What is supervision?
At its most basic level, supervision is an opportunity to work in partnership with another experienced coach (and potentially other coaches if group supervision), to explore and develop your coaching work with clients.
There are many definitions; here is the EMCC one:
There are 3 key elements that it covers:
The work may include:
What are the benefits of coaching supervision?
Supervision is also a requirement for most coaching professional bodies, even at the initial levels, both for accreditation/credentialling requirements and as also as part of their code of ethics.
There are many definitions; here is the EMCC one:
- Supervision is the interaction that occurs when a coach brings their coaching work experiences to a supervisor in order to be supported and to engage in reflective dialogue and collaborative learning for the development and benefit of the coach, their clients, and their organisations. European Mentoring and Coaching Council (2016)
There are 3 key elements that it covers:
- Formative: person as a coach - developing skills and understanding to increase your competency as coach
- Restorative: coach as person - providing support to ensure you are able to stay physically and emotionally healthy
- Normative: coach as professional – providing quality assurance that you are meeting ethical and other competency standards, whether from a professional body or other organisations that you work for
The work may include:
- analysis of client cases to open possibilities for new client interventions and coaching strategies
- reflection on the coach’s internal thought processes and assumptions
- revealing blind spots
- exploring ethical issues and contracting challenges
- deepening self-awareness
- brainstorming solutions to complex and challenging client situations
- appreciating and celebrating the accomplishments of the coach
- providing accountability with a sounding board for ideas
What are the benefits of coaching supervision?
- Improved client results through improving the quality and effectiveness of coaching
- Professional support for the coach to develop coaching skills and improved coaching strategies for challenging client situations.
- Competitive differentiation on corporate contracts to maintain and enhance coaching quality standards.
- Continuing professional development (CPD) of the coach. (Note that supervision is recognised by the ICF for core competency Continuing Coach Education (CCE) hours.)
Supervision is also a requirement for most coaching professional bodies, even at the initial levels, both for accreditation/credentialling requirements and as also as part of their code of ethics.