ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today’s uncertain and complex environment. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her life and work and believe every client is creative, resourceful and whole. Standing on this foundation, the coach’s responsibility is to:
- Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve
- Encourage client self-discovery
- Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
- Hold the client responsible and accountable
- This process helps clients dramatically improve their outlook on work and life while improving their leadership skills and unlocking their potential.
We adhere to the ICF Code of Ethics in any kind of coaching-related interaction. This is regardless of whether a coaching Relationship has been established. This Code articulates the ethical obligations of ICF Professionals.
The challenge of working ethically means that coaches will inevitably encounter situations that require responses to unexpected issues, resolution of dilemmas and solutions to problems. This Code of Ethics is intended to assist those persons subject to the Code by directing them to the variety of ethical factors that may need to be taken into consideration and helping to identify alternative ways of approaching ethical behavior.
Professionals who accept the Code of Ethics strive to be ethical, even when doing so involves making difficult decisions or acting courageously. Please find a link to the full code of Ethics below. A printed copy will also be provided as part of any contract entered into.
Code of EthicsWe only engage coaches that have been through or attending ICF accredited programs. Each individual coach will be able to discuss their particular credentials and qualifications.
Coaching can help if an individual recognises that they need to develop personally, either to more effectively reach personal or work goals or to better deal with current work issues. A coach will assist, challenge and encourage rather than direct, advise or teach. Coaching is a partnership that helps the individual work out what they need to do themselves to improve and, in the process, what motivates them and what gets in their way (attitudes, prejudices, preconceptions, assumptions).
Mentoring is a relationship between two colleagues, in which the more experienced colleague uses their greater knowledge and understanding of the work or workplace to support the development of the less experienced colleague. While mentors may use the same skills and tools in their approach to mentoring, the relationship between a mentor and ‘mentee’ is different to that which will develop in a coaching relationship. Mentors can be more ‘directive’ and provide specific advice where appropriate – a coach would not offer their own advice or opinion, but help the individual find their own solution
Absolutely, there is no need for your company to be involved and it may be that you are looking to realisee your potential elsewhere in your life i.e. starting your own business. Coaching helps you to find solutions to problems in a business context and can be done in a way that best suits your own individual situation and needs.
In a lot of instances, organisations pay for coaching services to support the development of their staff. When this occurs, before any coaching sessions commence, there will be a three way contracting session with the employee receiving the coaching, the organisation and the coach. This allows all parties to be clear on the goals and outcomes of the sessions, how confidentiality of the employee being coached will be maintained and what information may and may not be shared. Generally we find that the organisations involved respect the confidentiality of the coaching sessions and that the only information shared is around number of sessions booked and completed or dealing with requests for further sessions.