The content of this online tool has been arranged as a grid, providing an overview to put ethics into action and support ‘good practice’. The grid gives an introduction and context to the range of resources and their particular application when you are acting as an ethically-based supervisor, although most of the information is equally relevant to those working as a coach, mentor, or training provider.
Topics will evolve as the field expands and will be updated as new resources are found and new conversations occur. If you find a resource that you value that is not mentioned here, please do let us know by contacting us at memberbenefits@associationforcoaching.com
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Responsible practitioners wish to practise in an ethical way. Rules, regulations and codes provide guidance, but they do not replace an individual’s judgement or discernment As practitioners we take on the challenge to practise in a way that
is trustworthy and appropriate. As human beings our ability to do that is impacted by such matters as our physical wellbeing, relational capabilities, personal beliefs and stance towards overarching issues such as global business practices, inequality,
climate change and more.
As circumstances are not fixed and people and their multiple contexts are different, the ‘right’ action cannot be a one-size-fits-all or a given. Sometimes it might be more appropriate to break a rule than to keep it. And there are many situations
for which hindsight is a wonderful thing – for example: Did you broaden your competence with some supervision support? Or did you act beyond your competence?
David Clutterbuck states
“Coaches also require the skills to help clients develop ethical awareness, ethical competence, ethical resilience and ethical maturity.
All three of these contexts - coach, client and organisation - provide rich resources for reflection and dialogue within supervision.
If a supervisee isn't regularly bringing up ethical issues for discussion, this may well be a sign to the supervisor that there is something missing in the coach's reflections on their practice.”
The intention
These resources are intended to provide support in times of uncertainty – some guiding philosophies for your work, to support your ethically-based practice, and as an evolving learning space to include:
- signposting valuable resources that address matters of theory and practice, including knowledge areas, codes of practice, frameworks for guiding thinking, case studies and opportunities for reflecting on potential ethical challenges.
- promoting practice consistent with an ethos of mutual respect, ethical maturity and on-going learning
- supporting ongoing debate that raises awareness. Such conversation brings attention to evolving thoughts, feelings, perceptions, knowledge areas, beliefs and other contextual intricacies that constitute our sense-making and our consequent behaviour.
The aim is to raise the profile of ethical practice across the coaching supervision population and to provide resources that enable greater ethical maturity and decision-making in coaching and coaching supervision.
In appreciation
Our thanks go to all the contributors who helped to shape the content of this resource, and to the reviewers who provided praise and critique in equal measure.
Alison Hodge, Angela Hill, Anne Calleja, Eve Turner, Henry Campion, Hilary Oliver, Jeannette Marshall, Julie Allan, Kees de Vries, Lilian Abrams, Lynne Cooper, Margaret Barr, Marie Faire, Steve Page, Tracy Sinclair. Project leading by Carol Whitaker and Peter Welch.
If you have an article or resource you would like to contribute please contact us at memberbenefits@associationforcoaching.com.
