Values and Ethics in Coaching

Coaches occupy a privileged position, with access to unspoken thoughts, dilemmas and confidences. The ability to understand and work sensitively guiding oneself and clients through the complexity of moral choices that leaders face in modern organisations is a key factor that differentiates excellent coaches from good ones. This book is essential reading for those seeking to put ethical sensitivity at the heart of their practice

In this piece the authors address a topic with paramount importance to the coaching, as ethics, and generally the professional boundaries of the coaching practice are key in defining the profession itself. The content of the book is well-grounded in research and contemporary thinking thus offering a credible background for the reader to be engaged with the topic. For me this engaging style was the most important when I read the book. The activities, invitations for self reflection and the real-life stories invited me to openly address the question of ethics within my own practice. This practical, but still sensitive approach to the practicalities of the topic make this book a unique experience. Whether you are a newcomer in the world of coaching, or a veteran with a need to for additional insights you’ll find something valuable for your own development inside.

The authors of this important book have made a significant contribution to the literature by highlighting the values and ethical issues surrounding the field of coaching. Coaching has grown very quickly and extensively, and this book reflects on many of the ethical dilemmas and issues in its wake. A must read for practitioners and HR professionals. 

As the globe is urgently calling for more ethical and responsible behaviours in all sectors, this book is a well-overdue addition for all of us. This is the first serious book that tackles the 50 shades of coaching ethics with reference to some philosophical heavy weights in an accessible way. It is a prompt to help us take a second look at our practices and question the underpinning values and beliefs - and guide us promote wider responsibility through our own 'moments of choice'.

This comprehensive, well-organised and well-researched book makes an important and timely contribution to the field of coaching. Filled with practical examples as well as thought-provoking activities designed to enhance the practitioner’s ethical capability, this highly practical workbook will be a valuable resource for coaches at all levels of experience. I thoroughly recommend this book.

The authors have written on a challenging and necessary topic, with practicality and clarity. The book is learner-friendly, and takes values and ethics to the level of applied practice. Their use of frequent ‘pause for reflection’, and other references, makes this an extremely valuable addition to the skill-sets and critical thinking needed for professional coaching.

An excellent and cleverly pitched contribution to the coaching literature. Very readable, but more importantly readily applied to developing as a coach. The writers have managed to integrate theory and practice in an accessible way that will help coaches to continually strengthen the role of ethics and values in their practice. 

This book provides an excellent insight on ethical issues in coaching contexts. Its thought-provoking style is useful for both trainee and experienced coaches. 

What this book brings is a theoretical underpinning of both values – what’s important to me – and ethics – what’s permissible or not – and how these are applied in coaching practice...I work on evidence of informed policy and practice, so it is fantastic to see the clear narrative about how engaging with, and contributing to, research can enable the development of our ethical abilities as coaches.