PBCA Code of Ethics

At PBCA Canada, we are dedicated to upholding the highest levels of excellence and professionalism in business and leadership coaching. The PBCA Canada Code of Ethics establishes clear guidelines, accountability measures, and standards of conduct for all our members, ensuring integrity and ethical practice across our community.

Our Code of Ethics is not only a set of external mandates; it is a reflection of our core values. We believe in self-regulation as the most effective form of maintaining ethical standards. Each member is encouraged to embody these principles, fostering a culture of honesty and respect in every coaching interaction.

Furthermore, our ethical guidelines align closely with those of the International Coach Federation, reinforcing our commitment to global best practices in coaching. By adhering to these principles, PBCA Canada members demonstrate their dedication to professional development and ethical responsibility in the coaching profession.

Part One: Definitions of Coaching

Coaching Defined:

Coaching is a partnership with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal, professional, leadership, and business potential. It is a client-driven process that is distinct from other service professions, such as counseling, mentoring, consulting, and training.

A PBCA Canada Business Coach:

Accountability: Commits to upholding the PBCA Canada Values and Ethical Standards.
Experience Requirements: Becomes part of the PBCA Canada network only after demonstrating significant experience, with a minimum of ten years in roles such as:
- Operating their own business or leading another organization.
- Serving in a senior executive capacity.
- Possessing formal training in business, coaching, or leadership from recognized institutions or coaching systems.
- Having a combination of experience and training that covers the aforementioned areas.

Professional Coaching Relationship:

This relationship exists when there is a formal agreement, including contracts, which defines the responsibilities of both the coach and the client. This agreement ensures clarity and mutual understanding of the coaching process.

Roles in the Coaching Relationship:

Client/Coachee: The individual(s) receiving coaching.
Sponsor: The entity that pays for and/or arranges the coaching services. The sponsor can be different from the client, especially in organizational settings.
Student: Someone engaged in a coaching training program or working under a coaching supervisor or mentor to learn and enhance coaching skills.

Conflict of Interest:

A situation where a coach’s private interest might interfere with their professional duties or could appear to compromise their impartiality or objectivity as a coach.

Clarifying Roles:

To ensure clarity within the coaching process, it is crucial to distinguish between the client and the sponsor when they are not the same entity. Both the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and PBCA Canada provide clear definitions to help identify and differentiate these roles within any coaching engagement, ensuring all parties have well-defined rights, roles, and responsibilities.

Part two: PBCA Canada Values and Code of Conduct

As a PBCA Canada Coach I will value:

Honesty - and therefor I will:
- Clearly and honestly declare my qualifications, my experience and my professional limitations.
- Abide by all copyrights, and clarify what is my creation and what is another's coaching materials.
- Clearly explain what coaching is, what it is not, and what it's possibilities are.
- Seek to constantly be self-aware and take appropriate actions to deal with personal or professional issues.
Integrity - and therefore I will:
- Speak and act in such a way that reflects positively on coaching as a profession and the public's perception of it.
- Develop clear contracts with clients and honor them.
- Make sure that my clients understand what coaching is and is not.
- Declare any potential conflict of interest (real or perceived) and also disclose any benefit that I might receive from a third-party for a referral of client.
Respect - and therefore I will:
- Hold client's information confidential unless required otherwise bu law or by their agreement. (This includes dealing with any of my client's records in a secure manner.)
- Honor other coaches and their diversity of approaches.
- Avoid any inappropriate physical contact and intimate involvement with clients.
Effectiveness - and therefore I will:
- Continue to learn and develop to give my clients the best possible help.
- Get assistance and support when my personal life impairs my abilities.
- Make referrals to other professionals or Coaches when I think the client would be better served.
- Be aware when my clients no longer benefit from my coaching and allow them to terminate their relationship with me.
Loyalty - and therefore I will:
- Conduct myself in training and supervisory contexts in accordance with PBCA Canada Values & Ethics.
- Only divulge client's names or other personal information with their permission.
- Honor the sanctity and trust of every individual coaching relationship and not betray any of the confidences bestowed upon me by my clients.
Relationships - and therefore I will:
- Do all that is possible to avoid misuse of my influence and connections to people for anything but their good.
- Do all I can to avoid situations where my interests and the client's conflict.
- Take reasonable steps to notify authorities if a client reveals they are going to endanger themselves or others.
Reciprocity and Professional Teamwork - and therefore I will:
- Openly share and contribute to the overall effectiveness of all PBCA Canada Coaches as my professional colleagues - Through sharing my added knowledge, tools, presentations and information to better our professional community.
Professionalism - and therefore I will:
- Make a personal commitment to be professional and become a life-long learner for my continuing professional development.
- Do and say what I believe is always the right thing to do or say.
- Look and act professional.
- Take pride in my work and strive for continuous improvement.
- Learn my craft to Professional Business and Leadership Coaching and teach it to others.
- Never tolerate mediocrity.