Coaching Ethical Principles.
© 2003 International Association of Coaches. All rights reserved.
Competence:
Coaches will maintain high standards of competence in their work.
Integrity:
Coaches will represent themselves in an honest and fair manner, being cognizant of their particular competencies and limitations. Coaches strive to be aware of their own belief systems, values, needs, and limitations and the effect of these on theirwork. To the extent feasible, they attempt to clarify for relevant parties the roles they are performing and to function appropriately in accordance with those roles.
Professional Responsibility:
Coaches will uphold standards of ethical conduct that reflect well on the individual coach as well as the profession at large.
Respect for People's Rights and Dignity:
Coaches will treat clients with dignity and respect being aware of cultural differences, and the client's right to autonomy, privacy, and confidentiality. Coaches accord appropriate respect to the fundamental rights, dignity, and worth of all people. They respect the rights ofindividuals to privacy, confidentiality, self- determination, and autonomy, mindful that legal and other obligations may lead to inconsistency and conflict with the exercise of these rights. Coaches are aware of cultural, individual, and role differences, including those due to age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status. Coaches try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on those factors, and they do not knowingly participate in or condone unfair discriminatory practices.
Code of Ethics (excerpt)
Introduction
Coaches work in a variety of specializations (such as personal/life and corporate/business) in order to help their clients. Coaches are specifically trained in coaching through a school or mentor coach, and use/incorporate their individual life experience in their practice. Coaches may use an array of titles, ranging from coach to consultant to facilitator. Although each coach measures their progress differently, achievement is always measured by progress made by the coach's clients. Due to the personal nature of most coaching relationships, this Ethics Code provides the framework and values upon which professional coaches base their practice.
The purposes of this Code are threefold.
- First, it provides the broad principles and values to which coaches subscribe.
- These include confidentiality and the utmost concern for the welfare and success of the client.
- Secondly, it provides rules for coaches to use in many of the specific situations that a coach might encounter.
- Finally, this Code is meant serve as a building block for the ethical and moral standards of coaches.
While each individual coach agrees to follow this Code, they are encouraged to supplement and add to it in order to build a lifelong commitment to building an ethical workplace and profession
1. General Standards
1.03 Professional Relationship.
(a) Coaches provide their services only in the context of the IAC professional
standards.
(b) Trust and responsibility are at the heart of the coaching profession. It
is expected that
coaches will always act with integrity towards their clients, their peers, and
themselves.
1.04 Competence In Coaching.
(a) A coach will not knowingly lay claim to a level of competence not possessed,
and will at
all times exercise competence at least to the level claimed.
(b) Coaches provide services only within the boundaries of their competence,
based on their
education, training, or appropriate professional experience. Coaches should only
accept work
as they believe they are competent to perform.
1.05 Maintaining Expertise.
(a) Coaches maintain a reasonable level of awareness of current best business
practices
and professional information in their fields of activity, and undertake ongoing
efforts to
maintain competence in the skills they use.
(b) Coaches keep themselves informed of new technologies, practices, legal requirements
and standards as are relevant
to the coaching profession
1.06 Outputs of coaching Services.
(a) When coaches provide coaching services, (inclusive of any assessments utilized),
to an
individual, a group, or an organization, they use language that is reasonably
understandable
to the recipient of those services.
(b) If coaches will be precluded by law or by any other means from providing
such
information to particular individuals or
groups, they so inform those individuals or groups at the outset of the service.
1.07 Respecting Others.
(a) Respect for the individual is a cornerstone of coaching relationship.
(b) In their work-related activities, coaches respect the rights of others to
hold values,
attitudes, and opinions that differfrom their own.
1.10 Personal Problems and Conflicts.
(a) Coaches recognize that they too may experience personal problems which may
exert an
adverse effect upon the coach client relationship. Accordingly coaches inform
clients of any
such problems, and together appropriate action is taken.
(b) In addition, coaches have an obligation to be alert to signs of, and to obtain
assistance for,
their personal problems at an early stage, in order to prevent impaired coaching
performance.
(c) When coaches become aware of personal problems that may interfere with their
performing coaching-related duties adequately, they take appropriate measures,
such as
obtaining professional consultation or assistance, and determine whether they
should limit,
suspend, or terminate their current coaching activity.
1.11 Making Progress.
Coaches take reasonable steps to ensure that the client progresses, and in cases where there is no progress coaches strive to minimize any harm to their client.
1.12 Misuse of Coaches' Influence.
Because coaches' professional judgments and actions may affect the lives of others, they are alert to and guard against personal, financial, social, organizational, or political factors that might lead to misuse of their influence.
1.14 Conflict of Interest.
(a) Whenever feasible, a coach refrains from taking on professional obligations
when
preexisting relationships would create a risk of conflict of interest.
(b) If a coach finds that, due to unforeseen factors, a potentially conflict
of interest
relationship has arisen, the coach attempts to resolve it with due regard for
the best interests
of the affected person and compliance with the Ethics Code.
1.20 Records and Information Management
(a) Coaches create, maintain, disseminate, store, retain, and dispose of records
and data
relating to their practice, and
other work in accordance with the law of the country in which they practice,
and in a manner
that permits compliance with
the requirements of this Ethics Code.
(b) Coaches are recommended to appropriately document their work in order to
facilitate
provision of services later by
them or by other professionals, to ensure accountability, and to meet other legal
requirements
of their Country.
1.21 Fees and Financial Arrangements.
(a) As early as is feasible in a professional relationship, the coach and the
client, or other
appropriate recipient of coaching services reach an agreement specifying the
compensation
and the billing arrangements.
(b) Coaches do not exploit recipients of services or payers with respect to fees,
nor do
coaches misrepresent their fees.
(c) If limitations to services can be anticipated because of limitations in financing,
this is
discussed with the client, or other appropriate recipient of services as early
as is feasible.
2. Advertising/Public Statements
2.01 Definition
Advertising / Public Statements refer to any written documents or verbal statements that a coach makes publicly available (such as a brochure, article, speech, or professional resume) relating to coaching.
2.03 Avoidance of False Statements.
Coaches agree not to make any public statements that are false, under any circumstance. Examples of such statements include a coach's training or experience and the fees they charge.
3. Coaching Relationship
3.01 Structuring the Relationship.
(a) Coaches will explain their fee structure prior to the first paid coaching
session with a
client.
(b) Coaches agree to bring up and discuss important topics as early as possible
in the
coaching relationship.
(c) Coaches agree to refer clients to other professionals when relevant. Coaches
also will
refer a client to a counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist as soon as possible
if they see or hear
a problem that may necessitate mental health treatment.
(d) Coaches make an effort to answer clients' questions and address their concerns
about
coaching as promptly as possible. When available, a coach will provide written
information to
address specific concerns about coaching.
3.06 Terminating the Coaching Relationship.
Coaches agree to terminate a coaching relationship when it becomes clear that the client is no longer gaining benefit (or is being harmed) from the coaching relationship. In terminating the relationship, coaches will suggest alternatives or provide referrals to coaches or other professional services when appropriate.
4. Privacy and Confidentiality
These Standards are applicable to the professional activities of all coaches.
4.01 Discussing Confidentiality and the Limitations Thereof.
(a) Coaches respect the client's right to privacy. They do not solicit
private information from
the client unless it is essential
in the provision of services, or the implementation of research. The standards
of
confidentiality apply once disclosure
occurs.
(b) The discussion of confidentiality occurs at the beginning of the professional
relationship,
unless it is contraindicated or
infeasible, and from then on as necessary.
(c) Coaches discuss the nature of confidentiality and its limitations with clients
and other
interested parties. Coaches
examine situations in which confidential information may be requested or disclosed.
(d) All information obtained in the course of the professional service is confidential
unless
there is a compelling
professional reason for its disclosure. Coaches will disclose confidential information
without
a specific release if it is
necessary to prevent foreseeable imminent harm to the client or another. In all
circumstances,
coaches will be judicious in
the amount of information that is disclosed.
4.02 Maintaining Confidentiality.
(a) Coaches are fundamentally prudent in the protection of the confidentiality
rights of those
with whom they work or consult. Coaches acknowledge that professional relationships,
institutional regulations, and/or the law may establish confidentiality.
(b) Coaches will not discuss confidential information in any setting unless privacy
can be
assured.
(c) Coaches discuss confidential information only for appropriate professional,
consultative,
or scientific purposes and only with persons clearly concerned with such matters.
(d) In their dealings with the public and media (including professional presentations,
and
writing) coaches will be careful to guard the confidentiality of their clients.
Moreover,
coaches will disguise confidential information so that clients are not individually
identifiable.
Coaches will only disclose confidential information if the client or legally
authorized individual
has given express written consent.
(e) In a consultative capacity, coaches do not share confidential information
that could lead to
the identification of a client with whom they have a confidential relationship.
Coaches may
only share this information if they have obtained the prior consent of the client,
or if the
disclosure cannot be avoided. Furthermore, coaches share information only to
the extent
necessary to achieve the purposes of the consultation.
(f) Coaches take logical precautions to protect client confidentiality in the
event of the coach's
cessation of practice, incapacitation, or death.
(g) Coaches protect the confidentiality of their deceased clients in accordance
with this
Ethics Code.