Coaching approach

The coach must respect his patient's integrity and dignity.  He must encourage his patient to use his own inner resources and is devoted to bring him unconditional support to help him set motivating and stimulating objectives so that he gives the best of himself.
The coach's mission is also to guide his patient during the therapy; his role is to help him find the best and most efficient way that will allow his patient to reach his objectives.  The coach also treats all information his patient gives him as confidential.

I. PROFESSIONNALISM

I.1. Professional training

The coach has followed a professional training that allowed him to specialise in the personal coaching field.  His skills have been acknowledged by the company or trainer which gave him his training.  If his patient demands it, the coach must produce clear information about the exact kind of training he underwent and the credentials he obtained.

I.2. Knowledge update

Personal coaching is a field that is constantly changing; therefore, the coach must spend some of this time updating his knowledge.  He regularly follows the professional developments of the field and is constantly evolving.

I.3. Personal experience of coaching

The coach considers that the personal experience brought by personal coaching is a necessary condition to the coach's own skills and credibility.  To be efficient, a coach must have had a similar experience in that field.  A coach can ask for the support of his colleagues whenever he feels it necessary.  Generally speaking, he himself is constantly developing.

I.4. Regural Supervision

A coach has his own supervision place where he can set a critical eye on his practice, his aim being both his constant evolution and providing the best quality service to his patients.

I.5. Remote coaching and Internet

A coach considers telephone, Internet, or any other distance-communication technology like tools he can use in his practice.

I.6. Refusal of assignment

A coach has a right to refuse an assignment if it is not in compliance with his ethics, his skills or if it is not in the interest of the patient or his organisation.  In this case, he will propose other solutions to the patient.

II. THE CONTRACT

At the beginning of a coaching relationship, the coach and his patient both sign a written contract  which specifies the skills of the coach, the objectives of the assignment, the nature of the proposed services, a confidentiality clause, and each party's responsibilities.  The contract also specifies the frequency and length of the sessions, the type of communication used (in person, telephone, Internet ...) and the fees the coach is to get.  You will find such a chart attached to the coaching contract.

III. CLIENT PROTECTION

III.1. Consent

If he did not take the initiative of the coaching herself, the coached person must consent to the coaching, otherwise, the therapy may remain pointless.  The coach will, if necessary, check the person's motivation.

III.2. Respect of the client's interests

The coach makes sure the intervention is useful for the coached person and his organization.  He ensures he acts with a high level of integrity and reliability during the whole coaching relationship.  He checks he has got the relevant skills to intervene in the field he is consulted in.  If he does not have the relevant skills, he will suggest alternatives which seem more appropriate.  He commits himself to encourage his patient's independence and will prevent any kind of abuse (especially abuse of influence).  Under no circumstances, he may take advantage of the coaching situation, whether it is financially, socially, emotionally or sexually. The only advantages he will take are the ones stated in the contract.

III.3. Confidentiality

The coach certifies he will obey the commitments stated in the contract and the rules of confidentiality imposed by the laws of his country.  He makes sure information are exchanged for the benefit of his patient and NOT for his own personal or professional advancement.  If necessary, a meeting may take place during and/or at the end of an assignment between the coached person, his organization and the coach to ensure that the contract signed at the beginning of the assignment is honored and therefore the coach person's integrity respected.

III.4. Stopping an assignment

If somewhere along the coaching assignment the coach realizes he cannot act as a coach or honour the initial contract anymore, he must put an end to the assignment and explain clearly his reasons.  He will do his best to propose other alternatives to his patient.

IV. Attitude toward colleagues

The coach must respect and keep an open mind toward other personal coaching methods and acknowledges that no individual or group should claim he has got the only solution.