Speaker: Richard Hannasch, ACC, BCC
Date: Thursday, Sept 17, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM CST
Location: Zoom
CEU: Pending
Description:
"Ethics shmethics!" Some people dismiss ethics as just a list of rules, a compliance requirement, or common sense. In coaching, ethics are far more than that. They are the foundation of trust, professionalism, and transformational coaching relationships. In this highly interactive session, we'll bring the 2025 International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics to life through surprising activities, real-world coaching dilemmas, lively discussions, and a practical decision-making tool. Whether you're a new coach or a seasoned professional, you'll strengthen your ability to recognize ethical gray areas, make sound decisions, and coach with greater confidence, integrity, and professionalism.
Note: Please review the code of ethics prior to the session, HERE.
What to Expect: Coaching rarely breaks down at the extremes — it breaks down in the gray zone, where good coaches make judgment calls with no clean answer. This session puts participants in that zone. Through live polling, breakout casework, and real dilemmas, attendees pressure-test their instincts against the ICF Coaching Body of Competencies and Knowledge (COACHBOCK™), leaving with a practical decision framework and a sharper, more confident ethical compass.
What you will learn:
1. Identify and apply in real coaching decisions the four ICF core values (Professionalism, Collaboration, Humanity, Equity).
2. Distinguish between rule-based and principle-based ethical reasoning.
3. Apply the ICF Code of Ethics to ambiguous, real-world confidentiality and boundary situations.
4. Use a framework to work through an ethical dilemma in the moment.
Richard Hannasch is an executive and leadership coach with decades of experience helping organizations strengthen leadership pipelines, accelerate team performance, and achieve business goals through people. He has coached and developed thousands of leaders and professionals worldwide, guiding them to become effective decision-makers, collaborators, and change leaders. At Aware and Willing, LLC, he has worked with executives, leaders, and teams across financial services, IT, health care, agribusiness, higher education, manufacturing, government, and other sectors. He has served clients from all continents except Antarctica.
In his 35-year career at Principal Financial Group, a Fortune 500 company, Dick played key roles in building its coaching culture to support business growth and leadership development, and he co-led its effort to build its global leadership talent assessment program. Clients and colleagues describe Dick as a truth teller, a judge who wants what is right and fair for people, and a comedian. His coaching style delivers insight leaders can act on immediately—building trust, sharpening leadership skills, and driving stronger business outcomes—for lasting professional and personal growth.