Code of Ethics: Life Change Coaching

The Code of Ethics by which I run my life coaching consultancy can give you a greater idea about the kind of service you can expect. I respect the client as the expert in their life and work, and believe that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole.

My responsibility as a coach is to:

• Uncover, make clear, and go with what the client wants to achieve
• Encourage the client’s self-discovery
• Help the client to find their own self-generated solutions and strategies
• Hold the client responsible and accountable
• Champion the client and their goals

Coaching consultancy is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organisations. 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. I recognise 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.

• I will ensure that my coaching client understands the nature of coaching and the terms of the coaching agreement between us.
• 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.
• I will not give my clients or any prospective clients information or advice I know to be misleading or beyond my competence.
• I will be alert to noticing when my client is no longer benefiting from our coaching relationship and would be better served by another coach or by another resource and, at that time, I will encourage my client to make that change.

Confidentiality/Privacy

1. I will respect the confidentiality of my client’s information, except as otherwise authorised by my client, or as required by law.
2. I will never release information about my clients to anyone without their permission. I have a profound respect for privacy and will never pressure them to use their names or identities in any promotions.
3. I will not approach clients unsolicited either during or after their coaching or send them unsolicited material including junk mail or spam.

Conflicts of Interest

1. I will seek to avoid conflicts between my interests and the interests of my clients.
2. 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.
3. I will disclose to my client all anticipated compensation from third parties that I may receive for referrals or advice concerning that client.
4. I will declare to my client if any of my other clients have interests that may conflict with their interests and should that happen I will withdraw from being their coach and refer them on to another professional.

I acknowledge that many of the coaching ethical principles by which I practise have come to me by many sources. Firstly as a therapist I continue to use codes that I must abide to as a person who can be trusted.

Secondly I also try to keep good business practices, as I believe openness and honesty in business gains one the respect that promotes a business.

Thirdly I wish to credit the book Therapist as Life Coach that suggests codes of ethics by which coaches can run their consultancies.

See: Life Change Coaching and Brief Business Coaching.