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Part
One: The ICF Philosophy of Coaching
The International Coach Federation
adheres to a form of coaching that honors the client as
the expert in his/her life and work and believes that every
client is creative, resourceful, and whole. Standing on
this foundation, the coach's responsibility is to:
• Discover, clarify, and
align with what the client wants to achieve
• Encourage client self-discovery
• Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
• Hold the client responsible and accountable
Part
Two: The ICF Definition of Coaching
Professional Coaching is an ongoing
professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary
results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations.
Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning,
improve their performance, and enhance their quality of
life.
In each meeting, the client chooses
the focus of conversation, while the coach listens and contributes
observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity
and moves the client into action. Coaching accelerates the
client's progress by providing greater focus and awareness
of choice. Coaching concentrates on where clients are now
and what they are willing to do to get where they want to
be in the future. ICF member coaches and ICF credentialed
coaches recognize that results are a matter of the client's
intentions, choices and actions, supported by the coach's
efforts and application of the coaching process
Part
Three: The ICF Standards of Ethical Conduct
Professional Conduct At
Large
As a coach:
1) I will conduct myself in a manner
that reflects positively upon the coaching profession and
I will refrain from engaging in conduct or making statements
that may negatively impact the public's understanding or
acceptance of coaching as a profession.
2) I will not knowingly make any
public statements that are untrue or misleading, or make
false claims in any written documents relating to the coaching
profession.
3) I will respect different approaches
to coaching. I will honor the efforts and contributions
of others and not misrepresent them as my own.
4) I will be aware of any issues
that may potentially lead to the misuse of my influence
by recognizing the nature of coaching and the way in which
it may affect the lives of others.
5) I will at all times strive to
recognize personal issues that may impair, conflict or interfere
with my coaching performance or my professional relationships.
Whenever the facts and circumstances necessitate, I will
promptly seek professional assistance and determine the
action to be taken, including whether it is appropriate
to suspend or terminate my coaching relationship(s).
6) As a trainer or supervisor of
current and potential coaches, I will conduct myself in
accordance with the ICF Code of Ethics in all training and
supervisory situations.
7) I will conduct and report research
with competence, honesty and within recognized scientific
standards. My research will be carried out with the necessary
approval or consent from those involved, and with an approach
that will reasonably protect participants from any potential
harm. All research efforts will be performed in a manner
that complies with the laws of the country in which the
research is conducted.
8) I will accurately create, maintain,
store and dispose of any records of work done in relation
to the practice of coaching in a way that promotes confidentiality
and complies with any applicable laws.
9) I will use ICF member contact
information (email addresses, telephone numbers, etc.) only
in the manner and to the extent authorized by the ICF.
Professional Conduct With Clients
10) I will be responsible for setting
clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries
that govern any physical contact that I may have with my
clients.
11) I will not become sexually
involved with any of my clients.
12) I will construct clear agreements
with my clients, and will honor all agreements made in the
context of professional coaching relationships.
13) I will ensure that, prior to
or at the initial session, my coaching client understands
the nature of coaching, the bounds of confidentiality, financial
arrangements and other terms of the coaching agreement.
14) I will accurately identify
my qualifications, expertise and experience as a coach.
15) I will not intentionally mislead
or make false claims about what my client will receive from
the coaching process or from me as their coach.
16) I will not give my clients
or prospective clients information or advice I know or believe
to be misleading.
17) I will not knowingly exploit
any aspect of the coach-client relationship for my personal,
professional or monetary advantage or benefit.
18) I will respect the client's
right to terminate coaching at any point during the process.
I will be alert to indications that the client is no longer
benefiting from our coaching relationship.
19) If I believe the client would
be better served by another coach, or by another resource,
I will encourage the client to make a change.
20) I will suggest that my clients
seek the services of other professionals when deemed appropriate
or necessary.
21) I will take all reasonable
steps to notify the appropriate authorities in the event
a client discloses an intention to endanger self or others.
Confidentiality/Privacy
22) I will respect the confidentiality
of my client's information, except as otherwise authorized
by my client, or as required by law.
23) I will obtain agreement from
my clients before releasing their names as clients or references,
or any other client identifying information.
24) I will obtain agreement from
the person being coached before releasing information to
another person compensating me.
Conflicts of Interest
25) I will seek to avoid conflicts
between my interests and the interests of my clients.
26) Whenever any actual conflict
of interest or the potential for a conflict of interest
arises, I will openly disclose it and fully discuss with
my client how to deal with it in whatever way best serves
my client.
27) I will disclose to my client
all anticipated compensation from third parties that I may
receive for referrals of that client.
28) I will only barter for services,
goods or other non-monetary remuneration when it will not
impair the coaching relationship.
Part
Four: The ICF Pledge of Ethics
As a professional coach, I acknowledge
and agree to honor my ethical obligations to my coaching
clients and colleagues and to the public at large. I pledge
to comply with the ICF Code of Ethics, to treat people with
dignity as independent and equal human beings, and to model
these standards with those whom I coach. If I breach this
Pledge of Ethics or any part of the ICF Code of Ethics,
I agree that the ICF in its sole discretion may hold me
accountable for so doing. I further agree that my accountability
to the ICF for any breach may include loss of my ICF membership
and/or my ICF credentials.
View
ICF Code of Ethics As PDF File
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