Best Executive Coach in Asia 2026 (Asia Business Outlook) · Times of India Columnist · 570+ Google Reviews

Dr Krishna Athal Life & Executive Coach
Book a Free Consultation
Principles of practice

Ethical Code of Conduct

As a Certified Life & Executive Coach , I follow the professional standards and ethical principles of the International Coaching Institute (ICI) . These principles guide how I contract, maintain boundaries, protect confidentiality, work within coaching scope and conduct every coaching relationship.

4 sections ~5 min read Aligned with ICI professional standards
Section I

Responsibility to Clients

As a Life & Executive Coach, I:
  1. Explain and ensure that, prior to or at the initial meeting, my coaching Client(s) and Sponsor(s) understand the nature and potential value of coaching, the nature and limits of confidentiality, financial arrangements, and any other terms of the coaching agreement.
  2. Create an agreement/contract regarding the roles, responsibilities and rights of all parties involved with my Client(s) prior to the commencement of services.
  3. Maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with all parties as agreed upon. I am aware of and agree to comply with all applicable laws that pertain to personal data and communications.
  4. Have a clear understanding of how information is exchanged among all parties involved during all coaching interactions.
  5. Have a clear understanding with both Clients and Sponsors or interested parties about the conditions under which information will not be kept confidential, for example illegal activity, if required by law, pursuant to valid court order or subpoena, or imminent or likely risk of danger to self or to others. Where I reasonably believe one of the above circumstances is applicable, I may need to inform the appropriate authorities.
  6. When working as a Coach, I manage conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest with my coaching client(s) through coaching agreement(s) and ongoing dialogue. This includes addressing organisational roles, responsibilities, relationships, records, confidentiality and other reporting requirements.
  7. Maintain, store and dispose of records, including electronic files and communications, in a manner that promotes confidentiality, security and privacy and complies with applicable laws, the Privacy Policy and the Coaching Agreement. I seek to retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for legitimate coaching, administrative, safeguarding, accounting, legal or dispute-resolution purposes, and to use technology-assisted coaching services responsibly.
  8. Work within the scope of coaching and within my competence. Coaching is non-clinical and does not diagnose or treat mental-health or medical conditions. Where a Client’s needs fall outside coaching scope, or where another form of qualified professional support would be more appropriate, I discuss this openly and may pause, end or refer the Client to another suitable professional or resource.
  9. Respect all parties’ right to terminate the coaching relationship at any point for any reason during the coaching process, subject to the provisions of the agreement.
  10. Am sensitive to the implications of having multiple contracts and relationships with the same Client(s) at the same time in order to avoid conflict of interest situations.
  11. Am aware of and actively manage any power or status difference between the Client and me that may be caused by cultural, relational, psychological or contextual issues.
  12. Disclose to my Clients the potential receipt of compensation and other benefits I may receive for referring my Clients to third parties.
  13. Assure consistent quality of coaching regardless of the amount or form of agreed compensation in any relationship.
Section II

Responsibility to Practice and Performance

As a Life & Executive Coach, I:
  1. Follow the ICI professional standards in my coaching practice and professional interactions. If I become aware of conduct that may breach these standards, I address it responsibly and, where appropriate, seek guidance or refer the matter to a relevant professional or formal authority.
  2. Expect any support personnel who may have access to coaching, administrative or client information to respect appropriate confidentiality, privacy, professional-boundary and ethical standards consistent with my ICI-aligned practice.
  3. Commit to excellence through continued personal, professional and ethical development.
  4. Recognise my personal limitations or circumstances that may impair, conflict with or interfere with my coaching performance or my professional coaching relationships. I will reach out for support to determine the action to be taken and, if necessary, promptly seek relevant professional guidance. This may include suspending or terminating my coaching relationship(s).
  5. Resolve any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest by working through the issue with relevant parties, seeking professional assistance, or suspending temporarily or ending the professional relationship.
Section III

Responsibility to Professionalism

As a Life & Executive Coach, I:
  1. Follow the ICI professional standards in my coaching practice and professional interactions. If I become aware of conduct that may breach these standards, I address it responsibly and, where appropriate, seek guidance or refer the matter to a relevant professional or formal authority.
  2. Expect any support personnel who may have access to coaching, administrative or client information to respect appropriate confidentiality, privacy, professional-boundary and ethical standards consistent with my ICI-aligned practice.
  3. Commit to excellence through continued personal, professional and ethical development.
  4. Recognise my personal limitations or circumstances that may impair, conflict with or interfere with my coaching performance or my professional coaching relationships. I will reach out for support to determine the action to be taken and, if necessary, promptly seek relevant professional guidance. This may include suspending or terminating my coaching relationship(s).
  5. Resolve any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest by working through the issue with relevant parties, seeking professional assistance, or suspending temporarily or ending the professional relationship.
Section IV

Responsibility to Society

As a Life & Executive Coach, I:
  1. Avoid discrimination by maintaining fairness and equality in all activities and operations while respecting local rules and cultural practices. This includes but is not limited to discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability or military status.
  2. Recognise and honour the contributions and intellectual property of others, only claiming ownership of my own material. I understand that a breach of this standard may subject me to legal remedy by a third party.
  3. Am honest and work within recognised scientific standards, applicable subject guidelines and boundaries of my competence when conducting and reporting research.
  4. Am aware of my and my clients’ impact on society. I adhere to the philosophy of “doing good” versus “avoiding bad.”
Professional standard

International Coaching Institute Standards

My coaching practice follows ICI’s professional standards of ethics, competence, real-coaching assessment and responsible practice. ICI states that its faculty are practising coaches held to a professional code and that its curriculum is aligned to international coaching competency standards.

View ICI Standards
Read alongside

The rest of the framework

Coaching Agreement The 14 clauses that govern every coaching relationship. Read → Privacy Policy How personal information, coaching records and sensitive intake data are handled. Read → Return & Refund Policy How payments, cancellations and refunds are handled. Read → Coaching Plans & Pricing Foundation, Growth, Action and Mastery – choose your pace. View plans → Coachee Onboarding The three steps between you and your first session. Start here →

Coaching you can depend on

These principles are the ground every session stands on. Experience them first-hand in a free 15-minute consultation.

Book a free 15-min call Contact the team