In This Issue
1. Message from the President
2. Who Watches The Watchmen?
3. Key PERC Guidelines
4. PERC Leaders Introduced
5 .Subscribe/Unsubscribe Option (and all that other end-of-newsletter stuff!)

By Barbara Weiland Mark, Ph.D.
President, International Association Of Coaches

I am excited to share some news with you!

Our Professional Ethics Review Committee (PERC) procedures are up and running. And, I am pleased to introduce you to Debbie Lawrence, the newly appointed director of PERC, and Michael Sanders the chair of the committee. (See articles below.)

In line with our mission to further the interests of coaching clients worldwide, we have established a strong and educational process for addressing coaching complaints. This is a foundational piece in the goal of self-regulation in the coaching industry.

I’m also pleased to tell you that Barbara Lemaire is the new chair of the membership committee and will be happy to assist you and answer your questions about your membership. See our “contact us” for information.

I’d like to share some thoughts with you. When I took the office of president a short ten weeks ago, I asked each of the members of the board to share with me what their vision for the IAC was for the next year. I challenged myself to do the same. Over the course of the past weeks, I have had the opportunity to have many inspired and inspiring conversations with people both within and outside of the organization. I appreciate the openness of these individuals. I see great things for the organization and for the coaching industry.

With ever increasing knowledge and technological speed, the world is changing quickly and we are changing along with it. Coaching is playing and will play an increasingly significant role in our evolution as individuals and as communities both local and global. Many of us are or will be, in the next 20 years or so, the elders of our global tribe. As a global tribe we will have to have learned how to open our hearts, our minds, and our souls, to share our resources, our compassion, and our wisdom.

As coaches we must add to the larger field of personal growth and acknowledge that we are on the forefront of an evolutionary, indeed, revolutionary wave of human development. We must learn and teach cooperation, forward thinking, and a commitment to our best feelings for our own good and the good of all.

On a daily basis we are challenging our clients to be Olympiads in their personally defined life events. We are helping people discover the clarity, the commitment, and the drive to do their personal best.

One of my commitments to myself is to learn something new about myself, another person, about the world, and about new theoretical developments everyday. I am committed to re-evaluating my vision for IAC every 30 days. In this way, I hope to hold the space for IAC to be constantly responsive to the changing demands of our coaching community and of the clients of coaches. I invite you to share your thoughts with me.

And, I invite you to consider what your commitments are to yourself, your profession, and your world.

Have a great week!

Warmest regards,

Barbara

Who Watches The Watchmen?
PERC: Redefining Accountability in the Coaching Profession

Who watches the watchmen?

For some time now, this question has been on the minds of many people in regard to the coaching profession.

“In our relationships with our clients, we become the keepers and protectors of their hopes and dreams,” says Michael Sanders, the newly appointed Chairperson of the International Association of Coaches (IAC) Professional Ethics Review Committee. “This is an awesome privilege and responsibility and, as such, it is imperative that we provide clients with the safety and security they need to grow.”

However, occasionally a serious problem arises in the coach-client relationship. To whom can a client turn?

The answer is IAC’s recently launched Professional Ethics Review Committee (PERC). In direct response to IAC’s mission of “furthering the interests of coaching clients worldwide”, the mandate of PERC is to perpetuate IAC’s high and specific ethical standards throughout the coaching profession.

More specifically, it is PERC’s objective to be responsive to the interests of clients and coaches by providing a forum for the review of questions and issues as well as complaints of alleged unethical conduct by an IAC member.

PERC serves as a model of the highest professional coaching standards and reflects the values of IAC and the coaching profession as a whole. PERC also strives to educate coaches and their clients about these standards and support them in upholding the highest level of integrity.

Debbie Lawrence, newly appointed Director of PERC, is excited about the vital role this committee will play as they it works to address questions of ethics and “best practices” by coaches.

“Our goal is for our members to view this division of IAC as a value-added service,” says Debbie. “We want coaches to use PERC as a secure place to turn to for guidance on relevant issues and ethical dilemmas arising within their respective coaching practices.”

The committee consists of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and six members, one of whom is a not a coach. “This will allow for representation from both the coaching and non-coaching perspective,” says Debbie, “This committee structure is integral to the need to assure fairness in our decision making.”

Coaches, clients and the general public can access PERC through the IAC website or by going to www.coachingcomplaints.org which offers the opportunity to ask questions, submit issues or lodge complaints and be assured of a fair, prompt follow-up service.

PERC serves as the mediator of issues as well as the reviewer of complaints. Committee members will clarify any misunderstandings or misconceptions that may cause issues between coaches and clients. In the case of ethical violations, PERC also serves as the disciplinary body with the authority to revoke the Certified Coach designation of a coach against whom a grievous complaint has been unresolved.
“While I’d like to believe that we would never have anything to do, because there wouldn’t be any issues or complaints,” says Debbie, “IAC is realistic about the need for such an initiative. The goal of the committee is to be open, fair, and responsive. We also want to encourage IAC members to use PERC as a marketing tool to which they can direct their clients for reassurance and credibility.”

In time, PERC also plans to draw on its experiences to develop case studies based on actual situations. These will be designed as valuable teaching tools in coach training environments and among coach study and support groups worldwide. For more details or to just “Ask PERC”, visit us at www.certifiedcoach.org or www.coachingcomplaints.org.

PERC is waiting to hear from you!

PERC Highlights Key Procedures

The highlights of Professional Ethics Review Committee (PERC) procedures are provided here to provide readers with a general understanding of how the process works. However, complete instructions for making inquiries or filing a complaint through PERC are available at www.coachingcomplaints.org.

• IAC accepts complaints about IAC member coaches only.
• No anonymous complaints are accepted. A complaint requires the name and address of the person filing the complaint as well as a detailed description of the incident, including the date of it occurred.
• All complaints are confidential and are available only to the director and the committee.
• Complaints must be made within a year of the alleged misconduct. However, there will be no time limits on complaints of sexual misconduct.
• When a complaint is received, the Director of IAC reviews it and within 15 days responds to the complainant, stating whether or not the complaint will be pursued.
• If it is to be pursued, the complaint is forwarded to the members of the committee who are assigned to the investigation.
• A member of the committee, designated by the director, then mediates a conversation between the complainant and the respondent.
• If the committee determines that there has been a breach of ethics, it will take one of four actions:
  1. issue a reprimand,
  2. require that the respondent engage the services of a mentor coach,
  3. require removal from membership or
  4. require that the coach retake the certification exam.
• The coach then has 15 days to appeal the committee’s decision.
• If the committee cannot arrive at a resolution, it will be referred to the IAC Board of Governors.

Lawrence, Saunders Appointed To PERC Leadership Positions

Debbie Lawrence, founder and president of Abundant Living Personal & Business Coaching, is the new Chair of the IAC Professional Ethics Review Committeee. She holds a degree in commerce, a professional manager’s designation and has completed advanced studies in vocational education.

Debbie works with clients predominantly throughout Atlantic Canada from her base in Truro, Nova Scotia. For Debbie, coaching is the happy result of a great deal of personal development, actively managing change in her own life, and insight she has gained from close to 20 years championing others in achieving their personal goals.

Having worked with thousands of individuals as an adult educator, facilitator, business consultant, and career coach, Debbie now dedicates her time to coaching business owners and working one-on-one with individuals looking to make changes in their personal and professional lives which will lead to success, balance and overall inner satisfaction.

An acclaimed public speaker, lecturer and workshop facilitator, Debbie’s signature workshop series, Choices: Letting Your Heart Sing©, is fast becoming a must for those who are looking to manifest their personal goals and dreams.

Michael Sanders, Founder & CEO of CONVERGENCE, a Greensboro, NC based human \systems consultancy, is the new chairperson of IAC’s Professional Ethics Review Committee (PERC).

Born in Atlanta Georgia, Michael grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. He attended Mercer University, Atlanta Christian College and Cincinnati Bible Seminary. He holds degrees in psychology, English, theology and history.

Michael is a certified behavioral consultant and relational awareness trainer and master coach. He brings to PERC over 20 years of experience coaching individuals and organizations. Michael’s diverse background allows him unique insight into individual as well as organizational needs, culture and leadership. His ability to see beneath the surface enables him to form effective dynamic working partnerships with both private and public organizations.

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We look forward to hearing from you!
Dr. Leelo-Dianne Bush, IAC Voice Editor
www.abundantlife-coach.com