Commitment to Clients

  1. Serve our clients with integrity, honesty, competence, independence, objectivity, and professionalism, helping them to build their professional expertise and capacity.
  2. Only accept assignments that we, our staff and our colleagues have the necessary experience and competence to perform effectively.
  3. Charge fees that are reasonable and commensurate with the services to be delivered.
  4. Establish a mutual understanding with clients about the objectives, scope of work, and work plan as well as realistic expectations about the results of the services to be rendered before accepting any assignment. If changes in the scope of work arise during the course of the assignment, negotiate adjustments in good faith.
  5. Treat all client information that is not public knowledge with confidentiality, take reasonable steps to prevent its access by unauthorized parties, and refrain from taking advantage of proprietary or privileged information without the client’s permission.
  6. Avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof and immediately disclose to the client any circumstances that may influence the coach’s judgment or objectivity.
  7. Offer to withdraw from a consulting assignment when it appears that objectivity or integrity may be impaired.
  8. Refrain from inviting an employee of an active or inactive client to consider alternative employment without prior discussion with the client.

Commitment to the Public and the Profession

  1. Inform clients of laws, regulations and ethical standards that guide good leadership and managerial practice, and report illegal or dangerous behavior to authorities within the client’s organization. When in doubt about one’s professional competence to provide such advice, urge the client to consult qualified legal or tax counsel.
  2. Respect the intellectual rights of professional peers and not use their copyrighted information, materials, or methodology without permission. Refrain from misrepresenting or denigrating professional peers.
  3. Represent the profession with integrity and professionalism in relationships with clients, colleagues, and the general public. Seek professional development opportunities as they are available.
  4. Refrain from advertising services in a deceptive manner.
  5. Promote adherence to the Code by other subscribing coaches.
  6. Place our clients’ and the public’s best interests first, before the best interests of ourselves and/or our firms.