Ethics – A Standard with Whom We are Familiar – Or Are We?
“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” –Potter Stewart
How true is this statement? Ethics is a standard with whom we are all familiar. My experience as an educator and coach says not so much! Only when there is an infraction or someone steps across the “ethical line”, does the need to know become clear.
For us, there is an Educator Code of Ethics that we all agree to upon becoming an educator. And, when we become professional coaches, the International Coaching Federation aspires to a different Code of Ethics. In fact, the ethics of coaching is so important to them, that they require we commit to an Ethics Assessment every three years when we re-credential.
So really, how familiar are we with the expectations of being a professional coach?
Recently, Kathy Kee and I had the opportunity to speak to Instructional Coaches at a Solution Tree Effective Coaching Institute where the ethics of being a professional coach were discussed. Additionally, from our professional development with Francine Campone, our Master Certified Coach, we know the “real implications” of ethics comes alive when we look at scenarios where ethics are at play. So, here are a few situations for your reflection about whether we are being ethical or not so much.
| Situation | Ethical | Not So Much |
| Keeping records and conversations with clients/teachers confidential | ||
| Talking and sharing information about personal issues clients/teachers are having | ||
| Seeing the role of coach as giving advice when asked for or not | ||
| Talking authentically and honesty with clients/teachers about the results expected or required by the organization | ||
| Reporting progress to a supervisor without sharing with the teacher | ||
| Having confidence that teachers have most answers within themselves | ||
| Accepting the role of coach and telling teachers what you did as a teacher that could help them | ||
| Listening to solve problems for the teacher versus listening for what they want | ||
| Under-promising and overdelivering for your clients/teachers |
For a complete copy of the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics, check out coachingfederation.org/ethics/code-of-ethics. And, if you wish to have a conversation about any of these items, contact .
