As a Leadership and Empowerment coach, I commit to ethical conduct through the tenets provided in this document. The points in this code of ethics is modeled by or copied from the International Coaching Federation's Code of Ethics.

 

I. Definitions

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• Coaching: Partnership with an individual (coachee/ client) in an active and introspective process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

• Coach: The individual asking the questions and guiding the introspection

• Coachee/ client: The individual being coached

• Conflict of Interest: A situation in which a coach has a private or personal interest sufficient to appear to influence the objective of his or her official duties as a coach and a professional.

• Professional Coaching Relationship: A professional coaching relationship exists when coaching includes an agreement (including contracts) that defines the responsibilities of each party.

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II. Professional Conduct at Large

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As a coach, I 

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• 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 I offer as a coach

• Accurately identify my coaching qualifications, expertise, experience, training, certifications

• Recognize and honor the efforts and contributions of others and only claim ownership of my own material. I understand that violating this standard may leave me subject to legal remedy by a third party.

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

• Recognize that the Code of Ethics applies to my relationship with coaching clients, coachees, students, mentees and supervisees.

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

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III. Conflict of Interest

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As a coach, I 

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• Seek to be conscious of any conflict or potential conflict of interest, openly disclose any such conflict and offer to remove myself when a conflict arise

• Honor an equitable coach/client relationship, regardless of the form of compensation.

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IV. Professional Conduct with Coachees

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As a coach, I 

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• Ethically speak what I know to be true to clients, prospective clients or sponsors about the potential value of the coaching process or of me as a coach.

• Carefully explain and strive to ensure that, prior to or at the initial meeting, my coaching client and sponsor(s) understand 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 my clients and sponsor(s) 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, I may have with my clients or sponsor(s).

• Avoid any sexual or romantic relationship with current clients or sponsor(s) or students, mentees or supervisees. Further, I will be alert to the possibility of any potential sexual intimacy among the parties including my support staff and/or assistants and will take the appropriate action to address the issue or cancel the engagement in order to provide a safe environment overall.

• Respect the client’s right to terminate the coaching relationship at any point during the process, subject to the provisions of the agreement. I shall remain alert to indications that there is a shift in the value received from the coaching relationship.

• Encourage the client or sponsor to make a change if I believe the client or sponsor would be better served by another coach or by another resource and suggest my client seek the services of other professionals when deemed necessary or appropriate.

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V. Confidentiality/ Privacy

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As a coach, I 

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

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

• Have a clear agreement when acting as a coach, coach mentor, coaching supervisor or trainer, with both client and sponsor, student, mentee, or supervisee about the conditions under which confidentiality may not be maintained (e.g., illegal activity, pursuant to valid court order or subpoena; imminent or likely risk of danger to self or to others; etc) and make sure both client and sponsor, student, mentee, or supervisee voluntarily and knowingly agree in writing to that limit of confidentiality. Where I reasonably believe that because one of the above circumstances is applicable, I may need to inform appropriate authorities.

• Require all those who work with me in support of my clients to adhere to the above code of ethics, and any other sections of the Code of Ethics that might be applicable.

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VI. Continuing Development

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As a coach, I 

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

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As a coach, I acknowledge and agree to honor my ethical and legal obligations to my coaching clients and sponsors, colleagues, and to the public at large. I pledge to comply with this Code of Ethics and to practice these standards with those whom I coach, teach, mentor or supervise.

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Adopted by Yasmin Marrero, November 10, 2019.