ICF Code of Ethics Flashcards
The ICF Core Values
Collaboration
Humanity
Equity
Professionalism
Definition of Coaching
Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.
Definition of Coaching Relationship
A rel’n that is established between a coach and a client through an agreement or contract that defines the responsibilities and expectations of each party.
Definition of Conflict of Interest
A situation in which an ICF Professional is involved in multiple interests where serving one interest could work against or be in conflict with another. This could be financial, personal or otherwise.
ICF Ethical Responsibility to Clients includes:
- Ensure client/sponsor understand the nature and value of coaching; nature and limits of confidentiality, financial arrangements, and other terms PRIOR to the initial meeting.
- Agree/contract on roles, responsibilities, rights of all parties prior to starting services.
- Maintain confidentiality and comply w/all laws pertaining to personal data and comms.
- Know how data is exchanged bw parties.
- Know when confidentiality may be breached and inform appropriate authorities.
- Manage (potential) conflicts of interest, which includes addressing organizational roles, responsibilities, rel’ns, records confidentiality, and other report reqmts.
- Maintain, store, dispose of any records during my professional interactions in a way that promotes confidentiality, security, and privacy, and complies with laws.
AND, use emerging technology properly and associated ethical standards in using them. - Be aware there might be a shift in the value rec’d from the coaching relationship. If so, make a change in the rel’n or encourage client to seek another coach/resource.
- Respect all parties’ right to end the coaching reln subject to agreement.
- Be sensitive to the implications of having multiple contracts and reln’s w/the same client at same time IOT avoid potential conflicts of interest.
- Be aware of and actively manage any power or status differences bw coach and client caused by cultural, relational, psychological, or contextual issues.
- Disclose to clients the potential receipt of compensation and other benefits I may receive for client referrals.
- Assure consistent quality of coaching regardless of the amount/form of compensation in any relationship.
ICF Ethical Responsibility to Practice and Performance includes:
- Adhere to code of ethics in all interactions. Raise unethical behavior with those involved and if this doesn’t resolve, refer to formal authority (ICF) for resolution.
- Require adherence to ICF code of ethics for all support personnel.
- Commit to excellence through continued personal, professional and ethical development.
- Recognize my personal limitations or circumstances that may impair, conflict/interfere with my coaching performance or my professional coaching relationships. Reach out for support to determine the action to be taken and, if necessary, promptly seek relevant professional guidance. This may include suspending or terminating my coaching relationship(s).
- Resolve any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest by working through the issue with relevant parties, seeking professional assistance, or suspending temporarily or ending the professional relationship.
- Maintain the privacy of ICF Members and use the ICF Member contact information (email addresses, telephone numbers, and so on) only as authorized by ICF or the ICF Member.
ICF Ethical Responsibility to Professionalism includes:
- Accurately identify my coaching qualifications, level of coaching competency, expertise, experience, training, certifications and ICF Credentials.
- Make verbal and written statements that are true and accurate about what I offer as an ICF Professional, what is offered by ICF, the coaching profession and the potential value of coaching.
- Communicate and create awareness with those who need to be informed of the ethical responsibilities established by this Code.
- Hold responsibility for being aware of and setting clear, appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern interactions, physical or otherwise.
- Do not participate in any sexual or romantic engagement with Client(s) or Sponsor(s). I will be ever mindful of the level of intimacy appropriate for the relationship. I take the appropriate action to address the issue or cancel the engagement.
ICF Ethical Responsibility to Society
- Avoid discrimination by maintaining fairness and equality in all activities and operations, while respecting local rules and cultural practices. This includes, but is not limited to: discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability or military status.
- Recognize and honor the contributions and intellectual property of others, only claiming ownership of my own material. I understand that a breach of this standard may subject me to legal remedy by a third party.
- Am honest and work within recognized scientific standards, applicable subject guidelines and boundaries of my competence when conducting and reporting research.
- Am aware of my and my clients’ impact on society. I adhere to the philosophy of “doing good” versus “avoiding bad.”
The ICF Code of Ethics serves to uphold the integrity of ICF and the global coaching profession by:
- Setting standards of conduct consistent with ICF Core Values and ethical principles.
- Guiding ethical reflection, education and decision-making.
- Adjudicating and preserving ICF coach standards through the ICF Ethical
Conduct Review (ECR) process. - Providing the basis for ICF ethics training in ICF-accredited training programs.
Definition of ICF Professional
individuals who represent themselves as an ICF Member or ICF Credential-holder, in roles including but not limited to Coach, Coach Supervisor, Mentor Coach, Coach Trainer and Student of Coaching
Definition of ICF Staff
the ICF support personnel who are contracted by the managing company that provides professional management and administrative services on behalf of ICF.
Definition of Support Personnel
the people who work for ICF Professionals in support of their Clients.
Definition of Sponsor
the entity (including its representatives) paying for and/or arranging or defining the coaching services to be provided.
Definition of system equality
gender equality, race equality and other forms of equality that are institutionalized in the ethics, core values, policies, structures, and cultures of communities, organizations, nations and society.
