Synonyms
Coaching ethics; Ethics for a coach; Ethics of care; Values-based coaching
Definition
Coaching ethics, or the role of ethics in a coaching relationship, speaks to relational and organizational morals and competencies for the coach as well as other parties involved. There’s both a need for ethical conduct from the coach and for ethical awareness with regard to ongoing contracting. This is open for interpretation, as the work takes place as an exchange between human beings. Defining ethical coaching or distinguishing it from unethical coaching isn’t definite yet requires the coach’s consciousness as well as moral compassing. In this reflection, we refer to it as the establishment and clarity of the relational space, keeping in mind a triangulation between coach, client, and at times also the employer or the client’s organization.
This writing aligns with definitions from professional coach bodies, for example, the International Coach Federation which articulates its ethical...
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Notes
- 1.
For more background also the ethical statements from professional coach membership bodies. Some are Association for Coaching (“AC”), European Mentoring and Coaching Council (“EMCC”), International Association of Coaching, and International Coach Federation. International Coach Federation, pledge of ethics/code of conduct (Lewis 2014).
- 2.
Tim Gallwey and John Whitmore, both coming from a background as a sports coach, have each contributed much to define coaching and the role of the coach. They pointed to the coach’s recognition that the internal obstacles are often the most daunting ones to allow growth or better performance.
- 3.
According to research commissioned by The Learning Curve, which was carried out by Adsum, UK, 2014, around half of the organizational coaching starts with a three-way conversation and around 33% ends with a three-way conversation.
References
Fletcher J (2001) Disappearing acts gender, power and relational practice at work. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Foucault M (2010) Ethics: subjectivity and truth. In: Rabinow P, ed. (trans: Hurley P and others, from the essential works of Michael Foucault 1954–1984). The New Press, New York, p. 84
Gallwey T (1974) The inner game of tennis. Random House, New York
Ladkin D (2010) Rethinking leadership: a new look at old leadership questions. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, p 155
Lewis HA (2014) How coaching is being managed and tracked. White Paper TLC
Whitmore J (1992) Coaching for performance. WS Brookwell, p 8. London and Boston
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van Meer, P. (2023). Ethics in Leadership Coaching. In: Poff, D.C., Michalos, A.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Ethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22767-8_61
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