CELC Ethical Guidelines and Standards 2

Question 1

An executive coach discovers that their client is engaged in financial misconduct that harms employees. According to CELC ethical standards, what is the coach's primary obligation?

Accepted Answer

Confront the client about the behavior and clarify the limits of confidentiality as established at contracting

Answer

Immediately report the misconduct to authorities without informing the client

Answer

Continue coaching without addressing the issue to maintain confidentiality

Answer

Terminate the engagement immediately and inform the client's board of directors

Question 2

Which principle best describes why executive coaches must avoid giving direct advice or telling clients what to do?

Accepted Answer

Coaching preserves client autonomy and self-determination as a core ethical value

Answer

Legal liability prevents coaches from offering recommendations

Answer

Clients are not capable of following advice effectively

Answer

Direct advice falls outside the billable scope of coaching services

Question 3

A coach is approached by the sponsoring organization to provide a detailed progress report on an executive client. What is the ethically appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Share only information the client has explicitly agreed to disclose, as established in the three-party agreement

Answer

Provide full details since the organization is paying for the coaching

Answer

Decline entirely and provide no information to protect absolute confidentiality

Answer

Ask the client informally if it is acceptable and proceed based on their verbal response

Question 4

When must an executive coach disclose a potential conflict of interest?

Accepted Answer

Before the coaching engagement begins or as soon as the conflict arises during the engagement

Answer

Only when the client directly asks about conflicts

Answer

After the engagement concludes to avoid biasing the relationship

Answer

Only if the conflict materially affects the coach's financial interests

Question 5

An executive coach realizes mid-engagement that the client's issue has evolved into a clinical psychological matter beyond the coach's competence. The ethical action is to:

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the limits of coaching competence and refer the client to an appropriate mental health professional

Answer

Continue coaching since the coach has established rapport and ending would be harmful

Answer

Seek additional training immediately and continue the engagement without informing the client

Answer

Consult a peer coach and proceed with the coaching work

Question 6

Which scenario represents a violation of the CELC ethical standard regarding multiple relationships?

Accepted Answer

Coaching a senior leader while simultaneously consulting for the same organization on a restructuring project

Answer

Coaching an executive in a different industry than the coach's background

Answer

Coaching two executives from different companies in the same sector

Answer

Coaching a client on both leadership presence and strategic communication goals

Question 7

Under CELC ethical standards, what does the principle of 'do no harm' require of executive coaches?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring that coaching interventions support the client's wellbeing and do not cause psychological, professional, or organizational damage

Answer

Avoiding all emotionally challenging conversations that might cause discomfort

Answer

Refusing to coach clients who are in high-stress leadership roles

Answer

Limiting sessions to no more than one hour to prevent emotional fatigue