Ho Law is an international consultant and practitioner psychologist, Health Professions Council (HPC) registered occupational psychologist, Chartered Scientist, Chartered Psychologist, Registered Applied Psychology Practice Supervisor (APPS), Fellow of Chartered Management Institute, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, and Associate Fellow of British Psychological Society (BPS). He practises in psychology, coaching, mentoring and psychotherapy in the UK and abroad including Abu Dhabi, Australia, Barcelona, Brussels, China (Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen), Christmas Island, Copenhagen, Dubai, Jamaica, Paris, Singapore, Stockholm and Zurich. In 2007, as part of his locum work, Ho worked at Christmas Island, Australia and provided health coaching both to the public at the Neighbourhood Centre and doctors and nurses at the hospital. In the UK, Ho is a founder member and Chair (2010) of the BPS Special Group in Coaching Psychology.

Ho has been practising psychology for over 25 years. The first seventeen years were with the central government — human factors at the Department of Trade and Industry as an applied psychologist in the first two years, and then he spent fifteen years in the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (formerly known as Research and Statistics) at Westminster as a senior scientist, carrying out research and providing evidence-based advice to the policy colleagues and Permanent Under Secretary of State. For instance, the evaluation of the £30 million Safer Cities Programme (1993–1998), which provided the Treasury the evidence for saving £31 million from the prevention of domestic burglary alone. The evaluation formed part of his part-time PhD research at Leicester University (1994–1999/2000). He provided advice to the Cabinet Office on geographical information when computer systems went through the Millennium transition. Ho’s passion in teaching and learning reflect throughout his career where he studied many courses with the Open University and has always been a visiting lecturer both in the UK and abroad.

In January 2009, Ho joined UEL to expand his passion in teaching and learning. His research interest in coaching psychology across cultures probably relates to his value in equality and diversity which was developed as part of his professional engagement as the Deputy Chair of the BPS Standing Committee for Promotion of Equal Opportunities and a duty in the Civil Service as one of the first equality advisors to the Assistant Permanent Under Secretary of State in the Home Office in 1999. The Network (an association for the Home Office staff) with its agenda in championing equality, which he and his colleagues including Trevor Hall CBE, OBE and Danny Lafayette MBE, helped to set up, continues to flourish.

Ho graduated from the University of Worcester in 1985 (what was then Worcester College) with a BSc (Hons) in Combined Studies, majoring in psychology. He was probably one of the very first graduates from Worcester who gained the BPS graduate membership and subsequently became chartered. His dissertation (supervised by Dr Ralph Goldstein) in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) was the major factor that got him his first job at the Department of Trade and Industry. He continued his research in cognitive psychology (HCI, artificial intelligence and expert systems) right through the early part of his Home Office career.

Ho is passionate about teaching and coaching at UEL with its diversity of students from different backgrounds, as he had first-hand experience in being an international student when he came to the UK from Hong Kong in 1977 and studied his Advanced Levels at Dudley Technical College. The experience of solitude and transitions across spaces, places and cultures in those early years resonates his cross-cultural research and international practice even until today.

Between 2004 and 2007, having left the Home Office, Ho set up his consultancy, and with his colleagues, they developed a universal integrative framework (UIF) for coaching, mentoring and learning. This was based on their consultancy in the leadership programme (called Breaking Through) as part of the National Health Services’ change agenda. Since then the framework has been continually revised and redeveloped through its applications across cultures internationally (Africa, Arabia, Europe and Hong Kong/China). As part of this development, Ho acquired the skills of narrative approach from the late Michael White (the founder of narrative therapy) in the Dulwich Centre, Adelaide, South Australia in 2006. In the UK, he has further developed narrative practice and applied it to coaching for diverse communities and social enterprises. He has been working collaboratively with Professor Reinhard Stelter (University of Copenhagen) and co-ran a Master Class at the Second European Conference of Coaching Psychology in London (December 2009). The UIF coaching psychology with its narrative practice forms an important part of Ho’s research agenda at UEL (see research and publications).

Achievement awards: Local Promoters for Cultural Diversity Project (2003), the Positive Image (2004).

Coaching psychology and narrative research & practice across cultures and evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions are important parts of Ho’s research agenda at UEL (see research and publications). Ho provides coaching, mentoring and supervision for diverse communities. His interests also include ethnography, arts and cultures. For example, the 0,1 Space & Identity project successfully attracted £35K funding from the Arts Council England, Momentum arts in 2003. It explored ethnographically the historical process of migration in Chinese and Jamaican communities. He did workshops for local schools and was the artist in residency for Peterborough Digital Art in 2004. The workshop at John Mansfield’s School was featured on TV (the BBC 6 o’clock News Look East). 

Coaching psychology and narrative research and practice across cultures and evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions are important parts of Ho’s research agenda at UEL (see research and publications).

Conference Keynotes

1. Law, H. (2011). Work/life balance — or life/life balance? Keynote addressed at the British Psychological Society’s Psychotherapy Section Annual Training Conference - Physician Heal Thyself: Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Enabling Resilience in Helping Professions — on 28–29 March 2011 at Van Mildert College, Durham University.
2. Law, H. (2010). Coaching Psychology for Diversity. Keynote addressed at the 1^st International Congress in Coaching Psychology hosted by BPS Special Group In Coaching Psychology on 14–15 December at City University, London, UK.

Publications in 2011:

Peer reviewed journals and conference papers

1. Bruce, A., & Law, H. (2011). An Arctic Journey: the application of and implication to Coaching Psychology. Paper presented at the 3^rd European Coaching Psychology Conference, hosted by BPS Special Group In Coaching Psychology on 13th & 14th December at City University, London, UK.
2. Law, H., & Ackland, C. (2011). Deconstruction of the NLP Meta Model within the context of coaching at work. Paper presented at the 3^rd European Coaching Psychology Conference, hosted by BPS Special Group In Coaching Psychology on 13–14 December at City University, London, UK.

Book Chapter:

1. Law, H.C. (2011). Intercultural coaching approach for Asian family business. In M. Shams & D. Lane (Ed.) Coaching in the family owned business: a path to growth. 41–58 London: Karnac Books.

Publications in 2010

Peer reviewed journals and conference papers

1. Law, H. C., Lancaster, L., & DiGiovanni (2010). A wider role for coaching psychology: applying transpersonal coaching psychology. The Coaching Psychologist. Vol. 6 No. 1, June, pp 22–31.
2. Law, H. C., & Stelter, R. (2010). Multi story: coaching narrative. Coaching at Work. 5(2): 28–33.
3. Law, H. C. (2010). Special Group in Coaching Psychology News. International Coaching Psychology Review 5(1) 88-89. The Australian Psychological Society & British Psychological Society. 
4. Law, H. (2010). An Asian perspective on leadership coaching: Sun Tzu and the Art of War. In J. Passmore (Ed) Leadership Coaching. Chapter 6. 93-114.London: Association for Coaching & Kogan Page.
5. Law, H. C. (2010). Coaching relationships and ethical practice. In S. Palmer & A. McDowall (Ed) The Coaching Relationship. East Sussex,UK: Routledge.
6. Stelter, R., & Law, H. (2010). Coaching: narrative–collaborative practice. International Coaching Psychology Review, 5, 2, 152–164.

Publications in 2009:

Peer reviewed journals and conference papers:

1. Allan, J., & Law, H. (2009). Ethical navigation in coaching psychology: a Socratic dialogue. The Coaching Psychologist. Vol. 5 No. 2, December, pp. 115–126. The British Psychological Society.
2. Law, H. C. (2009) Coaching psychology in education: an introduction. Debate CP. September. Edition 132. 18–21. Division of Educational and Child psychology, The British Psychological Society.
3. Law, H., & Yeung, L. (2009). Cross-Cultural Coaching Psychology: a fruitful dialogue. Coaching Psychology International. Society for Coaching Psychology. April. 2(1) 17–19. ISSN 1758-7719.
4. Law, H. C. (2009). Applying psychology of learning to coaching across Cultures. Paper presented at the 4th Annual International Conference on Psychology 27–30 May 2009, Athens, Greece. Athens Institute for Education and Research.

Articles:

1. Law, H. C., & Passmore, J. (2009). Developing global coaches. TJ (Training Journal) March 2009. 66–69.
2. Law, H. (2009). Breaking the glass ceiling: coaching alpha females. Posted by TrainingZone in Coaching on Mon, 18/05/2009 - 15:10. http://www.trainingzone.co.uk
3. Law, H. (2009). Coaching alpha males. Posted by TrainingZone in Coaching on 4/30/2009 5:59 pm. http://www.trainingzone.co.uk

Books and Chapters:

1. Passmore, J., & Law, H. C. (2009). Cross-cultural and diversity coaching. In J. Passmore (Ed.) Diversity-in-Coaching. London: Association for Coaching & Kogan Page.
2. Law, H. C. (UK) Laulusa, L. (France), & Cheng G. (China) (2009). When Far EastMeets West: Seeking Cultural Synthesis through Coaching. In Michel Moral and Geoffrey Abbott (Eds.) The Routledge Companion to International Business Coaching. East Sussex, UK: Routledge.

1. Law, H. C., & Allan, J. (2008). Understanding ethics in coaching psychology: the application of Socratic dialogue. The Coaching Psychologist. Vol. 4 No. 3, December, pp. 165–168.
2. Law, H. C. (2007). Use your membership title ethically. The Coaching Psychologist. Vol. 3 No. 3, December, pp. 150–151.
3. Law, H. C. (2007). The ethics column. The Coaching Psychologist. Vol. 3 No. 1, April, pp. 33–34.
4. Law, H. C., Ireland, S. & Hussain, Z. (2007). Psychology of coaching, mentoring & learning. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
5. Law, H. C. (2007). Narrative coaching and psychology of learning from multicultural perspectives. In S. Palmer & A. Whybrow, (2007 Ed.) Handbook of Coaching Psychology. East Sussex, UK: Routledge.   
6. Law, H. C. (2007). Reflection on spiritual performance in celebrating our story of 100 years of transpersonal psychology at the 10th Annual Conference.  Transpersonal Psychology Review. Vol. 11, 1. The British Psychological Society.
7. Ekblom, P., Law, H. C., & Sutton, M. (1996a, 2007). Safer cities and residential burglary. Home Office Research Study 164. pages ix–xxi. London: HMSO. In D. Nelken & Mars, G. (2007 Ed.). Burglary Volume. The International Library of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Penology — Second Series. Hampshire, UK: Ashgate.
8. Law, H. C. (2006). Ethical principles in coaching psychology. The Coaching Psychologist. Vol. 2 No. 1, May, pp. 13–16. The British Psychological Society.
9. Law, H. C., Ireland, S. & Hussain, Z. (2006). Evaluation of The Coaching Competence Self Review online tool within an NHS leadership development programme. International Coaching Psychology Review 1(2). The Australian Psychological Society & British Psychological Society. 
10. Ireland, S., Hussain, Z., & Law, H. C. (2006). The perfect matchmaker. CIPD (2006) Coaching at Work. 1(2): 26–29. Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. London: Personnel Publication Ltd.
11. Law, H. C. (2006). Ethics and diversity within coaching psychology practice. Skills Based Session, the 1^st International Coaching Psychology Conference Proceeding. 18^th December. City University, London. 
12. Law, H. C. (2005). The role of ethical principles in coaching psychology. The Coaching Psychologist. Vol. 1 No. 1, July, pp. 19–20. The British Psychological Society.
13. Law, H. C. (2005). The new code of ethics, human rights, and coaching psychology. The Coaching Psychologist. Vol. 1 No. 2, November, pp. 13–15. The British Psychological Society.
14. Hussain, Z., Ireland, S., & Law, H. C. (2005). Evaluation of a universal integrated framework for mentor/coaching. European Mentoring & Coaching Council Conference Proceeding, Zurich December.
15. Law, H. C., Ireland, S., & Hussain, Z (2005). Evaluation of Coaching Competence Self Review online tool within an NHS leadership development programme.  Special Group in Coaching Psychology Annual National Conference. December. City University, London: The British Psychological Society.
16. Law, H. C. (2004). Transcultural aspects of healing. Transpersonal Psychology Review. Vol. 8, 2, pp. 46–54. The British Psychological Society.
17. Law, H. C., & Wells, C. (2003). Championing equality: an organizational perspective & the role of psychologists. In Proceedings of the Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference. The British Psychological Society.
18. Law, H. C., & Grimley, B. (2003). Becoming a chartered psychologist: reflection from a private consultant. In Proceedings of the Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference. The British Psychological Society.
19. Law, H. C. (2003). Applying psychology in executive coaching programmes for organisations. The Occupational Psychologist. No. 49, pp. 12–19. The British Psychological Society.
20. Law, H. C. (2002). Coaching Psychology Interest Group: an introduction. The Occupational Psychologist. No. 47, pp. 31–32.The British Psychological Society.
21. Law, H. C., & Fisher, P. F. (2002). Spatial-thematic accuracy and domestic burglary in the Safer Cities Programme in England.  In W. Shi, P. F. Fisher & M. F. Goodchild (Ed.) Spatial Data Quality pp276-293. London & New York: Taylor & Francis. doi:10.4324/9780203303245_chapter_NINETEEN
22. Law, H. C., & Fisher, P. F. (1999). Spatial accuracy in the evaluation of the Safer Cities Programme in England. In Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Spatial Data Accuracy. Hong Kong Polytechnics University. 
23. MacLeod, I. S., & Law, H. C. (1998). System cognitive functions: the next step. Paper presented at the Second International Conference of Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics, Oxford.  In D. Harris (Ed in press) Engineering psychology and cognitive ergonomics. Aldershot: Ashgate.
24. Law, H. C. (1997). Allocation of functions in the Evaluation of Safer Cities Programme using Geographical Information System. Paper presented in the first international Conference ALLFN'97, University College Galway (Centre for Occupational Health & Safety Studies) Ireland.
25. Law, H. C. (1997). Engineering psychology: the hidden psychologist: a case study on the Evaluation of Safer Cities Programme using Geographical Information System. In D. Harris (Ed.) Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics Volume Two: Job Design and Product Design. Part four: Applied Cognitive Psychology 231–238. Ashgate.

• Consulting Editor of The Coaching Psychologist
• International Editorial Board Member, Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
• Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society
• BPS Special Group in Coaching Psychology (Founder member and Chair 2010)
• Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute
• Counselling Psychology Division (Member, British Psychological Society)
• Sports and Exercise Psychology (Founder member, British Psychological Society)
• Occupational Psychology Division (British Psychological Society)
• Member of the Operational Research Society
• Chartered Psychologist
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Applying Psychology of Learning to Coaching across Cultures*

Dr Ho Law

In this paper we offer some initial thoughts on the development of a coaching model that is sensitive to diversity thinking that is important to the success of international businesses. Several of the cross-cultural coaching models are reviewed (for example, Hall, 1976, Hofstede, 1980, 1991, Tropenaars, 1993; Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner, 1997 Rosinski, 2003). Given today’s global condition, this paper critically examines the cross-cultural models in the existing literature and argues that the psychology of learning provides an effective foundation to incorporate cultural learning into coaching methods. For instance, Law et al (2007) proposes a cross-cultural coaching model known as Universal Integrative Framework (UIF) embeds the psychology of learning using Kolb’s (1984) learning cycle as its core part of self and social development. The UIF is a pragmatic implementation model that embeds the following aspects: continuous professional development including learning and supervision; appreciation of a cultural environment; coach/coachee fluidity/integrative continuum; cross-cultural Emotional Intelligence; communication methods and feedback mechanisms. The link between the learning theories in psychology and UIF is further explored with a critical literature review on the psychology of coaching and learning within the cross-cultural context. Kolb’s (1984) Experiential Learning Model is then further examined and some of its gaps identified. It is proposed that these learning gaps can be bridged by applying Vygotsky’s (1926, 1962, 1978) idea of proximal development. This paper illustrates how these theories of learning can be applied to cross-cultural learning through co-coaching, where coaches and coachees learn from each other within the UIF model. An agenda for future research on coaching psychology is proposed.

* This paper was presented at the 4th Annual International Conference on Psychology, 27–30 May 2009, Athens, Greece. Athens Institute for Education and Research.

• BPS Special Group in Coaching Psychology