On Ethics in Coaching with Florian Brody

Join me in my dialogue with  Florian Brody on questions of ethics in coaching.
Not just for coaches but for everyone having a coach or considering coaching, this is highly relevant.
Coaching organizations like the International Coaching Federation and EMCC created stringent ethics codes and foster a continuing conversation. 

Transcript

Angelos:

So welcome Florian.

Florian:

Yes. Good to see you, Angelos.

Angelos:

Good to see you too. So what's the challenge for today?

Florian:

Today's challenge is ethics in coaching. Why is it so important? Are there codes of ethics and how do integrated into your professional work?

Angelos:

There are so many things to say. So, so many things to say about the ethics. So let's say that we only have a few minutes and we we'll touch some of the might be in the core might be in the periphery. So what exactly do you have in mind?

Florian:

Well, I agree. We can only scratch the surface because to really deeply get into the ethics of coaching, you need coach training. And I mean, that's what we offer, you know, and it takes time because you have to internalize it. You have to live the, the ethics. So, so the international coach Federation has based the DEAC standard for the coach of ethics over the code of ethics. And that really outlines your behavior as a coach, your intentions, but it's a document in order to be able to live it in you have to grow, you have to grow as a person. You have to grow as a coach. That's why training is so important. And so what does the code of ethics really cover?

Angelos:

There are everything, anything and everything that you might be doing. You, your journey in coaching as a student, as a trainer, as a coach, as a professional, as someone who is doing internal coaching in a company. And I think you are right. You need to a training, you understand coaching you don't understand the ethics, you need the training. I think you need the experience. And then you think to reflect on that, you need to walk on these shoes for a while to start to understand, but you know what else you need? You need the right tension. If you are in it, just to get the money, you will always be on the look at four opportunities and that's, they're not the right attitude. Right. I think intention is very important in everything you do. And it's very, I, in, in with regards to ethics I think you have to have some kind of moral purpose when you're doing that. Yes.

Florian:

Independently on what foundation, what philosophical or spiritual foundation you build it. Yeah. The notion of right attitude. Right. Action. Right. Speech is absolutely essential because otherwise the whole code of ethics doesn't help you. This can help in difficult situations when you're not really sure. Then sometimes you can check, but ultimately it's, it's about behavior. Yeah. I mean, there are the obvious things. Yeah. Or you would think obvious yeah. Professional attitude towards your client. Yeah. Confidentiality. These are the obvious things. Yeah. But you can do all these things and still not act in an ethical way

Angelos:

As I'm listening to you, you said confidentiality, always things that are, are obvious. I'm thinking that these things are obvious, but when you get into details, when you have to practice it becomes more complicated. They are intangible, they are delicate, they are changing. You have to know what you're going to do, and you have to be aware and stay aware of what is changing. What is changing in the work that you're doing? What changing with you, with your clients and so on and talking about changes. I just came to my mind that the profession itself, as it's, it's growing, it's maturing, it's changing and it's becoming more demanding and for a good reason. And what do I mean by that, that in the a few years ago, we were a lot of things around ethics were around the core of do no harm. Mm-Hmm, <affirmative> the basic principle of doing no harm. And we have evolved. We have evolved as coaching profession. It's not just about not doing harm with what we're doing to our clients, but also doing good, doing something more than that. So how can you be sure that you will not do any harm to your client, but you also do good. Do good to your clients, do good to your communities, do good to anyone that is anyone and everyone that is involved.

Florian:

That's your responsibility towards your client? Yeah. To ask the difficult questions, because otherwise it's not a coaching intervention. I think the, of coaching is intimately related to your responsib ethical. You won't say ethical responsibility to also be properly trained. Yeah. It will be unethical to start. It's like you say, Hey, I, I own a kitchen knife. Why don't I do some surgery? I mean, everybody would say, no you can't do that. But then sitting down with somebody and either talking about nothing or talking about very important things, in both cases, you may provide an extreme, deep disservice to that person, especially when you don't know yourself and yeah. And reading the course of ethics alone, that is not enough or doing a this is like going, reading a book about driving a car.

Angelos:

<Laugh> tell me about that. I like that metaphor.

Florian:

Yeah. This is huh. They and that's the problem because we have so many people around yeah. Who can tell you exactly how to do it, but, and they do it.

Angelos:

That's a good question. That's a good question.

Florian:

So this is, this is so important. Yeah. Now of course you can go to the ICF website, read the code of ethics. Yes. It's a, their document. You need the code training and that takes

Angelos:

To develop, you need the understanding,

Florian:

You need the understanding and you need the intention

Angelos:

And the intention you're right. The intention. Mm.

Florian:

Yeah. And this is a growth process. In fact, I met people who really train and got certified as coaches with no intention to ever work as a coach. They really did it for themselves. And it was a wonderful investment. And I can, so my coach training and I've been training, not just once done, but ongoing every year, <affirmative> that not only allows me to work as a coach, but it also allows me to work personally. And that's where I come, where ethics come back in.

Angelos:

I agree with you. I totally agree with you Florian. I'm practicing coaching for the last 12 years and I'm always, always attend, I think, more and more trainings and it's so wonderful to, to, to develop, to grow bigger. And there are so many beautiful things. I think this is the magic of coaching as a profession. It's the living organism it's growing. It's, it's developing, it's becoming something that in some cases we never even thought about that. It will be, it will go in so many places. We are walking into the twenties. So all the companies are paying good attention for CSR. Now they're paying good attention for diversity and inclusion equity and co coaches can play a great role in those fields. Coaches are required in because the challenges in the, in, in, in modern corporations are so big and so fast, fast paced world. And then you need coaching to address ethical challenges are so many ethical fails in big companies around the world, all the time, take for advantage Volkswagen, BP, and to name just a few. If they had the right coach at the right place, coaching the CEO or the right person, they would have made wiser decisions that will protect the environment, protect the people and protect the company's profits at the same time, because these ethical fails cost a lot of money at the same time.

Florian:

And it's not just a CEO of a major power. You may make decisions on a daily basis yeah. That harm yourself, harm the others and harm the organization you work in. So ethics, I think is a very important point. Yes. I invite everybody to look at the code of ethics as published by the ICF or by other organizations. But beyond that, if you're interested in that field, please join us and learn more. And you will find coach training and

Angelos:

You will find coach training.

Florian:

You're right. I mean, that's, that's where I look. That's why I enjoy working with you. And because positivity global, yeah. Really puts the strong emphasis on personal development and on ethics. It's not just learning the tricks of the trade and that's why it takes months.

Angelos:

You're right. It's not about, it's not about learning the tricks. It's about becoming the best that you can be. And it's about some become someone who will be very valuable in society and the companies in the communities anywhere and everywhere that you will get involved with. And I think that that is very that is deeply satisfying and it is very rewarding at the same time. And so, yeah. So now matter what you said earlier, yeah. You talked about intention earlier.

Florian:

It's about intention and no matter whether you want to actually run your own coaching business, work as a coach in a company, or just want to develop personally in your interactions with other people, you know, coaching is a wonderful way to go. So please sign up. I agree get our informations and we offer a complete coach training, but you also offer workshops. And Angela is always great talking to you, always great talking

Angelos:

To you and going for the highest standards. Thank you. So see it soon.

Florian:

Take care.