You may have heard of coaching supervision, but you might not be clear about what it is and how it can help you as a coach. In this week's blog Sarah Bramall and Rebecca Daniel, two of our expert Coaching Academy trainers and Co-Founders of The Coaching Catalysts, share what coaching supervision is and how it can help you develop as a professional coach.
What is coaching supervision?
Coaching supervision is a meeting of professionals, where the supervisor is there to support the coach in reflecting on and developing their coaching practice.
Coaching supervision offers a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space for coaches to reflect on and develop their coaching. It is an opportunity to share both what is working well and an opportunity to discuss challenges that may arise in coaching sessions or relationships.
Who is supervision for?
Supervision is for anyone who is coaching. Regardless of your level of coaching experience, as soon as you enter a coaching relationship, you will start to notice dynamics or challenges that arise in interpersonal relationships. As a professional, you will want to explore what is working well and what could be better.
What can you bring to supervision?
There are no rules about what you can bring to the supervision table. Whatever is affecting you will impact on you, your energy and your work. You might choose to bring:
Supervision is an opportunity for you to:
What are the benefits of 1:1 supervision?
In 1:1 supervision, you have the opportunity to really dive deep into exploring your coaching practice. Over the course of time, your supervisor will be able to notice and challenge patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that may be impacting you and your coaching practice.
What are the benefits of group supervision?
In group supervision, you will benefit from the ‘hive mind’ of coaches who have experience and coaching niches that differ from your own. You will benefit from a variety of perspectives that will help to inform your thinking and coaching practice.
When is the right time to get started?
Sarah Bramall: “I joined supervision as soon as I qualified. Firstly, I’m a natural worrier - I ruminate and overthink. I knew I needed supervision to bring anything that was on my mind that I couldn’t share with my husband, my friends or my coaching buddies, without breaking confidentiality which is fundamental to the coaching relationship. Also, as an ex-teacher, I knew that if I had concerns about how I’d handled something or about a safeguarding issue, I had somewhere to take those concerns. Working in supervision with a supervisor and coaches who were all more experienced than me, really helped me to feel that I was supported. It took me a while to fall in love with supervision. It started as a ‘should’ for me. When I started my coaching business, I was still teaching, my 3 children were very young and to be honest I found it really hard to commit to 90 minutes a month and to slow down enough to be fully present in a reflective space. I also found it really daunting at first to be in a space of more experienced coaches, but I am so glad that I made that commitment and kept showing up, because with time I began to appreciate it as an incredibly valuable learning space, which without doubt, helped me to grow as a coach.”
Rebecca Daniel: “Despite being aware of the importance of supervision I held back from getting started until I qualified. You could say it was a lack of confidence and self-doubt in being in a room with qualified coaches and feeling exposed to my lack of experience - whatever it was I waited to be ready. These days I encourage others to do things before they’re ready. Upon reflection, I wish I had started earlier as I believe that being in supervision would have given me that confidence boost to put myself out there as a coach more and experiment with my coaching approach knowing I had a support network to go to with any questions or concerns.”
Ask the Coaches: How has supervision helped you?
When we asked our current supervisees to discuss their experience of supervision, here’s what they said about the impact supervision is having on their coaching:
Why we wouldn’t be without supervision?
Sarah Bramall: I engage in both 1:1 and in group supervision. It really helps me to know that when something comes up in my coaching practice, I have a safe space to take it. Supervision helps me to process and unravel what’s going on. I appreciate having a ‘container’ in which I know I won't be judged and that my supervisor will listen deeply and skilfully help me to explore what I have brought. So, I leave the supervision space feeling lighter and clearer.”
Rebecca Daniel: I enjoy the opportunity to be listened to and challenged on the beliefs I hold, both conscious and unconscious ones. It’s such a privilege to be in a space where you are listened to, truly heard and opportunities to enhance yourself awareness of you as a person, an individual, and as a coach and professional. In a group facilitation experience I thoroughly love sitting back to listen to the cases shared and explored by the other coaches and support them by sharing my own reflections and opinions.
As can be seen coaching supervision supports coaches by promoting continuous growth, fostering self-awareness, and building a supportive community of shared learning. To learn more about The Coaching Catalysts and others on The Coaching Academy's Coaching Supervision Team, please head over to our Coaching Supervision page.
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