Code of Conduct

Effective Date: March 1st, 2020 ยท Last Updated: Jan 1st, 2025

1. Introduction

At Mind Impact Ltd, d/b/a Mind Shift, we hold ourselves to the highest professional and ethical standards. Our Code of Ethics aligns with, and in several sections quotes verbatim, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Code of Ethics, the gold standard for the global coaching profession. This document spells out the principles, values, and non-negotiable behaviours that every Mind Shift coach, contractor, and team member must live by in every interaction with clients, colleagues, partners, and the public.

2. Core Values & Ethical Principles

We adopt the four ICF core values and their related principles because they capture the culture we strive for:

  • Professionalism: acting with integrity, delivering on commitments, and committing to lifelong learning.
  • Collaboration: partnering across disciplines, co-creating solutions, and respecting every stakeholder's expertise.
  • Humanity: showing kindness, openness, and humility; owning mistakes and learning from them.
  • Equity: treating every person with dignity, surfacing and addressing bias, and practicing inclusive coaching.

3. Professional Commitments

  • Think globally, act ethically. Consider the impact of every decision on clients, society, and the profession.
  • Stay sharp. Pursue continuous personal, professional, and ethical development.
  • Name and navigate power. Stay alert to power dynamics, systemic biases, and cultural filters; address them openly.
  • Handle dilemmas head-on. Seek supervision or peer consultation when facing grey areas.
  • Speak up. Address unethical conduct and protect whistle-blowers from retaliation.

4. Ethical Standards

4.1 Agreements & Scope

Transparent contracting: before work begins, we co-create a written coaching agreement covering roles, confidentiality, fees, logistics, and exit terms. Client or coach may end the engagement, subject to the terms of the agreement.

4.2 Confidentiality & Data Privacy

We protect all client information unless disclosure is required by law or imminent risk. We store, transmit, and dispose of data in compliance with GDPR, HIPAA (where applicable), and best-practice security protocols.

4.3 Professional Conduct & Conflicts of Interest

Boundaries first: no dual, sexual, or romantic relationships with clients or sponsors. We actively surface and mitigate personal biases; discrimination is zero-tolerance. If we shift into another professional capacity, we make that explicit.

4.4 Commitment to Delivering Value

We stay alert to whether coaching continues to serve the client's goals; if not, we renegotiate or refer. When circumstances impair our effectiveness, we pause, seek support, or step back.

4.5 Integrity & Accountability

All public statements about our qualifications and results are accurate and evidence-based. We choose actions that actively benefit clients and the profession, not merely avoid harm. Credentialed coaches meet ICF continuing-education requirements and are subject to the ICF Ethical Conduct Review process.

5. Reporting & Resolution

Raise ethical concerns with your coach or Mind Shift's Ethics Lead (hello@mind.us). Good-faith reports are protected; retaliation is not tolerated.

6. Compliance & Enforcement

Violations of this Code may lead to actions ranging from additional supervision or training to suspension or termination of affiliation.

7. Pledge of Ethics

Our coaches commit to uphold the Mind Shift Code of Ethics, honouring the ICF principles that underpin it, and model the integrity expected from our clients.