November 10, 2009

Note from the President
Feature Article -- The Ethics of Coaching
Upcoming Events -- Calendar of Great CFR Seminars
We Recommend -- Peacock in the Land of Penguins

Greetings Colleagues!
Frances Shuster, PCC President, Coaching For Results, Inc.

The Sunday edition of the New York Times features a column entitled, The Ethicist. This column gives a couple of examples each week on which the author, Randy Cohen, comments. I find the column interesting and informative, as ethics in general seem to now have a lower priority in the minds of many individuals who receive high profile media coverage. Ethical conduct is important to all of us. It plays a role in our relationships with one another on a daily basis.

Members of Coaching for Results, Inc. must subscribe to the International Coach Federation's Code of Ethics. You can access and read the code in its entirety at www.coachfederation.org. I urge all who call themselves coaches or who practice coaching in their personal or professional lives to become familiar with this document.

Warmly,

Frances Shuster, PCC

Our Monthly Newsletter

All of our newsletter articles are written by CSR Coaches and provide relevant information for school leaders and coaches. The focus of our ezine articles for this school year will center on coaching competencies taught in our seminars, exemplified in our coaching practices and recognized by the International Coach Federation. We believe these articles will provide multiple benefits for all school leaders committed to increased results, whether you are seeking professional coaching certification or primarily interested in expanding your personal coach-like behaviors.

Our electronic newsletters are provided as a gift to individuals who sign up to receive this service and we never share your information with other parties. In our newly updated website, a bonus soon to be provided to our newsletter recipients will be access to our archived newsletters, which will be organized by topic and International Coach Federation (ICF) Competencies. A little added gift for those connected to CSR.

The Ethics of Coaching
By Frances Shuster, PCC

The ICF Code of Ethics has recently been revised to reflect a more global view of coaching and to take into account internal coaches as well as the growing practice of "external" coaches who are hired to coach a client and paid by a third party, often the client's employer. In all cases, the contract or agreement must clearly establish and state the rights, roles, and responsibilities for the client and the employer or other third party, referred to as "sponsor" in the ICF document. Throughout the ICF Code of Ethics, clear, transparent agreements and full disclosure on the part of the coach are highlighted. Areas for transparency include honesty in claims made as a coach, a professional approach to conducting research using scientific standards, and assurance of confidentiality regarding notes, records and contact information of clients.

Confidentiality is of high importance with any coaching relationship - internal or external. It is the foundation of the trust that is required for an authentic coaching partnership. Agreements must be clear on how coaching information will or will not be exchanged amongst coach, client, and sponsor. Coaches are bound to maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with the client and his or her sponsor and only release information if required by law to do so. Coaches do not have the same legal protection in the area of confidentiality afforded to psychologists and attorneys so must release information if required by law.

In my experience, the strong confidentiality upheld by external coaches offers a safety net often not experienced with internal coaching due to possible political ramifications. For internal coaching (coaching provided by someone within the organization) to have the same value, clear agreements, explicit policies governing conflict of interests, and extremely strong confidentiality understandings must be in place. In either case, coaches must make it a priority to become familiar with the ICF Code of Ethics as a general guide for responsible actions as a trusted partner.

Frances Shuster, PCC, is a founding member and President of Coaching For Results, Inc. She is a past president of the North Texas Chapter of the International Coach Federation and a faculty member and coach in the University of Texas at Dallas School of Management. For more information about Frances and our other coaches, go to www.coachingschoolresults.com and click on "coaches".

Calendar of Great CFR Seminars

All seminars listed below are four days in length. Some seminars are held on four consecutive days while others are held in two-day increments over two months. Please check the seminar dates carefully.

Each seminar below has a series of three, hour-long follow-up teleclasses specifically designed for seminar participants and provided at a nominal fee. Those registering for a seminar will want to be sure to sign up for the follow-up teleclasses!

See details and register at www.coachingschoolresults.com/calendar.html

Powerful Coaching, Level II: Dallas, TX December 16-17, 2009 AND January 6-7, 2010, Hosted by Lewisville ISD
Follow-up Teleclass Series (2/4, 3/4, 4/1)
Instructional Coaching: Dallas, TX, June 21-24, 2010
(Follow-Up Teleclass dates will be forthcoming)
Advanced Coaching: Level III: Dallas, TX, June 28-30, July 1 (Follow-Up Teleclass dates will be forthcoming)

Peacock in the Land of Penguins:
A Fable about Creativity and Courage
by BJ Gallagher, Hateley, & Warren H. Schmidt

The authors address a critical issue related to organizational culture. How do we cultivate the divergent thinking and creativity of new staff members in order to promote new ideas and thinking rather than continue a 'business as usual' approach? It is written in an entertaining, easy to read style, and yet, it delivers a very powerful and useful message. You can purchase Peacock in the Land of Penguins at www.amazon.com.

Let Us Hear From You

We are always interested in receiving your feedback on how we're doing as well as what you'd like to see more of as we move toward the future. You can provide that information by emailing us at support@coachingschoolresults.com