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Looking at the ICF code of ethics, I don’t see an explicit mention of “doing no harm” to the client, but assume it is considered to be implicitly covered by other statements within the code.
I bring this up because I just returned from the ICF conference and heard recommendations to coaches to use and trust our instinct and “gut” when working with clients, and to assume that if we are wrong in our approach, the client will let us know (and presumably, all will be forgiven?).
What I did not hear made explicit (although there was some clarification after a question was raised), was how one knows how much instinct and gut to trust as one moves up the levels from novice to ACC to PCC to MCC.
Perhaps this was clear to the presenters I heard and perhaps to other participants, but it worried me that some might take away the message that our instincts are, by nature, accurate enough, and that all clients are resilient enough to accept well-intended but misguided instinctive interactions.
One question I left with is to what degree coaches at varying levels can accurately assess the resilience of clients and modify their use of instinct appropriately (or would some disagree with my premise).
Another question I have is whether, if we are willing to accept that some clients will vote with their feet after feeling that their coaches are misattuned to them. Through the coaches’ risk-taking, instinctive interactions, the clients may leave disappointed by not only the coach’s responsiveness, but by the more general experience of being coached. In other words, does not having a clear sense of how much risk to take with whom, given that particular client and that coach’s level of ability, potentially reflect poorly on coaching as a discipline?
So, to what degree, if any, do taking risks and trusting our instinct, risk doing harm to either less resilient clients or to our discipline?
I may be basing my questions and concern on too small a sample and may have witnessed some anomalies. What are your thoughts about whether these are issues we should be looking at in coach training and to what degree the issues are covered appropriately in the training, seminars, and courses you are familiar with.
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I think you bring up a great question.
What I always go back to – and even this leaves lots of room for mistakes – is that the coaching relationship exists for the benefit of the client. It isn’t about me learning new skills – it’s about serving the client.
And then there’s trust. Without trust, no coaching can occur.
Those two things are always part of my boundaries, I guess I’d say, on where I go with questions.
Another thing that comes up for me with coaching, is that it is a partnership. Co-creating a relationship.
If I find these things exist, I’m more inclined to take a chance with my instincts. And I have made mistakes. But if these are in place in a way that I think I’m being authentic, I’ve had good results with following my instincts, as opposed to a prescribed path.