Ethical Foundation
Coaching and Mentoring, in its many forms, is primarily about improving the life and performance of the client. Through a one to one relationship the Coach or Mentor is given access to the client’s hopes and fears. As rapport is built and trust develops the Coach or Mentor also shares the client’s aspirations and future goals. The very nature of the coaching or mentoring relationship puts the Coach or Mentor in a privileged position, a position from which to enrich the life of the client, but also a position which, unless care is exercised, can cause harm.
Coaching and Mentoring, no less than any other profession, requires clear behavioural guidelines in order to safeguard clients and Coaches or Mentors. These guidelines are encapsulated in our Professional Standards and give clear indications of what is, and what is not, acceptable professional behaviour within the coaching or mentoring community in general, and the IIC&M in particular.
Professional Standards do not stand on their own. They are the product of an ethical foundation, which presumes that Coaches or Mentors will conduct their lives and practices to the highest standards. The IIC&M endorses the following Core Values, as the basis for Professional Standards:
1. Integrity
2. Honesty
3. Transparency
4. Excellence
5. Care
6. Professionalism
7. Accountability
Our Professional Standards are the result of applying these Core Values to the areas of life and work in which we have particular responsibility. As Coaches or Mentors, we exercise a responsibility towards our clients, ourselves and the coaching or mentoring community; and therefore the IIC&M Core values cover the following areas of responsibility:
A. Client Care
B. Personal Professional Conduct
C. Professional Relationships
When things go wrong in a coaching or mentoring relationship or within a coaching or mentoring business, it will undoubtedly be the result of the lack of a rigorous application of the core values to the areas of responsibility. The IIC&M, recognising the requirement to ensure the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour, requires all those coming under its banner to conduct their coaching or mentoring work in such a way as to maintain and maximise the impact of the Coaching and Mentoring Core Competencies and Core Values upon each area of professional responsibility.
Our Professional Standards represents a summary of what are, and what are not, acceptable standards for professional Coaches and Mentors. Advice on the practical outworking of these bullet points can be obtained through the IIC&M’s Standards and Ethics.
Where things go wrong, and the reality is that they will from time to time, the IIC&M’s Complaints Procedure is available to ensure that both the Coach or Mentor and client are cared for and helped towards effective and supportive resolutions.
Professional Standards
A. Client Care
Coaches and Mentors have a duty of care towards their clients and should ensure that in all dealings with their clients they display the highest standards of professional conduct.
1. Coaches and Mentors will ensure that clients fully understand the coaching or mentoring agreement, terms and conditions, the costs, the process, the location and the frequency of sessions.
2. Coaches and Mentors will not give clients misleading information or advice or make false claims about the results of, or what client will receive from, the coaching or mentoring process.
3. Coaches and Mentors will treat all clients with honour, dignity, and integrity, fully respecting the client’s values, beliefs and goals (which may differ from their own), being aware of cultural, regional and linguistic differences.
4. Coaches and Mentors will not abuse their client’s trust in order to gain sexual, emotional, financial or any kind of professional advantage.
5. Coaches and Mentors will not prolong a coaching or mentoring relationship beyond its useful conclusion, but will encourage a client to make a change to, or to terminate the agreement, when aware that the client is no longer benefiting from the coaching relationship.
6. Coaches and Mentors will respect the client’s right to terminate the coaching or mentoring relationship at any point during the coaching process.
7. When working within organisations, Coaches and Mentors will obtain the express consent of the client before releasing information such as progress reports and other particulars to the person who may be employing them.
8. Coaches and Mentors will inform clients of any personal situations or relationships which may have an adverse effect upon the coach/client or mentor/client relationship, and together agree what appropriate action should be taken.
9. Coaches and Mentors will not diagnose or assess any health issue (mental or physical) but will suggest that the client consults with a relevant practitioner.
10. Coaches and Mentors will ensure that clients are aware of the IIC&M Statement of Standards and Ethics, and of how to access the IIC&M Complaints Procedure.