Code of Conduct & Ethical Guidance
Our community and its membership adhere to a high standard of safety, trust, and respect and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the professional and ethical standards of the coaching industry. We recognize the ICF Code of Conduct & Ethics as part of our community’s DNA and provide links for further definition and clarification.
Core Values. We are committed to reliability, openness, acceptance, and congruence and consider all parts of the community mutually accountable to uphold the following values:
Integrity: We uphold the highest standards both for the coaching profession and our organization.
Excellence: We set and demonstrate standards of excellence for professional coaching quality, qualification, and competence.
Collaboration: We value the social connection and community building that occurs through collaborative partnership and co-created achievement.
Respect: We are inclusive and value the diversity and richness of our global stakeholders. We put people first, without compromising standards, policies and quality.
Specifically with respect to our community, all members agree to adhere to the following guidelines regarding conduct.
Connect, share, support, and grow with each other.
This is a private community connection to support each other as we move through our individual experiences of uncertainty and ongoing change. Everyone who is a member of the community either is a professional coach who has completed an ICF-accredited program or equivalent as a qualification for membership.
The Community exists to encourage our members to connect with other coaches to support and learn from each other. This community is guided, first and foremost, by confidentiality, safety, and trust. We offer the same confidentiality to members of this group as we would to any client in a coaching conversation. What’s shared in this group is clearly intended to be held closely and safely by the membership.
Community Conduct Expectations
Play nice. Be committed to treating each other with kindness and respect regardless of your personal, professional, or political beliefs. We’re an assembly of many types of people who all have the right to feel comfortable as they express their experiences and perspectives. Offer real and honest help, recognize and thank people for their contributions, and be patient with those who may be struggling in any way.
Assume positive intent. Approach all interactions and engagements with an open mindset and safely assume that all members are acting from a space of positivity and support.
Seek first to understand. Sharing and exploring varying POVs is encouraged as it's in the diversity of perspectives that new ideas have room to come forward, and we create a space to grow - individually and as a community.
Healthy approaches to disagreement. We encourage constructive dialogue, allowing space for all voices while ensuring disagreements remain respectful. It's OK to challenge the ideas or opinions of others in our community so long as you act respectfully to all participating in the dialog. If you disagree with a statement, please consider a reasonable response that offers insight into your POV without discrediting or marginalizing others.
Be kind and respectful. We are here to stand each other up and be a support system for all members. We approach interactions with compassion and respect for others. There's no place for mean, rude, offensive, or antagonistic interplay.
Anti-Intolerance. While we believe everyone here understands this last element... we include this statement in all conduct guidelines so that everyone here feels safe and protected from harmful forms of dehumanizing and marginalizing treatment. There is zero tolerance for all forms of cyberbullying, cyber-harassment, hate speech, or threats based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender, gender identity, disability, or immigration status.
Monitoring and Enforcement: What happens if someone violates the code of conduct?
We encourage members to take an active role in fostering a positive environment by reporting any inappropriate conduct directly to the community administrator. We are a self-governing group - and adhere to the "see it, say it" guidance from the ICF Code of Ethics. If you see an issue, you should feel safe and comfortable in drawing attention that someone's action may not align with what we value in this community. If you believe someone has stepped outside the boundaries of appropriate conduct or require any further assistance with our Code of Conduct, don't hesitate to contact the community administrator. We are here to ensure a safe and healthy community experience.
Additionally, all community spaces are monitored to help identify and resolve any violations with our conduct guidance. If you receive a message from a moderator regarding a specific interaction, we ask that you consider the feedback and respond appropriately. The moderator may also request the community administrator delete the post or comment, which may occur with or without notice.
If, for any reason, you believe that someone has directed any inappropriate behavior toward you, please send a private and direct message to the community administrator. Please know that these communications are managed with the utmost care and priority.
If issues persist with any member, further action may be required, including revoking membership privileges and removal from the community. Violations of our anti-tolerance guidance may result in a permanent ban. If an individual is removed from the community due to ongoing conduct issues, they will also forfeit any subscription fees paid. Each case will be assessed fairly, with appropriate steps taken to ensure the well-being of the community as a whole.
We are grateful that we have not had any issues causing us to suspend or remove a member from our community
Additional Information
For additional information regarding ICF’s rules of conduct and ethics, please click here and you will be redirected to their website. These guidelines may be updated from time-to-time and possibly without direct notice. All members are encouraged to periodically check for updates.
Contact Us. coaches co-op welcomes your questions or comments regarding the Terms. You may email membership@coachescooperative.org. with any questions or clarifications.
Effective as of July 19, 2023 updated
