is much more appealing to many Americans. These values are not universally shared. For example, my personal work with other cultures reveals that authority and expertise are much more highly valued in others cultures (i.e. Asian cultures).

So I pose the question to you: Is coaching a product of Western culture (and therefore applicable only to those who want to be Western) or is it a product of universal human nature (and applicable to all cultures equally)?