Why do we need to talk about ethics?

Insights from the Coaching Ethics Forum, by Jannie Stricker

Most coaching associations, such as ICF and EMCC, include an ethics pillar in their competency framework. These organisations encourage their members to consistently think and act ethically. In our coaching training, we discuss ethics from a right versus wrong perspective, exploring various issues, morals, and the importance of learning from cases where things went wrong and could have been avoided. Addressing ethics is essential, as it enhances the coach's status as a professional and trustworthy individual.

Coaches may encounter dilemmas in their practice. For instance, how can we manage a contract involving multiple parties? What does it mean to maintain professionalism if we are internal coaches within an organisation? What boundaries should we establish before entering into a coaching relationship? Are there potential conflicts of interest we need to consider? Should we take notes during sessions, and if so, how do we manage those records? As the lengthy list indicates, coaches face numerous ethical questions daily, making it crucial to navigate these considerations thoughtfully.

Behind-the-scenes at CEF

Wendy-Ann Smith is a pioneer in the coaching field and Founder and Executive Director of the Coaching Ethics Forum (CEF), established in 2022. CEF has since hosted an annual conference that focuses on ethics in coaching and aims to create a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone involved. In 2023, the "Ethical Coaches' Handbook: A Guide to Developing Ethical Maturity in Practice" was published, and the magazine "Ethical Edge Insights" (EEI) was also launched. Further initiatives from Wendy-Ann include the Journal of Coaching Ethics and Champions of Courage Awards.

I asked Wendy-Ann about her highlights from the 2024 Conference, and she shared:

"One thing I’m particularly proud of is how I’ve worked to bring ethicality into the everyday language and practices of coaching - it is living and working through an ethical lens - embodying ethics,?and also to bring positive psychology into the mix in?a?much stronger foundational way.”?

CEF is an independent forum with lots of activities. It started in 2022 with a two-day conference. I remember being blown away by the quality of the speakers and the content's relevance to me as a coach.

In December 2024, the conference lasted for three days and featured rich and diverse content. While the primary language was English, some discussion groups were conducted in other languages to make it more inclusive – this was a great opportunity to engage more broadly. Most importantly, all participants were reminded at the beginning that kindness was the rule of the day. This meant that while we could have different views and engage in debates, we should do so respectfully. This guideline created an atmosphere of trust and respect, which was fantastic.

I was curious and asked Wendy-Ann about the key trends and insights she observed at the Coaching Ethics Forum 2024:

“Erik de Haan's work on Candor - how we need to be owning our screw up and make it right - and how fun and engaging the role play was. That was truly?a?standout. As to how ethics is anything but seriously boring, rather the conference highlights how seriously fun and engaging ethics is”.

Wendy-Ann also describes how this conference has been transformative for her:

“The last sessions of day 2 and day 3 where illuminating for me. Day 2 closing I was put on the spot - and so was reflecting in real time - another WOW moment for me and then Day 3 the last panel - I had?a?huge realisation in real-time, which gave me and gives me goosebumps.”

Your Call to Action

As coaches, we must continue our tradition of asking ourselves some critical reflective questions, such as:

·????? How do you want to learn about ethics?

·????? Who do you discuss ethical dilemmas with?

·????? What ethical dilemmas do you often encounter?

Editor’s note: This article continues our "Seeds of Insight" series and is based on insights gleaned from the Coaching Ethics Forum. This piece has been inspired by the work of Wendy-Ann Smith and we are grateful both for her contribution here and in her creation of a remarkable space to talk about ethics.?

About EMCC Luxembourg: ECA/EMCC Luxembourg is a community of professional coaches, supervisors and mentors whose mission is to uphold ethics and quality, and to foster contribution to society by enhancing?the professional development of its members through sharing experiences and best practice.

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