But isn’t there more to it than that? What if we shift our focus from not getting caught and not visibly violating the Code to an orientation of care for our clients, for our profession and for ourselves. In other words, to hold ethics as a compass rather than something to which we comply.

Let me explain my reference to a compass. Here in the Pacific Northwest of the US and the West Coast of Canada, I spend as much time as I can in my sea kayak. I love paddling in all kinds of water and weather, particularly enjoying the satisfaction of making it through rough water. Part of the joy, however, is simply getting home safely. Especially in fog, strong currents and confusing landscape, I rely on my compass to finish the trip safely. In the years since I started coaching in 1990, I’ve traveled some rough waters!

How can ethics become a compass? My former colleague and long-time friend, John Shuster, said one day when we were teaching coaching, “We must make ourselves worthy of our clients.” Worthy of our clients? My gosh, is what I am doing right now worthy of their trust? Is the relationship I have in this moment worthy of the trust they place in me, their need for a safe zone to explore their lives and work, their vulnerability and feeling of exposure when they acknowledge their current circumstances or fears about the future?

What we’re talking about then, is a much more advanced and subtle approach to ethical coaching which has been called Ethical Maturity. Michael Carroll and Elizabeth Shaw in Ethical Maturity for the Helping Professions describe ways of exploring our ethical frameworks and practices.

A few of the points I have learned from them are:

• Ethics is not a solo sport. It is hard to see ourselves accurately so having some kind of partner who can help us see and explore what we are doing is essential.
• Fast ethics, slow ethics. We all know there are certain things that simply must and must not be done. We don’t sleep with our clients. Period. No thought required. That’s fast ethics. On my website, I might claim to be the best coach anywhere or have the best ten step coaching process to boost client performance. That’s quite a claim! Reflecting on how I represent myself requires reflection – that’s slow ethics.
• Being trustworthy. This includes monitoring the power differentials between my clients and me and having the capacity to dialog about our relationship, cultural differences, biases and assumptions.
• Not being an idealist. The moment I am sure that I am the best I am on dangerous ground. Beware of idealists, including ourselves.
• Knowing what we promise to our clients beyond the Code of Ethics. My own current promise, is:
  • To the best of my ability I will:
    • Be fully present and not distracted by other demands.
    • Be as honest as I can about me, about my seeing of you and about my experience of us.
    • I will keep learning, for curiosity keeps me from being certain.
    • I will manage boundaries to keep you, me and us safe.
    • I will ask for and offer forgiveness when we screw up.

How can coaches move from simple compliance with the Code of Ethics to rich ethical reflection so that we are truly worthy of our clients? Pick a starting point. Consider for example, Coaching Competency 2: intimacy and trust.

Some starting questions are:

• How do I establish intimacy with THIS client?
• What are the boundaries I and WE are holding?
• What do we do, when a boundary is crossed or just approached too closely?
• How will we maintain truthfulness between us?
• How will I guard confidentiality when pressed by third and fourth parties in the organization paying for my coaching?

The key point is that ethical maturity - ethics as a compass for navigation in our work - is a never-ending process of reflection and adjustment in service of our clients, the profession and finally ourselves. Have you begun? When will you?

Ethical Maturity in the Helping Professions: Making Difficult Life and Work Decision. Michael Carroll and Elisabeth Shaw, Jessica Kingsley Publisher, London and Philadelphia. 2013