Ethical Guidelines and Standards Flashcards

A coaching client shares information suggesting their company may be about to commit fraud. Which CELC ethical principle is most directly tested in this scenario?

Answer: Balancing confidentiality with legal and ethical obligations to report wrongdoing

This scenario creates a tension between the confidentiality obligation to the client and legal or ethical obligations that may require disclosure, which is a core ethical dilemma addressed in CELC standards.

What is the ethical purpose of establishing clear boundaries at the beginning of an executive coaching engagement?

Answer: To define roles, expectations, and the scope of the relationship so both parties can engage safely and effectively

Clear boundary-setting at contracting creates a safe, structured container for the coaching relationship, clarifying roles and preventing confusion about expectations and scope.

An executive coach is asked by a client to provide a reference for the client's new job application. Ethically, the coach should:

Answer: Carefully assess whether providing the reference could compromise the coaching relationship or create a dual role, and discuss with the client

Serving as a reference creates a potential dual relationship and role confusion, requiring the coach to thoughtfully evaluate the impact on the coaching relationship before agreeing.

Which of the following best exemplifies the CELC ethical standard of cultural competence in executive coaching?

Answer: Adapting coaching approaches to respect and incorporate the client's cultural context and identity

Cultural competence requires coaches to recognize, respect, and adapt to the cultural identities and contexts of their clients as part of ethically sound practice.

When a coach uses psychometric assessments as part of executive coaching, what is their primary ethical obligation regarding the results?

Answer: Ensure the client fully understands the assessment's purpose, limitations, and how results will be used before administering it

Informed consent requires that clients understand the nature, purpose, and use of any assessments before they are administered, and results generally belong to the client.

A coach notices the client is consistently resistant to feedback and becomes defensive in sessions. The ethically sound approach is to:

Answer: Name the pattern with the client and explore it as potentially valuable coaching material

Naming observed patterns and exploring them with the client is a coaching intervention that honors the client's autonomy while addressing behaviors that may be limiting growth.

What distinguishes coaching from mentoring from an ethical standpoint in the CELC framework?

Answer: Coaching focuses on the client's agenda and self-discovery while mentoring involves the mentor sharing their own expertise and experience

The ethical distinction lies in the coach's role as a facilitator of the client's own insight versus the mentor's role as a guide who shares personal experience and expertise.