ICF Coaching Foundations
What is Coaching (vs. therapy, mentoring, consulting)?
ICF Core Values and Ethical Guidelines
The ICF Definition of Coaching
The Coaching Mindset
🧭 ICF Coaching Foundations
🎯 What is Coaching?
Coaching, as defined by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), is “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” This definition emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and client-driven outcomes.
Unlike therapy, which often explores past trauma or mental health issues, coaching is forward-focused, aiming to unlock potential and support goal achievement. It differs from mentoring, which offers advice based on the mentor’s experience, and from consulting, which provides expert solutions. Coaches do not offer answers; they facilitate self-discovery.
Effective coaching honors the client’s wisdom and autonomy. The coach serves as a thinking partner, holding space, listening deeply, and asking powerful questions that help clients clarify goals, identify obstacles, and create action plans.
⚖️ ICF Core Values
The ICF is built on four foundational values that guide coach behavior:
- Integrity – Acting with honesty and accountability.
- Excellence – Consistently striving for quality and mastery.
- Collaboration – Valuing the collective contribution of the coaching community.
- Respect – Honoring the dignity, autonomy, and uniqueness of every individual.
These values underpin the ICF Code of Ethics and are central to professional conduct in coaching relationships.
🧠 The Coaching Mindset
A coaching mindset involves:
- Curiosity over judgment
- Presence over planning
- Partnership over direction
It includes a commitment to:
- Ongoing self-awareness and reflective practice
- Personal development and learning
- Managing bias and being culturally sensitive
- Creating an inclusive and safe environment
Coaches embody this mindset not just during sessions but as a way of being—both personally and professionally.
📜 ICF Ethical Guidelines
The ICF Code of Ethics outlines responsibilities in four key areas:
- Client-care – Respecting confidentiality, agreements, and client autonomy.
- Practice – Being competent, honest about credentials, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
- Professional conduct – Upholding integrity and ethical standards within the industry.
- Societal responsibility – Acknowledging the broader impact of coaching on communities and systems.
Ethics are not optional; they are a non-negotiable framework for professional practice and accountability.
🧩 Why Foundations Matter
A strong grounding in these foundations supports ethical, impactful, and sustainable coaching. Whether you’re pursuing an ICF credential or working with clients in informal settings, understanding these pillars enhances credibility, trust, and transformational outcomes.