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Let’s continue brainstorming the idea of a non-partisan International Professional Coach Registry.
What if this registry could unify and consolidate every professional coach under a single International Code of Ethics — a set of shared promises to deliver coaching of the highest quality, integrity and good will?
How would it be different from the many Codes of Ethics that already exist in coaching associations around the world?
For coaching, it’s an opportunity to bring every professional coach together under one promise that points the industry in a clear and unified direction – forward. And coaches could sign this promise and join the registry without affecting their individual affiliations.
For clients, it’s a promise of quality, respect and value regardless of what they know or don’t know about coaching crendentials, certifications or regulations.
The Code of Ethics should be simple to read and understand.
Here are some ideas to start – add your ideas to the comment box below and and if you’d like to send me your association’s code of ethics, email to team@coachingcommons.org.
- I promise to be a dedicated professional coach, providing competent coaching services with compassion and respect for my clients.
- I promise to be responsible, honest and trustworthy.
- I promise to honor client confidentiality and privacy.
- I promise to maintain a commitment to my own coach training and personal coaching.
- I promise to refer clients to other professionals outside my area of expertise when indicated.
- I promise to actively participate with the worldwide coaching community to advance coaching as a vehicle for human development, peace and harmony.
What else?
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There are 13 Responses so far...
I think it’s a really good idea to have a simple code of conduct that is relevant to all professional coaches worldwide. In fact, the IAC and the ICF have already collaborated (very recently) to create something we call the Model Standards for Conduct of Professional Coaches.
Part of the impetus is that we’ve heard complaints from coaching clients about so-called coaches who do not seem to be members of any professional association. If there were a set of standards that the whole industry agreed to, it could be argued that anyone calling themselves a coach and charging fees for their services could be expected to abide by those standards as well. I understand that professional mediators have adopted a similar practice.
Excellent Angela – very exciting for coaching – so this will serve as an ethical model for all professional coaches and not just IAC or ICF members? Will this be a stand alone promise-and-sign-on list, or will it include a registry with coach information and profiles? I also think the client feedback piece and perhaps mediation/arbitration for serious client complaints need a place…could this be included?
I totally agree with Angela and just want to add that the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) recently has approved the very same Model Standards of Conduct for Professional Coaches. If anyone wants a copy of the Model Standards, please contact me offline at edmodell@aol.com, and I will send it to you electronically. Other professional coaching organizations are encouraged to consider approving the Model Standards, as well.
As to Linda’s questions, it is not intended for any coach to sign on to the Model Standards, nor is a registry with coach information planned. As with the mediator profession, these Model Standards are intended to guide the work of coaches and to protect the public. For example, if there is a law suit against a coach, a court could refer to the Model Standards to determine how a reasonably prudent coach would be expected to act under the circumstances present in the case. The Model Standards have added credibility because they have been approved by more than one organization.
On Linda’s question about mediation or arbitration of ethics complaints, ICF’s newly revised Ethical Conduct Revise process includes a provision for the mediation of ethics complaints if the complainant and the respondent agree to use it. A panel of mediators has been formed made up of ICF-credentialed coaches who are also professional mediators.
It is great to hear that ICF, IAC, EMCC, and many others are heading towards similar lines of thoughts for the coaching ‘profession’. Am I reading this correctly?
My concern is still, whose ‘Codes’/'Conduct’/'Guidelines’/'Standards’ should the clients/coachees refer to when evaluating their respective coaches’ practices, and who should the client/coachee ‘complain to’ in case mediation & arbitration is required (assuming that the coach belongs is a member of multiple coaching Organizations or none at all?
Billy C H Teoh
Malaysia.
Should the code of ethics address use of technology? Is confidentiality an issue most coaches consider?
DeeAnna
Billy-at least ICF, IAC and EMCC are on the same wave length about ethics for the coaching profession. The second part of your comment is all the more reason that we all need to keep educating the public about coaching so that coachees/clients make wise choices in selecting their coaches.
DeeAnna-I’m not sure what you mean about addressing the use of technology. If you explain more, I will try to answer.
Confidentiality is a critical part of each coach’s ethical obligations. Here is what the Model Standards of Conduct provide on confidentiality:
Section 4. Confidentiality/Privacy
21) Coaches will maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with all client and sponsor information. Coaches will have a clear agreement contract before releasing information to another person, unless required by law.
22) Coaches will have a clear agreement upon how coaching information will be exchanged among coach, client, and sponsor.
23) When acting as trainers of student coaches, coaches will clarify confidentiality policies with the students.
24) Coaches will have associated coaches and other persons whom they manage in service of their clients and their sponsors in a paid or volunteer capacity make clear agreements or contracts to adhere to these Confidentiality/ Privacy standards and the entire Standards of Conduct to the extent applicable.
Thanks Ed for the sharing. Wonder if you could point me to where I can access the “Model Standard”. Thanks.
Billy C H Teoh
Malaysia.
Ed,
Thank you for sharing the confidentiality standards. What I mean is to address confidentiality particularly as related to technology- so that the best practice includes using encrypted email, chat and video and that voice is either through encrypted VOIP (like Skype) or is conducted via a secure landline. What do folks think about that? It seems like the coaching profession would want to move in that direction particularly given the very words “strictest levels of confidentiality…”
Thanks for including me in the dialogue!
DeeAnna
DeeAnna-
Neither the ICF Code of Ethics nor the Model Standards of Conduct require the encrypted or secure types of communications that you refer to. I’m not sure if it is required by other coaching organizations’ codes of ethics. At this time, I think it would be too expensive and too technologically challenging for most coaches (including myself) to be expected to use encryption and secure lines.
You seem to know a lot about this. Is it readily available and reasonably priced so most coaches could use encryption and secure lines?
Ed
Hi Ed,
Thank you again for replying. That is my challenge to the field- to make encryption the standard for online work as the mental health helping professions have. In fact, encryption is easy. There are programs that are free. I use hushmail.com which is free and as easy as setting up a yahoo or gmail email. I use Skype for voice, video and chat which is also encrypted.
It may seem like I am peering in from another field all together, but I am one that works hand in hand with many coaches and I believe client information should be protected regardless of whether the communication is with a coach or a therapist.
Thanks for hearing me!
DeeAnna
I believe the two clauses in the ‘ICF-IAC-EMCC Code’ may cover some of DeeAnna’s concerns:
“7) Coaches will accurately maintain, store, and dispose of any records created during their coaching business in a manner that promotes confidentiality, security, and privacy, and complies with any applicable laws and agreements.”
“21) Coaches will maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with all client and sponsor information. Coaches will have a clear agreement contract before releasing information to another person, unless required by law.”
Am I interpreting correctly?
Billy C H Teoh
Malaysia.
Billy-
I think you are interpreting the language correctly.
Ed Modell
I know I sound as if I´d have a one track mind, and maybe that is the case, but what do we mean when we say “I promise to be a dedicated professional coach, providing competent coaching services with compassion and respect for my clients”. What do we mean by “competent coaching services”. Unless we agree on the meaning
of the sounds we utter, we will continue growing as “an industry” but not as a profession. Before we discuss issues such as “confidentiality” (a MUST), what if we seriously talk about standards, contents, theories that sustain our work and so forth.
I don´t intend to be politically correct but bluntly honest in my questions, since we all seem to be able to provide answers but only a few ask questions. What is a “professional coach”? Making a living via holding coaching conversations is enough to declare ourselves “professionals”? Is there such a thing as an “amateur” coach? Is it ethical to promise to train someone as a professional in two week end meetings? What are we ready to risk in order to make this a profession? If standards were raised, less people would enter training programmes and even less would certify, which would undoubtedly impact in the “INDUSTRY” but would -also undoubtedly- set solid basis for the “PROFESSION”.