This is a worthwhile and important book on coaching, but possibly not for the reasons you might think. Read on...
Coaching is both a set of skills - like active listening, powerful inquiry, feedback, etc. - and a set of mental models - attitudes, beliefs, and values. The Power of Ren is primarily about the later - mental models of the coach. In my own coaching training in Asia I find it simple to pass along coaching skills to those who already have the mental models of a coach. Passing along the mental models is a much greater different challenge!
Master Certified Coaches Eva Wong and her associate Lawrence Leung take a very Chinese a approach to the subject. The first two-thirds of the book are case studies, or rather testimonials, of changes in clients' mental models. They are a collection of inspiring stories of business leaders from many industries in China who have had their mental models challenged and then shifted. For example, from win-lose to win-win. From authoritarian to collaborative. From "I've got the answers" to "they have answers too."
Along the way there's no description of how to achieve this, just stories. That's a Chinese pattern of explanation. You tell a story that highlights the point from one angle. Then tell another story that highlights it from another angle. Then another. And another. Until finally, the reader, by reading all the stories, "feels" the concept the author is trying to impart. Since I work throughout Asia, I know how large a shift their clients were making. I'm impressed. By about the sixth story, however, I wanted to hear "how" they were making that happen. The only explanation along the way was "through the Ren coaching program" or "through coaching." I feared this book might end up just being a book-brochure for their coaching program.
The final section, however, outlined the Nine-Dot-Leadership Model. These are nine mental models critical to leading in an empowering, coaching way. These are the mental models that the first two-thirds of the book exemplified. The nine are:
1. Passion
2. Commitment
3. Responsibility
4. Appreciation
5. Giving
6. Trust
7. Win-win
8. Enrollment
9. Possibilities
There's nothing ground-breaking about the nine, what may be unique is the authors' ability to see clients make shifts to adopt them. The how-to is missing from the book. You'll have to figure that out on your own. It's a shame, since that technique would be truly valuable for coaches working in Asia. The Power of Ren provides the reader with ample evidence that, despite many assessments to the contrary, leaders in China can successful function from empowering, win-win mental models and still be culturally appropriate. This in itself is a large contribution to the field of coaching.
The power of ren is the power of people. This book demonstrates how Chinese leaders are finding new and ancient ways of empowering people.
Copyright © 2007 Keith E. Webb & CRM
Dr. Keith E. Webb is a trainer and experienced cross-cultural leadership coach helping organizations, teams, and individuals multiply their cross-cultural impact. Find free articles at http://www.CreativeResultsManagement.com.
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