Code of Ethics!

Refrain from unlawful discrimination in occupational activities, including age, race, gender orientation, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or disability.

Make verbal and written statements that are true and accurate about what you offer as a coach.

Accurately identify your coaching qualifications, expertise, experience, training, certifications and membership.

Recognize and honor the efforts and contributions of others and only claim ownership of your own material.

Strive at all times to recognize personal issues that may impair, conflict with or interfere with coaching performance or professional coaching relationships. The coach will promptly seek the relevant professional assistance and determine the action to be taken, including whether it is appropriate to suspend or terminate the coaching relationship(s) whenever the facts and circumstances necessitate.

Maintain, store and dispose of any records, including electronic files and communications, created during coaching engagements in a manner that promotes confidentiality, security and privacy and complies with any applicable laws and agreements.

Seek to be conscious of any conflict or potential conflict of interest, openly disclose any such conflict and offer to remove self when a conflict arises.

Carefully explain and strive to ensure that, prior to or at the initial meeting, the client understands the nature of coaching, the nature and limits of confidentiality, financial arrangements, and any other terms of the coaching agreement.

Have a clear coaching service agreement with clients before beginning the coaching relationship and honor this agreement. The agreement shall include the roles, responsibilities and rights of all parties involved.

Hold responsibility for being aware of and setting clear, appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern interactions, physical or otherwise with the clients.

Avoid any sexual or romantic relationship with current clients. Further, the coach will be alert to the possibility of any potential sexual intimacy and will take the appropriate action to address the issue or cancel the engagement in order to provide a safe environment.

Respect the client’s right to terminate the coaching relationship at any point during the process, subject to the provisions of the agreement.

Encourage the client to make a change if the coach believes the client would be better served by another coach or by another resource and suggest the client seeks the services of other professionals when deemed necessary or appropriate.

Maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with all client information unless release is required by law.

Have a clear agreement about how coaching information will be exchanged among coach and client.

Have a clear agreement when acting as a coach, coach mentor, coaching supervisor or trainer, with both client, student, mentee, or supervisee about the conditions under which confidentiality may not be maintained (e.g., illegal activity, court order, imminent or likely risk of danger to self or to others; etc) and make sure both client, student, mentee, or supervisee voluntarily and knowingly agree in writing to that limit of confidentiality.

Commit to the need for continued and ongoing development of professional skills.