Sprout Coaching Community Agreement and Code of Conduct
Our shared commitment
The Sprout Coaching leadership community brings together people with different identities, lived experiences, professional backgrounds and approaches to leadership.
That diversity is central to the value of the community. Everyone should feel welcomed, respected and able to contribute without being expected to represent an entire identity, profession, sector or community.
By joining, we agree to help create a confidential, inclusive and constructive space where members can think openly, challenge one another respectfully and learn from different perspectives.
How we will participate
Members agree to:
listen actively and give others space to contribute;
approach different experiences and perspectives with curiosity and respect;
challenge ideas and behaviours without attacking or judging the person;
avoid assumptions about somebody’s identity, circumstances, experience or intentions;
be willing to reflect on the impact of our words and actions, even where that impact was not intended;
contribute to other members’ development as well as seeking support for our own;
respect that people may contribute in different ways and may sometimes need time to think before speaking;
avoid repeatedly interrupting, speaking over others or dominating the discussion;
make a genuine effort to attend the Leadership Boardrooms and let Bianca know when we cannot attend.
Bianca will actively facilitate participation. This may include inviting quieter voices into the conversation, redirecting discussion, interrupting unhelpful patterns or asking somebody to create more space for others.
Missing a session will not affect a member’s standing within the community.
Confidentiality
What is shared in the community should remain within the community.
Members must not share another member’s identity, personal experiences, leadership situations or commercially sensitive information outside the group without their permission.
Members may share their own learning, but should do so without revealing information that could identify another person, their organisation or the situation discussed.
Sessions and community conversations must not be recorded, photographed, transcribed or screenshotted without prior permission from the facilitator and everyone affected.
Confidentiality does not prevent somebody from privately reporting a concern to Bianca, seeking help where there is a serious risk of harm or safeguarding concern, or making a disclosure required by law.
Although every member is expected to protect confidentiality, each person should use appropriate judgement when deciding what to share.
Behaviour we will not tolerate
We do not tolerate harassment, abuse, bullying, threats, intimidation, deliberate humiliation or discriminatory behaviour.
This includes, but is not limited to, derogatory comments or actions relating to race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, neurodivergence, religion or belief, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership, physical appearance or any other aspect of somebody’s identity.
Sexual harassment, unwanted sexual attention, sexualised language or imagery, hate speech and retaliation against somebody who raises a concern are not acceptable in sessions or any associated community space.
Serious harassment, abuse or other serious misconduct may result in immediate removal from a session and the community without a prior warning.
Where behaviour is concerning but not serious abuse or harassment, Bianca will normally address it proportionately. This may include a private conversation, clarification of expectations or a warning.
Connections without pressure
Members are welcome to build relationships and support one another outside formal sessions where this is mutually welcomed.
Please do not use the community primarily to sell services, recruit, seek introductions or make repeated unsolicited approaches to other members. An opportunity may be shared where it is relevant and appropriate, but individual members should be allowed to decide whether they wish to continue the conversation.
Information learned through the community must not be used for another member’s commercial, professional or personal disadvantage.
Raising a concern
If something makes you uncomfortable, you experience inappropriate behaviour or you are concerned about another member, please contact Bianca privately at hello@sproutcoaching.co.uk.
You do not need to raise the issue within the group or confront the person yourself.
Bianca will:
take the concern seriously;
listen without judgement;
consider the information available;
discuss with you what support or next steps may be appropriate;
protect your privacy as far as reasonably possible;
take proportionate action to protect members and the community.
It may sometimes be necessary to share limited information to understand what happened, respond fairly, protect another person or comply with the law. Where possible, Bianca will explain this before information is shared.
Possible responses include a private conversation, clarified expectations, a warning, limits on participation, removal from a session or removal from the community. Serious harassment, abuse or safety concerns may lead to immediate action.
Keeping the agreement useful
This agreement applies to Leadership Boardrooms, Practical Leadership Labs, online community spaces and other interactions connected with the community.
During the founding period, members may suggest practical improvements to this agreement. Minor changes may be agreed with the group, provided they do not reduce anyone’s contractual or statutory rights or materially change members’ obligations.
By joining the community, members agree to uphold these shared expectations and help create the kind of leadership space in which everyone can contribute, be challenged, learn and feel respected.