Welcome to "The coach within," where transformation begins from the inside out. In this crucial episode, your host Coach Jedi dives deep into the ICF Code of Ethics, specifically exploring its purpose, core values, and the commitments required from all within the ICF ecosystem. This discussion is essential for coaches, leaders, and anyone on a journey of personal growth, offering clarity, sparking insight, and bringing you closer to your purpose.

And here's a bonus: This episode includes challenging sample questions to test your knowledge of these critical ethical concepts, perfect for self-assessment and refining your understanding of the ICF Code of Ethics Purpose section. This is especially valuable if you're preparing for ICF credentials like the ACC exam, where ethics comprises a significant of at least 60% of the test!

Discover how the ICF's revised Code of Ethics (2025 version) sets the ethical standards of professional conduct required to be adhered by all within the extensive ICF ecosystem, not just credentialed coaches. We break down the six family organizations that form this ecosystem – including ICF Professional Coaches, Credentials & Standards, Coaching & Education, Foundation, Coaching in Organizations, and the Thought Leadership Institute – and how they are strategically coordinated by the ICF Global Board.

Learn why ICF Core Values are the foundational framework for understanding the entire Code of Ethics, ethical principles, and standards of conduct. We emphasize their importance for guiding all ethical reasoning and decision-making.

This episode also sheds light on critical areas such as:

• The Ethical Conduct Review (ECR) process and how the ICF Independent Review Board upholds and preserves ICF ethical standards through it, applicable to all ICF professionals.
• The mandatory requirement for continuous ethical education training for all credentialed ICF professionals, highlighting its role as a foundational element in accredited programs and its significant presence (60%) in the ACC exam.
• Recognizing and addressing misrepresentation and unethical practices within the coaching profession, such as incorrect use of ICF credentials or logos, blurring of lines by those rebranding as "coaches" while performing other roles like financial advising or training, and unethical claims by coaching education companies. Understanding these common pitfalls helps uphold the integrity of the global coaching profession.
• The role of the "do good principle" in navigating difficult ethical dilemmas, encouraging courageous decision-making in the best interest of the client, even though the ICF Core Values are the primary foundation for ethical reasoning.

Whether you are preparing for your ICF credentials (ACC, PCC, MCC) or simply aiming to deepen your understanding of ethical coaching practices, this episode provides invaluable insights and practical tools.

For more real stories, practical tools, and thought-provoking reflections, or to explore upcoming programs, visit jedi.coach.

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Until next time, keep listening, keep reflecting, and keep braving your story from within.

The episode introduces the powerful framework developed by Coach Jedi called the 3A Ethical Presence Model: Aware, Assess, and Act.

Learn to be aware of your own beliefs, generational attitudes, and personal triggers that might influence your coaching. For instance, recognizing if a client's request, such as "teach me how to become a better person," falls beyond the scope of coaching, or if a sensitive topic like retrenchment or miscarriage triggers your own personal experiences. This self-awareness is vital to ensure your passion for a topic doesn't override the client's present needs.

A central focus is navigating the common ethical dilemma of a client asking for advice. While some coaches might take a "hard approach" and immediately refuse, this episode explores a more nuanced strategy. We learn the importance of clarifying what the client truly wants when they ask for advice, exploring their "ends" or desired outcomes rather than just getting stuck on the "means" they initially request. The goal is to help clients connect their own dots and gain genuine clarity, not to feed them immediate answers.

The discussion extends to how a coach can offer observations, thoughts, or perspectives to evoke awareness without giving direct advice, which carries the connotation that the client "have to listen to my advice". This is possible, especially after the midway point of a session, by inviting the client to consider new ideas or possibilities "very lightly".

It's crucial to avoid imposing your viewpoints or concluding for the client with phrases like "So..." or "Therefore...". The source also clarifies that offering additional resources or book recommendations towards the end of a session (aligned with Competency 8) is distinct from giving advice, as long as it's presented for consideration.

We also touch upon the significance of the coaching agreement. Even if explained at the start, clients may forget, making it essential for coaches to reconfirm roles and expectations if a mismatch arises. The ultimate aim is to honor the client's experience, help them define the problem, evoke awareness, and empower them to design their own actions.

This requires discipline from both coach and client to remain within the core intent of coaching. As the discussion emphasizes, helping a "fellow human being in whatever way you can" is important, but it must cycle back to the core intent of coaching.

Welcome to The Coach Within, your guide to mastering the art of coaching. In this crucial episode, part of our Coaching Mastery Series, we delve deep into the foundational element of professional coaching: ethics. Coach Jedi emphasizes that ethics is not an endpoint, but an ongoing journey for coaches, a core tenet for true mastery.

This isn't a generic discussion on right and wrong; we explore ethics specifically within the context of the coaching profession, highlighting its critical importance. Discover key principles like confidentiality and maintaining professional conduct, and learn why truly ethical coaching goes beyond simply "doing the right thing when nobody's looking" to genuinely serving the client's best interest.

We unpack the multiple layers of ethical consideration that every coach must navigate:

• Your individual ethics, values, and beliefs – the ultimate guiding principle that forms your core.

• The professional code of ethics, such as those from ICF, setting industry standards.

• Workplace or organizational ethics, unspoken rules, and policies.

• Societal and community ethics, reflecting shared norms and agreements.

• Cultural ethics, which transcend regions and peoples, influencing behavior and expectations.

• And finally, global humanistic ethics, evolving across time and new eras like technology and AI, challenging our understanding of what is acceptable.

Learn to identify and navigate ethical dilemmas, such as discerning the "degree of consequence of an action" in your coaching practice. We discuss the nuanced use of tools like personality assessments, ensuring they truly serve the client's needs rather than just convenience or categorization.

The conversation underscores the vital role of the coaching agreement in establishing ethical boundaries and ensuring that the client's perspective drives the process. Ultimately, the core guiding principle is the "do good principle," ensuring your actions genuinely help the other person.

This episode is essential for any coach looking to set clear boundaries, enhance their professional knowledge, and master the ethical considerations that form a significant part of coaching competency and exam readiness.

As Coach Jedi shares, ethics is not where coaching ends, but "it's where it begins," forming the unseen yet powerful foundation of your practice, much like the roots of a tree.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• The multifaceted nature of ethics in professional coaching.

• The importance of confidentiality and professional conduct.

• Understanding the seven layers of ethical influence.

• Navigating ethical dilemmas and the "degree of consequence".

• The role of individual ethics and the "do good principle".

• Why ethics forms the fundamental boundaries of coaching.

Ignite the coach within and brave your story!

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Head to jedi.coach or check out our show notes to connect. Please follow, share, and leave a review – it helps more people find us and grow.

Until next time, keep listening, keep reflecting, and keep braving your story from within!