Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an important element of any good coaching relationship. We expect the sponsors of our coaching to respect the importance of having a coaching relationship based on trust with the coachee.

What is our duty with respect to confidentiality?

Coachees may share personal or difficult information with their coach. We have a duty as executive coaches to respect the coachee's trust in revealing private information . We respect the privacy of our coachees by restricting access of others to that information.

What does this duty require of us as coaches?

We have no direct obligation of confidentiality with respect to our coachees and their client sponsors. Nonetheless, we are careful with coachee information to the extent reasonably possible. We only share that information between the coachee and the client sponsor that both have agreed in advance should be shared. In addition, here at the Institute we are compelled by our code of ethics to communicate to proper authorities within our client's business any information that we believe may cause harm to the client's business.

What kinds of disclosures are inappropriate?

Inappropriate disclosure of information can occur in business settings. When pressed for time, the temptation to discuss a situation with a client sponsor in a public area may be great, but in that setting it is very difficult to keep others from hearing the information exchanges. Similarly, extra copies from coaching reports or summaries should be removed at the conclusion of a meeting or session. The coachee's right to privacy is not being respected in these sorts of cases.

When can and should confidentiality be breached?

Confidentiality is not an absolute obligation. Situations arise where the harm in maintaining confidentiality is greater than the harm brought about by disclosing confidential information. In general, we believe that three such situations warrant the breach of confidentiality:

Threat to the safety of the individual is deemed to be significant.
Financial or reputation harm may come to the business that is sponsoring the coaching.
Community welfare may be put at risk.

Confidentiality

There are three situations that warrant a breach of confidentiality in a coaching relationship:

1st - Threat to the safety of the individual is deemed to be significant.

2nd - Financial or reputation harm may come to the business that is sponsoring the coaching.

3rd - Community welfare may be put at risk.