Edited by Dr Trish Turner
Chapter 6: Diversity, inclusion, belonging and cultural competence in coaching
By Salma Shah
This chapter invites therapists transitioning into coaching to critically engage with issues of identity, power and cultural context in their evolving practice. It explores how diversity, inclusion, belonging and cultural competence shape the coaching relationship, and why these dimensions are essential for ethical and effective work.
The chapter examines key concepts such as intersectionality, privilege and unconscious bias, offering a reflective lens on how these show up in coaching conversations, contracting, and client goals. Readers are encouraged to recognise coaching as a culturally situated activity, requiring attention not just to the client’s experience but to the coach’s own social positioning and assumptions.
The chapter provides prompts for self-reflection and supervision, and emphasises humility, openness and lifelong learning as foundations of inclusive practice. It supports dual-qualified practitioners to move beyond passive awareness towards a more intentional, relational and systemic engagement with equity and difference.
Biography
Salma Shah is the founder of Mastering Your Power, an award-winning coach training programme developed with a systemic focus on diversity, inclusion, belonging and equity. She has over 20 years’ experience coaching clients and delivering workshops.
She is the author of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in Coaching (2022). Shortlisted for the Business Book Awards (2023), the book offers a powerful call to action for building inclusive, future-focused organisations. Named in Think Global People’s Think Women 40 Outstanding Global Women, Salma also serves on the judging panel for Working Mums’ Top Employer Awards and is a board member of Savera UK, a charity addressing culturally specific ‘honour’-based abuse.