|
Coaching Relationship and Contract
At the beginning of any coaching relationship, ICF coaches will articulate the terms of the client-coach relationship in a clear, written communication or agreement. (Such an agreement may be recordable by Web site, brochure, e-mail, or a signed paper agreement.) Terms of the coach-client agreement will include the qualifications of the coach; the nature of the services available; limitations, boundaries, and perspectives of the coach or the services offered; a Statement of Client's Rights; and terms of the contract, that is, times, frequency, and methods of communication, and fees for the coaching service.
Client Protection
The client's well-being is the central focus of a coaching relationship and thereby obligates the coach to maintain a high level of integrity and trustworthiness throughout the contract. Therefore, coaches are respectful of the client's needs and requests; constructive in their feedback; attentive to the boundaries and limitations of each party; mindful of confidentiality issues and conflicts of interest; forthright and authentic in addressing any such issues as they emerge. The coach will, under no circumstances, take advantage of a client personally, socially, sexually, or financially. The coach will disclose any and all personal gain accrued by the client-coach relationship, including but not limited to, useful knowledge, personal growth, fees received for referrals or recommendations made to and/or pursued by the client. The coach will not only communicate, but will continuously demonstrate that the intended outcome of an exchange of information, discussion, referral, or recommendation is the client's growth and well-being, not the promotion of the coach's self-interest.
Confidentiality
The coach will make every effort to honor the client's confidence, although the coach cannot provide an a priori guarantee. The coach will advise the client of circumstances that might influence the coach's objectivity or judgment and any decision or factors relating to a decision to reveal the client's confidential information to a higher authority. Clients will be apprised that their confidence is not privileged under law and could be subpoenaed via the coach. To the extent that a coach is uncomfortable holding a client's confidence, the coach is advised to consult a mentor coach in an effort to jointly determine how best to handle the situation. In rare cases, if the confidential information is of an “outrageous,” “illegal,” or “dangerous-to-the-client-or-others” nature, the coach is obligated to consult a mentor coach, and/or an attorney, in order to determine whether to notify authorities, with or without the client's consent. The client is apprised and agrees that any materials provided by the coach may not be resold, published, or used outside the coaching relationship with the explicit permission of the coach.
Conflicts of Interest
Any conflict of interest is to be discussed and resolved with the client's best interest in mind. Whenever a conflict becomes apparent, the coach is ethically obligated to identify it and attempt to resolve it. If, during the coaching relationship, the coach cannot serve the client objectively, respectfully, or without internal or external conflict, the coach is ethically obligated to terminate the coaching agreement/contract. Such a termination provides reasonable advance notice and a reasonable explanation of the conflict at the center of the termination decision.
Referrals and Terminations
Whenever internal or external conditions arise that seem “uncoachable” or unworkable, the coach is ethically committed to reveal his observations and opinion to the client. The coach will suggest a viable solution(s) to the problem, making every effort to avoid injury to the dignity of the client. If the solution includes a referral to another coach, the referring coach is ethically committed to refer to three (3) more suitable coaches. If the coach's suggested solution includes termination without referral, or postponement of the coaching contract until a more suitable time, the coach is ethically committed to a clear explanation of the rationale underlying the recommendation.
|
