One of the things that will make or break a coaching relationship is the level of trust and honesty between the coach and the client. In many Asian workplaces, coaching doesn’t start with a bold goal; it begins steadily with trust. Respect for hierarchy, the… Read More »The Contextual Pivot: How to Calibrate Executive Coaching for the Asian Market
A regional Vice President in Singapore nods through every session with her executive coach. She readily acknowledges the feedback, thanks the coach for the insight. She further commits, out loud, to changing how she leads future leadership meetings. Four months later, however, the 360-degree follow-up… Read More »Why global coaching programs need local context to succeed in Asia
Leadership challenges don’t wait. What happens when a newly promoted manager struggles to lead their team effectively, a regional director finds it challenging to balance strategic priorities across multiple locations, or a high-potential leader feels uncertain about the next step in their career? These are… Read More »What is Corporate Coaching and why is it different in Asia?
Coachee readiness in Asia is less about whether leaders want to change, and more about whether they are ready to change through coaching as it is typically practised. Why coachee readiness matters, and even more in Asia Both Kretzschmar’s (2010) study and van Coller‑Peter… Read More »Coachee Readiness in the Asian Context: Rethinking What “Ready” Really Means
Back in 2024, when I sat in client meetings exploring leadership development, “executive presence” meant one thing – commanding the room. The gold standard was charisma and polished bold projection, the kind of authority that fills silence and turns heads. Fast-forward to mid-2026, and something profound has shifted. The requests… Read More »Why the Future of Leadership Sounds Quieter Than You Think
In Asia’s business cultures—where social hierarchy, face, and collective harmony influence interactions—emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical skill to work effectively, motivate teams, and deliver results. A recent NTUC report (2025) highlights an interesting gap: 83% of leaders self-rate EI highly, but only 50% of employees agree. For HR… Read More »Building Emotional Intelligence in Asian Leaders: Practical Strategies for HR and Coaches
(And what HR leaders in Asia need to understand — now) Gen Z isn’t lazy. We’re selective, fast-moving, and unwilling to accept outdated ways of working that limit growth and impact. As a Gen Z professional, I’ve seen both enabling and disengaging workplaces. This reflects… Read More »Gen Z’s Perspective: What We Really Want From Our Employers
Why do organizations often hesitate to sign off on executive coaching? Because the fee is a visible line item on an invoice, while the cost of not coaching stays invisible—until it’s too late. We hear this far too often from our clients: “Our Director has great technical skills but is driving… Read More »The Hidden Cost of Not Investing in Executive Coaching
Why do 5 out of 6 Asian leaders in one organisation quietly drop out of coaching after just a few sessions? Because for them, it felt pointless! Feedback about coaching from Asian coachees include: “My coach is an idiot, they just ask me questions.” “Only asking questions is… Read More »4 reasons coaching “doesn’t work” in Asia (and 4 ways to fix it)
With organisations grappling with ESG agendas and profitability challenges, those who emerge as truly impactful leaders will be those who can be both the best IN the world AND the best FOR the world.
