Ethics of working in groups

I am very grateful for the Global Code ofEthics and that it was signed by so many institutions in the coaching spaceas well as the ICF Code of Ethics. Both documents serve as guidelines forprofessional behavior and development. They also allow professional bodies tohold members accountable for their professional conduct.

As SolutionsAcademy, we are training coaches who have notyet signed up for a Code of Ethics and there are many conferences, events, andprofessional meetings where there is no recourse if someone misbehaves. Sadly,in our divided times, it has become increasingly more difficult for organizersof such events to ensure that these events remain creative spaces that allowfor productive discussions and debates. At SolutionsAcademy, we have been verylucky – participants are generally friendly and reflective people who aim atcollaboration and learning together with their fellow participants. But what doyou do if you invite people that you do not know into a shared space? Here aresome reflections:

Know what you are looking for

Before organizing an event, think about what your best hopesare, what you would like to happen. What is the space that you want to createlike and how will you notice that you are getting there? What will participantsnotice? What else?

Reflect on what you are looking for together withparticipants

At the start of the meeting, communicate what you are hopingfor and ask participants to exchange their views on how they would like to betogether. Don’t make this a “wish list” or “expectations”, but simply encouragean exchange on what kind of space participants would appreciate and how theywould like to show up in this space.

Remind people of the laws of the land

Depending on the jurisdiction you are in, you might want toremind people of the relevant legal boundaries, for example around takingpictures of other people and publishing them on social media or aroundattributing ideas to the originators of the ideas

Be prepared to act

Reflect on how you want to act if you see something goingwrong. Maybe you want to introduce an exclusion and grievance regulation inyour registration that reserves the right for you to end someone’sparticipation if they are endangering the successful participation of others.Think about the process that you would like to employ, for example: talk to theperson, ask them to change their behavior, give them a chance to change and ifnot ask them to leave. Also think about how to support people who may be upsetby something by listening to them, taking them seriously and ensuring that theycan continue their participation.

What do you think? I would love to hear from otherorganizers of events. If you want to reflect on issues like this one or anyother coaching related topic, why not come to one of our free meetups andexchanges?

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