Coach supervision

'Supervision' for coaches has many different connotations. Here are a few of my favourites:

• Supervision is a formal arrangement for coaches to discuss their work regularly with someone who is experienced in coaching, supervision, tools and techniques.
• It has sometimes been called 'Super Vision' as a way of demonstrating that it is not restrictive or prescriptive but rather a process for increasing creativity.
• Encouragement and facilitation of the ongoing self development, continued professional development and learning of the coach.
• Confidential, non-judgmental space for the coach to explore what is going on in their coaching, to discuss what issues come up for them and to have meaningful conversations about these issues.
• Observed coaching

What are the benefits?

• Continuous improvement for you the coach, the coachee and if applicable the organisation.
• Personal development for you the coach by monitoring client work and developing existing or new skills in a supportive environment.
• Maximising the coaching investment by diminishing risk and enhancing attention to the organisational drivers.
• Maintaining standards and ethics - coaching applied ethically and effectively.
• Growing and developing the profession by focusing on outstanding results and coaching.

My supervision

Together we reflect on your coaching, the coach/client partnership, and the organisation(s) and environment(s) in which you work as a coach. This focus enables you to be the best possible coach for your clients, which in turn maximises the results.

I don't use one particular model rather take a flexible, holistic and eclectic approach agreeing timings and needs that work for your organisation, your clients and your own professional development. As well as reflective practise, I can listen to coaching recordings and provide feedback on what I observe in the session.

I am empathic, pragmatic, down-to-earth, structured, action-oriented, and focused whilst taking a holistic approach. I am there to support you with your specific coaching clients as well as your overall development, as a coach.

I work over the phone and face-to-face. Coach supervision can be individual or within a group.

How often?

There are varied views on the frequency of supervision sessions. It depends on your current clients, developmental needs and experience. I see regularity as important and recommend one session every 4 -6 weeks although some of my clients are less frequent - it depends on the amount of coaching you are doing.

For experienced coaches, the emphasis will be reflective practise with occasional coaching skills observation. We can all learn something new or else we can get into bad habits!

For more information and explanation from the ICF.