Ethical Conflict in Coaching
Maintaining Integrity When Values Clash
This compilation is an educational resource developed by the British School of Coaching. This series is compiled as a foundational resource for coaches in training. Each article introduces a practical coaching tool or model, grounded in theory and supported by real-world application. Whether you’re preparing for ILM coaching qualifications or looking to deepen your understanding of best practice in coaching, this series offers research-informed insights to strengthen your coaching toolkit.
In coaching, we often create safe and open spaces for others to grow. But what happens when a coachee expresses views or values that conflict deeply with our own? How should a coach respond when cultural, personal, or ethical boundaries are tested?
This article explores the idea of ethical conflict in coaching, with a particular focus on how coaches can maintain their own integrity while honouring the coaching relationship and respecting the coachee’s autonomy.
Understanding Ethical Conflict
Ethical conflict occurs when:
- A coach is asked to work with a client whose views, decisions, or actions challenge the coach’s personal or professional values
- A coachee discloses behaviours that may be ethically or legally concerning
- Cultural or moral perspectives differ significantly between coach and coachee
- The coach’s role may be used to serve an agenda that conflicts with coaching ethics (e.g. discriminatory hiring practices)
Such situations often generate internal tension for the coach. Emotional triggers may surface, and clarity may be clouded. It’s essential for coaches to develop strategies to remain grounded and make ethically sound decisions.
The Importance of Emotional Detachment
In executive and leadership coaching, you may work with individuals whose views on diversity, inclusion, or social responsibility do not align with your own. In these cases, you must exercise:
- Emotional detachment: Maintain professional neutrality while remaining fully present
- Reflective curiosity: Explore the coachee’s perspective without reacting
- Values congruence: Stay true to your coaching ethics without imposing personal beliefs
This is not about ignoring harmful ideas or behaviours—but about holding space for awareness and reflection, rather than judgment or confrontation.
When to Challenge and When to Step Away
There may be times when ethical conflict becomes too intense or misaligned to manage constructively. In such cases:
- It may be appropriate to challenge the coachee’s assumptions respectfully and within scope (e.g., “How do you see that impacting others in your team?”)
- If emotional neutrality is impossible to maintain, it may be more ethical to decline or withdraw from the coaching contract
Your responsibility is to ensure the coaching relationship remains safe, respectful, and effective. If your ability to uphold that is compromised, exiting gracefully may be the most professional option.
Legal and Organisational Context
In the UK and many other jurisdictions, coaches are bound by legislation that protects individuals from discrimination based on:
- Race, ethnicity, and national origin
- Religion or belief
- Sex, gender reassignment, and marital status
- Age
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
Even if personal or cultural beliefs differ, coaches must not condone or enable discrimination. Awareness of these boundaries is essential in both organisational coaching contexts and independent practice.
Ethical Reflection Questions for Coaches
To navigate ethical conflict wisely, consider:
- What part of this situation is triggering me, and why?
- Can I remain impartial and present for this client?
- Is this a clash of values—or a violation of ethical practice?
- Would supervision help me clarify my next step?
- Am I able to maintain trust, professionalism, and objectivity?
Conclusion
Coaching is not value-neutral—but it is ethically grounded. Coaches are not there to fix or agree, but to support inquiry, reflection, and growth. When ethical conflicts arise, our role is to stay anchored in coaching principles: respect, responsibility, honesty, and professionalism.
And when a situation calls for stepping back, know that integrity sometimes means saying no.
References:
- UNESCO (2001). Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. https://www.unesco.org
- International Coaching Federation (2021). Code of Ethics. https://coachingfederation.org/ethics
- EMCC Global (2021). Global Code of Ethics for Coaches, Mentors and Supervisors. https://www.emccglobal.org
- Hawkins, P., & Smith, N. (2013). Coaching, Mentoring and Organizational Consultancy. McGraw-Hill Education.
