Ethics of Coaching

In the field of coaching, we are unsatisfied with the standards out there. We have decided that anyone who we train must also agree to certain ethical standards which we have set.

We envisage our trainees offering a form of coaching that respects the client in their life and career. We believe that every client has all the resources they need inside of them in order to create a more wonderful life and that it is up to the coach to teach them how they can use these resources to manifest what they want. The coach's purpose is to help the client discover what they want and more about who they are, help them discover various strategies to achieve what they want and provide feedback and direction to the client in assisting them to do this.

Professional Conduct


1. I will conduct myself in a way that reflects well on coaching and I will not do anything that negatively impacts the public's understanding or acceptance of coaching as a profession.
2. I will honour agreements I make in all of my relationships. I will create clear agreements with my clients that may include confidentiality, progress reports, and other required elements.
3. I will respect and honour the efforts and contributions of others.
4. I will respect the creative and written work of others in developing my own materials and not misrepresent them as my own. I will respect copyright, trademarks and intellectual property rights and I will comply with applicable laws and my agreements concerning these rights.
5. I will use IINLP contact information (email addresses, telephone numbers, etc.) only in the manner and to the extent authorized by the IINLP.


Professional Conduct with Clients


6. I will accurately identify my level of coaching competence and I will not overstate my Coaching or NLP qualifications, expertise or experience as a coach.
7. I will ensure that my coaching client understands the nature of coaching and the terms of the coaching contract between us.
8. I will not intentionally mislead or make false claims about what my client will receive from the coaching process or from me as their coach.
9. I will not give my clients or any prospective clients information or advice I know to be misleading or beyond my competence.
10. I will be alert to noticing when my client is no longer benefiting from our coaching relationship and would be better served by another coach or by another resource and, at that time, I will encourage my client to make that change.
11. I will always practice in a manner that is non-discriminatory.


Conflicts of Interest


12. I will seek to avoid conflicts between my interests and the interests of my clients.
13. Whenever any actual conflict of interest or the potential for a conflict of interest arises, I will openly disclose it and fully discuss with my client how to deal with it in whatever way best serves my client.
14. I will disclose to my client all anticipated compensation from third parties that I may receive for referrals or advice concerning that client.
15. I will not enter into an intimate or personal relationship with my clients.


Insurance


16. I will ensure that my professional insurance arrangements are in accordance with and up to date.


Pledge of an IINLP Coach

As a professional coach, I am aware and agree to honour my ethical obligations to my coaching clients and colleagues and to the public at large. I pledge to comply with IINLP Code of Ethics, to treat people with dignity as independent and equal human beings, and to model these standards with those whom I coach. If I breach this Pledge of Ethics or any part of the IINLP Code of Ethics, I agree that the IINLP in its sole discretion may hold me fully accountable for so doing. I further agree that my accountability to the IINLP for any breach may include loss of my IINLP credentials.