In a joint initiative aimed at self-regulation, the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and the International Coach Federation (ICF) today file with the European Union a common Code of Conduct as the benchmark standard for the coaching and mentoring industry.

In view of the tremendous growth experienced over the past decade in the coaching and mentoring industry, professional bodies have increasingly recognized the need to lay the ground rules, establish markers of good practice, and move to self-regulate.

Thus, ICF and EMCC have joined forces to spearhead this initiative, and have agreed upon a common Code of Conduct for coach and mentor practitioners, and for their representative industry bodies.

The Code establishes a set of guidelines whose goal is to establish a benchmark for ethics and good practice in coaching and mentoring. It forms the basis for the development of self-regulation for the coaching and mentoring profession. It is drafted with regard to European law such as to be registered on the dedicated European Union database which lists self-regulation initiatives in Europe. This publicly accessible database is co-managed by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee. See www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.self-and-co-regulation.

This initiative is also designed to inform coaching and mentoring clients, and to promote public confidence in coaching and mentoring as a process for professional and personal development, which serves society as a whole.

The guidelines for practitioners cover requirements for:

• Competencies;
• Training;
• Continuous professional development; and
• Ethical standards.

The guidelines for professional bodies cover requirements for:

• Ensuring commitment to ethical standards by their members;
• A disciplinary and complaints procedure for ethical issues; and
• An independent board to monitor and sanction breaches of the Code of Conduct.

“The ICF and EMCC are working hard to make sure there are safeguards in place for those interested in working with a coach or mentor—be it an individual or a business,” said ICF President and Professional Certified Coach Ed Modell. “Both groups are interested in advancing the profession as well as helping to protect consumers.”