Apr 20, 2022
Competency #1: Demonstrates Ethical Practice
DEFINITION: Understands and consistently applies coaching ethics and standards of coaching.
* Demonstrates personal integrity and honesty in interactions with clients, sponsors and relevant stakeholders
* Is sensitive to clients' identity, environment, experiences, values and beliefs
* Uses language appropriate and respectful to clients, sponsors and relevant stakeholders
* Abides by the ICF Code of Ethics and upholds the Core Values
* Maintains confidentiality with client information per stakeholder agreements and pertinent laws
* Maintains the distinctions between coaching, consulting, psychotherapy and other support professions
* Refers clients to other support professionals, as appropriate
WATCH: Dr. Frances Penafort, MCC for ICF Core Competency 1: Demonstrates Ethical Practice [VIDEO]
READ: Link to the ICF Core Competencies (Updated)
Three ways to demonstrate an ethical practice:
* Focus on self: how much of yourself do you want to bring into the coach/client relationship? What is your level of honesty, professionalism, and integrity? How are you showing up as a coach? How are you honoring others' identities as a coach?
* Focus on the relationship: how are you showing empathy, care, and nurturing the coach/client relationship? How can you be sure you are honoring the identities of the client? How are you nurturing the relationship?
* Follow the system: believe in the structure, policies, and competencies of ICF. Coach the person; not the problem. T to the P (Trust the Process)
Resources:
* ICF Code of Ethics
* Ethics CCE Course (3 CCE units) 42:19 min
* 3 Approaches to Being an Ethical Coach by Tatiana Krawczyńska-Zaucha, PhD, PCC
* ICF Code of Ethics Videos Series [YouTube]
* Ethics Resources - hotline, liability insurance, FAQs, interpretive statements & CoP
Questions to reflect on as a coach:
* How might your identities impact your coach/client relationship?
* What will you do if your identities/experiences are blocking you from being your best coach self?
* How do you create a space for a client to share their identities?
* What curious questions have you used when building the client relationship?
* How do you seek help as a coach?
* How are you better understanding/growing within the ICF system?
* How are you setting up your coaching practice in an ethical way? (e.g. parent/sponsor for coaching)
* How are you keeping things confidential?
Plus encourage your clients to ask you questions during the exploration session:
* What curious questions do you have for me?
* What can I share about my experience?
* What would you like to know about my coaching practice?
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What ways are you thinking about ethics as a coach? Tell us about it!
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* Email us at: coachingthroughit@gmail.com
* Connect to the hosts: @laurapasquini & @julieclarsen
Music credit: The song reCreation by airtone has been remixed under a CC-BY license.