Law and Ethics in Coaching

Chapter 6

Multiple-Role Relationships in Coaching

Ofer Zur and Sharon K. Anderson

Objective

As an emerging profession, coaching is facing the challenge of identifying, articulating, and guiding its practitioners in how to deal with wide-ranging areas of ethical issues, including dual relationships. This chapter defines multiple-role relationships, describes the different types of dual relationships that might take place between a coach and a client, provides examples, and discusses three professional coaching association ethics codes as they relate to multiple-role relationships. Additionally, this chapter provides guidelines for establishing and maintaining ethical coaching in multiple-role relationships.

Pre-Chapter Self-Assessment Test

1. Multiple-role relationships with a client in a coaching context means the coach has more than just a professional relationship with the client.

a. True

b. False

2. If a coach tries hard enough, she can and should avoid all multiple-role relationships with current clients.

a. True

b. False

3. Multiple-role relationships, even if they create a conflict of interest, are ethical for the coach to enter into as long as both parties understand the conflict of interest.

a. True

b. False

4. A dual role is exploitive in nature when the coach seeks to benefit himself.

a. True

b. False

5. Multiple-role relationships in coaching are normal and helpful because in life we have many roles with people who are potential clients.

a. True

b. False

6. Multiple-role ...