What is Coaching Ethics? Ethics is to coaching as the Constitution is to lawmakers. Ethics is the study of morality’s effect on conduct, the moral standard and how it affects the conduct of the coach. The Code of Coaching Conduct consists of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a coach in relationship to his/her client.

1. What is Coaching Ethics?
Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
What is Coaching Ethics?
Ethics is to coaching as the Constitution is to lawmakers. Ethics is the study of morality’s effect
on conduct, the moral standard and how it affects the conduct of the coach. The Code of
Coaching Conduct consists of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a coach in
relationship to his/her client.
What the ICF Code of Ethics does is create the professional environment of what coaching is and
the boundaries in which a coach needs to perform. Coaching is not something that someone can
do simply because he or she performed a job for twenty years and wants to share experiences and
job related knowledge with others. Those who are coaches must meet the rigorous standards of
training, learning, and demonstrating coaching knowledge, assessment of coaching skills,
passing national tests and being held to the standards set through the Coaching Code of Conduct
and Ethical Standards. (The Principle-Based of Ethics: Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-
maleficence Fidelity and Justice (John Gavazzi 2015).
Adapted from Gavazzi’s Principles for Coaching:
Autonomy: respecting the autonomous decision-making ability of the client; freedom of thought
and action; clients are at liberty to behave as they chose (goals and decisions).
Beneficence: benefiting others and accepting the responsibility to do good; providing the best
coaching skill (being in the moment).

2. Non-maleficence: demonstrating coaching competence; maintaining appropriate boundaries;
and providing a benefit to the client.
Fidelity: being committed; being in the moment with the client; being trustworthy and loyal;
avoiding conflicts of interest that could compromise the coaching process or outcome; keeping
information confidential and adhering to the coaching agreement (meetings time, place, calls and
follow up).
Justice: not engaging in any form of discrimination.
The application of the above points clearly sets the philosophical framework for Ethics with
regard to Coaching.
In Law and Ethics (Williams and Anderson), the authors clearly define the difference among
therapy, mentoring, consulting and coaching:
Therapy: a person’s past traumas
Mentoring: succession training and do as the mentor suggests
Consulting: dealing with problems and providing expertise, strategy and methodologies
Coaching: dealing with the client’s present situation and guiding towards a desired future
This clearly establishes the differences between coaching and other established practices that are
common in the workplace today. Further compounding the coaching relationship is that many
practitioners who hold coaching credentials are also therapists and or consultants to people in the
workplace. It is clear that when coaching, coaches need to be mindful of the role they are
presently performing and not become a therapist of consultant advise and assume the role of the
expert.
As stated in the Board Certified Coach (BCC) Code of Ethics: Coaching is a career in which
professionals have specialized education, training, and experience to assess needs of clients,
collaborate with clients on solutions, and offer strategies that assist individuals and organizations
in reaching identified goals. Coaching, because of our code of ethics, cannot be an occupation
where anyone who wants to do something becomes a coach. The old witticism that states if you
lost your job you could open a bar, become a consultant, or be a coach cannot apply to coaching
any longer. There are now legal requirements and conduct standards for certified professionals to
follow.
General overview of the Legal CCE requirements:
• Comply with all laws and government regulations
• Refrain for from conduct contrary to the laws (dishonesty, fraud and harassment)
• Maintain accurate records
• Report a client who is a danger to self or others

3. Compliance with policies and Rules
• Comply with all policies and rules
• Maintain confidentiality
• Report violations
Service of Performance and other Occupational Activities
• Act in a responsible manner
• Recognize your limitations in coaching (knowledge, skills, and abilities)
• Protect the privacy of all information learned during coaching
• Properly use occupational credentials
• Avoid coaching techniques that are harmful
• Obtain a coaching agreement (clarify coaching vs. counseling vs. consulting)
• Seek supervision if needed
The above code of ethics creates a framework that all coaches need to adhere to. The problem is
that many people who call themselves coaches are untrained and ill equipped to be a coach.
Furthermore, the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) and the International Coaching
Federation (ICF) have set a process for grievances to be filed against coaches who do not follow
proper procedure.
The Executive Leadership Research Report by Ethics Resource Center (ERC), states that it is
very important that coaches understand the ethics standards that leaders will be held to since a
great deal of the coaching is with leaders. Coaches need to constantly support leaders in setting
the ethical tone that inspires employees to do what is right because that is the right thing to do. A
significant finding in the report focuses on employees’ perceptions of the leader’s character. The
three main ideas of focus are:
• Character of the leader as evidenced on past employee interactions with that leader
• How senior management handles crisis
• Senior leadership adoption of polices and procedures to manage the company.
This report is a helpful tool for coaches since it lays the framework to support the ethical
development of leaders being coached.
What does all this mean from a practical perspective for those of us who coach?
• A coach must have professional training and stay within the area(s) in which he/she is
knowledgeable and has a background to coach.
• A coach must know the differences among coaching, consulting, therapy, and mentoring.
• A coach needs to collaboratively work with the client using questions, guided discovery,
and satisfy a fulfillment through each coaching experience.
• A coach needs to have the confidence to let the client take charge of his or her life and do
the heavy lifting during the coaching process.

4. • A coach needs to inspire through appropriate assessment, reading, recognition of
accomplishment and client fulfillment
• A coach needs to be provocative and continue to expand the insight, experiences, and
feelings of the client
Ethics, guidelines, policies and procedures are the underpinnings of the coaching process, which
leads all coaches to a clear understanding of the coaching process. Without the structure created
directly or indirectly through the Coaching Code of Conduct, there would be little guidance for
coaching.
Jessi Locastro summarized the Law and Ethics in Coaching Issues that must be considered in any
coaching engagement:
• Guarantees
• Goals of the Client
• Privilege
• Confidentiality
• Conflicts of Interest
• Dual and Multiple Role Relationships
• Diversity and sensitive concerns
• Contract Law
• Assessment
While there are no federal laws, there is national credentialing by CCE and ICF. Clients need to
be aware of what it means to be certified to coach and that a certified coach must follow the
Code of Coaching Ethics. Buyers beware of those not certified who call themselves coaches!
It is up to those who are certified as coaches to demonstrate the commitment and integrity of
what a coach should be by following and adhering to the Ethical Code for Coaching.
Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
President
Gatto Associates LLC.
412 344-2277 (Office)
www.rexgatto.com
rex@rexgatto.com