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Abstract
This study aimed to understand how coaching is used to develop and enhanceleaders’ ability to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in
organizations, specifically in higher education spaces. The research questions that guided
the study include: 1.) What approaches do coaches use when developing more inclusive
leaders in higher education? and 2.) What do coaches say about the challenges and
benefits of DEIB coaching for leaders?
This qualitative research study used a semi-structured interview protocol with
nine participant coaches who engaged in leadership coaching, specifically for diversity,
equity, inclusion, and belonging in higher education. The participants represented a mix
of white and Black men and women, who ranged in age from 40 – 70 years and had a
wide range of experience with coaching. The interview transcripts and field notes were
analyzed using a thematic comparative analysis method to understand how coaching was
used with leaders to advance DEIB initiatives, or rather, to develop more inclusive
leaders. From the data, I identified ten themes that yielded insights into the skills and
approaches coaches used in developing more inclusive leaders and what coaches say are
the challenges and benefits of using coaching to develop DEIB competencies and
readiness in leaders.
From the study's findings, I derived two significant conclusions about how
coaching is used for DEIB to develop more inclusive leaders. First, coaches incorporate a
more critical and dynamic approach to their practice to prepare leaders to lead DEIB
efforts in their organizations. Within this dynamic approach, there are four critical
components to help navigate success with DEIB coaching. The second conclusion is that
ultimately, “we are always at choice”: Coaches must attend to their personal biases and
limitations while fostering resilience and their own safety through self-coaching
practices. By using critical HRD as a conceptual theoretical framework, I proposed a
Coaching for Inclusive Leadership Critical Component model.