S&S Coaching Code of Ethics

I demonstrate best practices and ethical code of responsibility to professionalism, society, performance, and all clients/sponsors/colleagues through:

• Commitment to professionalism, responsibility, respect, integrity, and excellence.

• Belief that all men and women are created equal in the sight of God.

• Honesty and accuracy in any and all communications.

• Commitment to being a life-long learner and my own personal development and growth.

• Support and encouragement of co-laborers and clients.

• Desire to follow through on any commitments I’ve made.

• Awareness of ethical issues or dilemmas and my quick response to them.

• Ability to stand in confidence during trials and challenges.

• Respect for others and any financial or coaching business dealings.

• Clear and accurate representation of professional coaching in both my professional and personal lives.

• Adaptability, teachability, and humility in my coaching relationships and in relationship to Sterling & Stone and any staff.

• Respect for and cooperation with Sterling & Stone and any staff.

• Collaboration and commitment to learning, teaching, sharing resources, and co-creating with other coaches.

• Mindfulness of the needs of the world around me.

• Respect for other coaching businesses, professions, and organizations, regardless of agreement or likeness.

• Commitment to compassion, kindness, authenticity, and care.

• Acceptance that perfection is not an attainable goal nor shall it guide my decision making, and my ability to own my mistakes and take responsibility for my life and choices.

• Ability to learn from my actions, choices, and mistakes.

• Ability to learn from others and to expanding my point of view.

• Desire to pursue clarity, strategy, and transformation.

• Commitment to avoid demonstrating any behaviors that would be suggestive, harassing, sexual in any way, rude, inappropriate, superior, undignified, or would break down the self-worth of myself or others.

• Awareness of systemic patterns of bias, whether conscious or unconscious, in myself and in others.

• Recognition of all people groups and their human worth.

• Treatment of all people with fairness and respect.

• Desire to research and understand diversity in all its forms, and to learn how to bring the best out in myself and my clients regardless of capability, background, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.

• Communication through the use of created agreements/contracts of the nature and value of my coaching offers, the nature and limits of confidential, finances, and all terms of any coaching agreement.

• Confidentiality in the strictest sense regarding all parties with a clear understanding communicated to all parties of the conditions under which certain information will not be kept confidential (ie. imminent danger or likely risk to self or others, illegal activity if required by law, etc.) If I have reason to believe any of these circumstances apply I may inform appropriate authorities.

• Maintenance, storage, and appropriate disposal of any records, including electronic files and communications, created during interactions with clients/sponsors in ways that are confidential, secure, private and in compliance with any applicable laws and agreements.

• Proper use of technology and any use of it in coaching service areas and seek awareness of how to apply ethical standards to them.

• Alertness of indications that a client may not be the right fit for my coaching services and offers, or that there are indications that a client should be referred out to another coach, a therapist, or another professional to seek assistance.

• Respect of all parties’ right to terminate the coaching relationship at any point for any reason during the process subject to the provisions of any signed agreements.

• Disclosure of any potential receipt of compensation or benefits I may receive for referrals or affiliations.

• Recognition of my personal limitations or circumstances that could harm, interfere with, conflict with, or impair my coaching relationships, and agreement to seek support for my own growth and guidance.

• Resolution of any conflict by working through the issue with relevant parties, pursuing professional guidance, or suspension/ending of coaching or professional relationship.

• Maintaining the privacy of S&S, S&S coaches and staff, and all contact information (addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, etc.) unless authorized by S&S or staff.

• Communication of my qualifications, experience, level of health and competency, training, certifications, and credentials.

• True and accurate statements of what I offer as an S&S Life Coach, what is offered by S&S, and what the coaching profession itself offers.

• Commitment to never participating in any romantic or sexual engagement with clients or sponsors. I will always be mindful of the appropriate level of intimacy within a coaching relationship and commit to taking action if there is ever an issue or breach of this commitment by pursuing guidance and potentially suspending or terminating the coaching agreement.

• Respect of intellectual property belonging to others and claim to ownership of only my own created content or material.

• Ability to articulate what coaching is and is not.

• Training in skills, tools, methods, strategies, and continued education of all personal development resources.

• Pursuit of more knowledge and resources to be a life-long learner, exploring my fields and all related fields.

• Pursuit of my own personal self-care, health, and development to create the best coaching services and relationship to my clients.

• Ability and desire to be coachable and have my own coaching relationships in which I am a client pursuing personal and professional betterment, growth and transformation.

• Storage of confidential client records using encryptions, firewalls, locks, etc. and saving records for at least ten years.

• Avoidance of misleading or confusing others about the services I offer, the potential of coaching, and the promises of results through any method of communication.

• Commitment to awareness and care of my own mental, emotional, and physical well-being, seeking professional help when needed, and limiting or ending any coaching wherein I would be unable to bring myself at my best.

• Immediate response to any complaint made by a client or sponsor to correct things, potentially through fee return, clearer communication, or better coaching.

• Use of written agreements and contracts with all clients, including pro bono work, offering details about expectations and responsibilities, and a link to the code of ethics and best practices I adhere to.

• Communication through email to ensure as much detailed documentation of communications as possible to protect self, business, and client/sponsor.

• Deference to client’s wishes over what I ‘know to be the best way’.

• Only working with clients I honestly believe in and believe I have the ability to help guide.

• Never mixing paid client relationships with romantic or business relationships or any type of relationship that would create the appearance of conflict of interest.

• Never giving advice, guidance, or counsel in any area I am not qualified and only when genuinely needed and requested by a client.

• Commitment to uphold the following Sterling & Stone Life Coach Code of Ethics pledge:

As a Sterling & Stone (S&S) Coach, in accordance with the standards of the Sterling & Stone Code of Ethics, I acknowledge and agree to fulfill my ethical and legal obligations to my coaching colleagues, clients, sponsors, and the public at large. If I breach any part of the S&S Code of Ethics, I agree that S&S may hold me accountable for so doing. I further agree that my accountability to S&S may include, but is not limited to, mandatory additional continued education or loss of S&S Coach credentials.