Professional Coaching Ethics, Standards, and Core Competencies
This domain tests ethical judgment and the competency framework behind professional coaching: the IAC Code of Ethics and the nine Coaching Masteries, which describe observable coaching behaviors rather than personality traits.
Ethical commitments
- Confidentiality with limits disclosed in advance: risk of serious harm, illegal activity, legal compulsion, and supervision or mentoring where agreed.
- Informed consent covering the nature of coaching, fees, records, and what coaching is not.
- Scope of practice: no therapy, diagnosis, legal, medical, or financial advice; refer out and say why.
- Conflicts of interest and dual relationships: disclose, manage, or decline.
- Honest representation of credentials and no guaranteed outcomes.
Competency commitments
The Masteries include establishing trust, engaged listening, processing in the present, expressing, clarifying, expanding the client's potential, clear intentions, inviting possibilities, and supportive structures. They are applied fluidly, never as a script. When duties collide, slow down: identify the duty, consult the Code, seek supervision, and document the decision.
Worked example
At intake a client asks, 'Everything I say stays here, right?' The coach replies, 'Almost - the exceptions are in this written agreement,' and reviews them. Later the client describes harassing a colleague. Reasoning: the coach keeps the confidence, does not give legal advice, encourages the client to seek qualified advice, and discloses only where the agreement or law requires it. A blanket secrecy promise would be unethical because the coach cannot guarantee it.
Traps
Promising absolute confidentiality; drifting into advice or therapy; letting urgency override scope; claiming credentials not held; performing a Mastery mechanically instead of responding to the person.