Digging Deep on Ethical Codes
How to make professional codes come alive.
Do you have a code of ethics?
There may be principles which you live your life by, laws which you obey. Religious, traditional and cultural ethics. There are also professional ethics which may apply whilst working or in a particular role.
As a member of The International Coaching Federation, I adhere to a set of core competencies. Number one is “Demonstrates Ethical Practice.” The Code of Ethics has 28 standards.
I’ve printed it out on A4 and passed a test. I took extra webinars to develop my understanding. I want to move it from being blocks of text to a part of who I am as a coach. How to make it come alive? To be an integral awareness of what I do?
Sometimes I have to get creative and play. I took the phrases which stood out for me. To see what I could learn.
- The nature and limits of confidentiality
- rights of all parties
- agree to comply
- how information is exchanged
- appropriate authorities
- relationships, records
- seek to make
- remain alert
- respect all
- am sensitive
- am aware
- the potential receipt
- assure
- adhere
- require adherence
- commit to excellence
- my personal limitations
- suspending temporarily
- telephone numbers, and so on
- identify accurately
- make verbal
- those who need to be informed
- govern interactions
- intimacy appropriate
- fairness
- honour
- honest and work
- philosophy.
The definition of an ethical code involves morals and a sense of measurement and rule.
My keywords highlight value and governance. Values of fairness, honour, and honest. I see governance in adherence, rights, and authorities. Do the words which stand out also reflect my own values and interests? When I read the full code, do I value some parts more than others based on my own principles? Are there some elements which do not form part of my personal value system?
What does this selection tell me about my own values, and will understanding this make it more or less likely that I would adhere to and integrate it?
Some parts stood out because they sound poetic, or should be book titles.
The nature and limits of confidentiality
telephone numbers, and so on
Some I can easily identify with as values I share.
fairness
honest
am sensitive
I can hear my rebel tone.
those who need to be informed
agree to comply
I went back and checked on those. Those who need to be informed is about letting other people know about the code. That’s ok. Agree to comply is about maintaining confidentiality in personal data. That’s ok too. But now I am engaging with these standards. Questioning them and playfully challenging them. Working out what they mean to me.
Codes are sometimes enduring and unchanging. Professional codes have space for review and being updated. By looking at them from a fresh perspective and interpreting them from unique viewpoints, I brought these into my work by understanding how they link to my values.
Some of my values get taken for granted. Fairness sounded easy to say yes to, but is one of the most important codes under “Responsibility to Society.”
25. Avoid discrimination by maintaining fairness and equality in all activities and operations, while respecting local rules and cultural practices. This includes, but is not limited to, discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability or military status.
How do I actively maintain fairness and equality in all activities and operations?
Examining this code has led to more questions. The standards which look easy to fulfil and measure such as data confidentiality (did I destroy the pieces of paper?) and the more difficult to measure, such as maintaining fairness. This exercise highlights one of the first steps is becoming aware. I associate standards with measures, some of which are clearer than others. In the context of professional values, how can I measure my own? Do I want to improve the standard of my values? How do they measure up against what I believe I am capable of? How will I hold myself to account?
In understanding the breadth of this responsibility, I appreciate the sense of being responsible for and to. The implication of physical and emotional impact, and responsibility as an experience. In making the code come alive, what is the reflective work I must do to understand the consequences of my adherence?
Maria Sokolowska is a coach, photographer and writer. She playfully explores imagery to challenge perceptions and perspectives. She uses metaphors to help understand some of the ordinary and complex ideas we have about ourselves so that we can feel understood.
Maria is a qualified ACC coach with the International Coaching Federation. The ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential.
Maria works with creative professionals, coaches, post-graduates, and volunteers with the Uprising UK Charity, which inspires young people from underrepresented backgrounds to move into leadership roles.
You can connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or by following her newsletter on Substack.
Based on article originally published in https://glitterballforthemind.substack.com/p/work-and-ethics
