One of the lessons I learnt was to avoid One-size-fits-all approach. I consciously tailor approaches, tools and frameworks to each client's unique needs and contexts.

It’s important to be aware of your own biases. We all have biases from our family, friends, and culture. Once you recognize what your biases are, you can begin to explore how to address and combat these biases.

I agree. It’s a constant journey of personal evolution to maintain high self awareness. In my experience it’s important to ask for stories of the lived experience and understanding how the person “felt” in that moment of being unheard. This empathy that a coach carries is the strongest and best tool to appreciate the “othering” process and become aware of how one’s own bias may be interfering with their ability to communicate and interact better.

Know yourself. Discover all your biases and befriend them one by one. If you end up eliminating one or two - good for you, otherwise just be very aware of what can trigger a certain bias. When coaching diversity and inclusion, turn on your helicopter view and rise above the situation, above the bias, and pose a question or provide advice from that level.

There are many ways to reduce coaching biases. It's important, however, to accept that biases exist within everyone, often unconsciously. So, regularly engaging in self-awareness education, consistently seeking feedback, and what I believe to be most effective, immersing oneself in diverse environments and communities, can help recalibrate understanding and perspectives. There's no more powerful lesson than the lived experience. Above all, approaching coaching with empathy and open-mindedness, checking your defensiveness and sensitivity, and the genuine intent to understand every individual's unique experiences and challenges are paramount to reducing your own biases in coaching.

For us Muslims, we do have a point to emphasize. Our Quran teaching is very clear on gender issues. This means our religious and social beliefs will not make it possible to work with LGBTQ individuals without bias of some form. A coach can only be held accountable if they coach and show bias. Organizations have to be inclusive to Muslim beliefs by acknowledging Muslims are entitled without any harm or insult to anyone just like any other group.