COMENSA Behavioural Standards — Summary

1. Professional Conduct

• Acts with integrity, honesty, and accountability

• Represents qualifications and experience truthfully

• Maintains appropriate boundaries with clients

• Avoids conflicts of interest or manages them transparently

• Upholds the reputation of the coaching profession

 In practice: You don’t oversell, mislead, or “perform coaching” — you embody professionalism consistently.

2. Ethical Practice

• Follows the COMENSA Code of Ethics

• Maintains confidentiality at all times

• Works within legal and organisational frameworks

• Recognises ethical dilemmas and responds appropriately

• Refers clients when issues fall outside coaching scope

 In practice: You know when not to coach — and when to refer to therapy, legal, or medical professionals.

3. Contracting & Agreements

• Establishes clear coaching agreements upfront

• Defines roles, responsibilities, boundaries, and expectations

• Ensures mutual understanding of outcomes and process

• Revisits and updates agreements when needed

 In practice: No vague coaching. Everything is explicit — purpose, scope, and success measures.

4. Coaching Presence & Relationship

• Demonstrates respect, empathy, and non-judgment

• Builds trust and psychological safety

• Remains fully present and attentive

• Adapts style to client needs

 In practice: The client feels seen, heard, and safe — not managed or controlled.

5. Communication Skills

• Listens actively and deeply

• Uses powerful, relevant questioning

• Reflects, paraphrases, and clarifies effectively

• Avoids leading, advising, or dominating

 In practice: You don’t give answers — you evoke insight.

6. Facilitating Awareness & Learning

• Supports clients to gain insight and new perspectives

• Challenges respectfully and appropriately

• Encourages self-reflection and responsibility

• Helps identify patterns, beliefs, and assumptions

 In practice: Breakthroughs come from the client — not from you “teaching.”

7. Goal Setting & Action

• Helps clients define clear, meaningful goals

• Supports action planning and accountability

• Encourages ownership of outcomes

• Tracks progress and learning

 In practice: Coaching leads to real-world change, not just conversation.

8. Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

• Engages in ongoing learning and supervision

• Reflects on own practice regularly

• Seeks feedback and improves skills

• Maintains competence and accreditation

 In practice: A coach is always evolving — never “finished.”

9. Cultural & Contextual Awareness

• Respects diversity (culture, race, gender, beliefs, etc.)

• Adapts coaching to the South African context

• Avoids bias, assumptions, or discrimination

 In practice: You coach the person in their world, not yours.

10. Self-Management

• Maintains emotional regulation and self-awareness

• Recognises personal triggers and biases

• Avoids projecting own agenda onto the client

• Practices appropriate self-care

 In practice: You don’t bring your baggage into the session.

 The Big Picture (Simple Way to Remember)

COMENSA behavioural standards come down to 5 core pillars:

• Be ethical

• Be professional

• Be present

• Facilitate, don’t fix

• Keep growing

 One-Line Definition

“COMENSA behavioural standards define how a coach consistently shows up — ethically, professionally, and in service of the client’s autonomy and growth.”

LEVEL 123 -  Coach Behavioral Framework - Overview in preparation for Comensa Behavioural Standards Questionaire which needs to be completed as part of credentialing to Level 1

1. Ethics & Professional Standards 

1. I maintain confidentiality of all client information.
   
   

2. I always act in the client’s best interests.
   
   

3. I avoid conflicts of interest in coaching engagements.
   
   

4. I respect the client’s values and beliefs without judgment.
   
   

5. I adhere to COMENSA’s code of ethics.
   
   

6. I clearly define boundaries in the coaching relationship.
   
   

7. I ensure informed consent is obtained from every client.
   
   

8. I disclose any relevant qualifications or limitations to clients.
   
   

9. I handle client feedback professionally and constructively.
   
   

10. I refer clients to other professionals when necessary.
    
    

11. I avoid coaching practices outside my competence.
    
    

12. I maintain professional integrity in all communications.
    
    

13. I respect client autonomy in making their own decisions.
    
    

14. I demonstrate fairness and transparency in contracts and fees.
    
    

15. I model ethical behavior in my coaching practice.
    
    

2. Coaching Presence & Professionalism 

16. I remain fully present and attentive during sessions.
    
    

17. I manage distractions to create a focused coaching environment.
    
    

18. I demonstrate confidence without arrogance.
    
    

19. I stay calm and composed under challenging circumstances.
    
    

20. I adapt my coaching style to meet client needs.
    
    

21. I create a safe, supportive space for clients.
    
    

22. I listen without interrupting or judging.
    
    

23. I maintain professional appearance and demeanor.
    
    

24. I am consistent and reliable in session scheduling.
    
    

25. I manage my time effectively within sessions.
    
    

26. I reflect on my coaching approach to enhance effectiveness.
    
    

27. I demonstrate patience when clients struggle.
    
    

28. I respond to clients thoughtfully, not reactively.
    
    

29. I celebrate client achievements and progress.
    
    

30. I manage my emotions to avoid influencing the client unduly.
    
    

3. Active Listening & Communication 

31. I listen for both verbal and non-verbal cues.
    
    

32. I paraphrase and summarize client statements accurately.
    
    

33. I ask open-ended questions to deepen exploration.
    
    

34. I use clarifying questions to ensure understanding.
    
    

35. I reflect back emotions expressed by the client.
    
    

36. I avoid giving unsolicited advice.
    
    

37. I maintain an encouraging and positive tone.
    
    

38. I use silence effectively to allow client reflection.
    
    

39. I check for understanding regularly.
    
    

40. I encourage clients to elaborate on ideas and feelings.
    
    

41. I use language that is inclusive and non-discriminatory.
    
    

42. I provide constructive feedback respectfully.
    
    

43. I adapt my communication style to the client’s preference.
    
    

44. I confirm agreements and actions with the client.
    
    

45. I avoid leading the client toward my own opinions.
    
    

46. I encourage clients to explore alternative perspectives.
    
    

47. I listen without imposing assumptions or biases.
    
    

48. I maintain focus on the client, not myself.
    
    

49. I use questioning to stimulate insight, not judgment.
    
    

50. I track patterns in client communication for progress.
    
    

4. Goal Setting & Achievement 

51. I help clients clarify specific, measurable goals.
    
    

52. I assist clients in prioritizing their goals effectively.
    
    

53. I explore obstacles preventing goal achievement.
    
    

54. I support clients in creating actionable plans.
    
    

55. I help clients maintain accountability for commitments.
    
    

56. I check progress toward goals regularly.
    
    

57. I encourage clients to adjust goals when necessary.
    
    

58. I help clients align goals with personal values.
    
    

59. I support clients in celebrating milestones.
    
    

60. I guide clients to define success in their own terms.
    
    

61. I facilitate brainstorming for creative solutions.
    
    

62. I encourage clients to take ownership of decisions.
    
    

63. I challenge clients constructively to stretch growth.
    
    

64. I help clients develop resilience when facing setbacks.
    
    

65. I assist clients in visualizing outcomes to strengthen motivation.
    
    

5. Emotional Intelligence & Awareness 

66. I notice and acknowledge my own emotional triggers.
    
    

67. I regulate my emotions to maintain clarity in coaching.
    
    

68. I observe client emotions without judgment.
    
    

69. I empathize with client experiences authentically.
    
    

70. I recognize subtle shifts in client mood or energy.
    
    

71. I help clients name and explore their emotions.
    
    

72. I avoid minimizing client feelings.
    
    

73. I encourage clients to reflect on emotional patterns.
    
    

74. I maintain sensitivity to cultural differences in emotional expression.
    
    

75. I model emotional intelligence through my behavior.
    
    

76. I use emotional insights to inform coaching interventions.
    
    

77. I remain flexible when emotions change the coaching direction.
    
    

78. I acknowledge emotional progress alongside behavioral progress.
    
    

79. I help clients manage stress and overwhelm effectively.
    
    

80. I maintain an emotionally safe environment for risk-taking.
    
    

6. Continuous Learning & Professional Growth 

81. I seek feedback from peers and mentors regularly.
    
    

82. I engage in ongoing professional development.
    
    

83. I reflect on session outcomes for continuous improvement.
    
    

84. I stay informed of new coaching techniques and research.
    
    

85. I review and update my coaching goals periodically.
    
    

86. I participate in professional coaching communities.
    
    

87. I track my coaching hours and training accurately.
    
    

88. I review ethical standards and compliance updates regularly.
    
    

89. I experiment with new approaches while remaining client-focused.
    
    

90. I adapt lessons from client feedback to improve my coaching.
    
    

91. I maintain a personal development plan.
    
    

92. I evaluate my coaching style for effectiveness.
    
    

93. I mentor or support other coaches when possible.
    
    

94. I celebrate my professional achievements responsibly.
    
    

95. I identify gaps in my knowledge and address them proactively.
    
    

96. I study successful coaching case studies for learning.
    
    

97. I set development goals to advance to higher credential levels.
    
    

98. I track client outcomes to measure coaching impact.
    
    

99. I stay curious and open-minded in all coaching situations.
    
    

100. I commit to lifelong growth as a professional coach.