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Unless you have come from the field of counseling/therapy, you may not be familiar with a process called “supervision.” In fact, most coaches are unaware of the importance and value of supervision and few engage in supervision on a regular basis.
In their paper, ”Developing Coaching Supervision Practice: An Australian case study” (2009), Hilary Armstrong and Mandy Geddes are very convincing of the utter necessity of coaching supervision. Coaching supervision involves a process of exploring through experience, reflection, inquiry and action, any personal, relational, professional and contextual issues arising from coaching practice.
Supervision has three functions:
1. LEARNING to enhance professional craft knowledge
2. INSIGHT to enhance self-awareness for self-regulation
3. OUTSIGHT to enhance consideration of influence of the whole system through reflection
Why is it effective?
*It provides a reflective space where coaches can talk about and reflect on events in their practice and themselves.
*It is a place where coaches are challenged, validated and held accountable by peers and supervisors.
*It provides a community of practice and a place for networking and professional development.
*It is an extension of the learning space where coaches share expertise and experience.
Coaching Commons contributors have the opportunity to join a free Coaching Supervision Group.
By making a comment on one of our conversations, you will be awarded a free ReciproCoach coin. With this gift, you can join the ReciproCoach Community and use your coin to join a Coaching Supervision Group.
If you are not yet a ReciproCoach, you can signup for free here: http://www.reciprocoach.com/signup.php
If you use the same email address that you use in the ReciproCoach Community to post posts at the Coaching Commons, you’ll automatically be rewarded with up to one free ReciproCoach coin per month with a maximum of 6 per year. That’s 6 months of free monthly group supervision!
If you need more convincing about the necessity of supervision for any practising professional coach, you can download Hilary Armstrong and Mandy Geddes’ complete paper by clicking here.
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There are 8 Responses so far...
This article doesn’t mention the chief benefit of coaching supervision, which is that clients get more effective coaching when the coach is getting supervised. The coach also gets greater peace of mind, especially when dealing with challenging clients.
Coaching supervision isn’t a new idea, but it’s usually called mentor coaching. The coach uses their own coach as a sounding board and source of additional ideas for coaching clients more effectively. Perhaps it should even be mandatory for coaches who have been coaching less than five years. Even those of us who are veterans turn to other coaches for coaching and advice on how to handle new challenges.
Thanks Julia, for pointing out that obvious one! Clients DO get more effective coaching when the coach is getting supervised!
I also used to say that supervision is otherwise known as mentoring, but after reading the above mentioned paper, I decided forevermore to differentiate.
I now define mentoring as when another coach ACTUALLY HEARS YOU COACH and provides feedback on your actual coaching process. Supervision on the other hand indicates to me A GROUP PROCESS in which you use other coaches (multiple, not just one) in the group as sounding boards and sources of additional ideas, as you suggest. I guess supervision could technically be with one coach as your “supervisor” (and I think in therapy they do it like this also – can a therapist-coach confirm please?), but actually the paper above refers to group supervision, and in my experience so far, the multiple dimensions of the group, as opposed to one person who may be seen as the expert in an expert-novice relationship, is exceptionally valuable.
Kerryn Griffiths
ReciproCoach >>> Where coaches go for coaching
http://www.ReciproCoach.com
Hi Kerryn,
I’ve registered to ReciproCoach with the same email I am now posting a comment.
I’ve always had my doubts on “why a coach needs a coach”?? I’ve always thought that we (coaches) should seek the inner Coach, and not depend on another external coach. That’s why I am a bit reluctant to join the circle, but I will give it a try.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Sergi
Hi Sergi,
I used to think I needed to be my own coach too… since ReciproCoach though, I wouldn’t be without an external coach. They can simply see things I can’t and help me to discover things I doubt if I’d discover without them – well, maybe I would make the discoveries EVENTUALLY, but coaching certainly speeds up my discoveries. The double benefit is that I get the professional development of being coached by another coach too – I’m always learning how to coach differently.
I think it’s certainly POSSIBLE to have an inner coach… interestingly, the inner coach becomes stronger the more coaching you receive!
I look forward to matching you up with a ReciproCoach and ReciproClient Sergi!
Kerryn Griffiths
ReciproCoach >>> Where coaches go for coaching
http://www.ReciproCoach.com
I have found that being coached is incredibly important for coaches – it helps to improve our bedside manner when we have a firm understanding of what it means to be a client as well! I have found this with ReciproCoach as well as the supervision group that Kerryn has organised.
The thing about coaching (and most self employment, actually) is that the “inner coach” or “inner voice” can become distorted when it’s the only voice we hear. If our own inner voice has a particular leaning, how do we know if our judgement is on or off? I understand that it’s a matter of trusting yourself but without ANY external feedback at all, it can become increasingly difficult to make that call. I have found it effective to talk through some of my concerns or difficulties with fellow coaches, particularly because they have such diverse experiences, to get their feedback about how I should proceed with clients. As much as I wish it, neither my clients nor I have all of the answers so I am constantly surprised with some of the discoveries I make through bouncing around ideas.
I highly recommend supervision or mentoring or forums such as this.
I want to echo what Jo said and I quote –“I have found that being coached is incredibly important for coaches – it helps to improve our bedside manner when we have a firm understanding of what it means to be a client as well!”
I’ve been involved with coaching of coaches – ‘supervision’ – for many years now and guess I can see myself amongst the veterans. My work has been mostly in the field of Post-Traumatic Growth – and I completed my PhD in 2003 on the topic of self-care, i.e. engaging in meaningful supervision the Solution-Focused way. I am also a “Chartered Mentor” in South Africa. The professional bodies I belong to have not been prescriptive about supervision – as yet.
I do believe this is a very important topic and as with all things good it will take time and dedication for coaches unfamiliar with the benefits to “catch on”.
Really good point Elta… yes, it will take (and is taking!) time for it to catch on. It’s funny, when I get into something and experience the value, I can’t understand why everyone’s not doing it
I guess the more we can let people know about it and also provide easy and accessible opportunities to experience it, the faster it will grow.
We have developed so far one regular group at ReciproCoach that suits both coaches in Europe who are available in the morning and also coaches in Asia-Pacific who are available afternoon/evening. We are now keen to establish a second group that suits North-American afternoon/evening and Asia-Pacific morning.
Kerryn Griffiths
ReciproCoach >>> Reciprocal coaching, mentoring & supervision
http://www.ReciproCoach.com
Thank you for bringing up the subject of coaching supervision Kerryn. I just want to share that I’ve participated in two of your supervision groups so far and I’ve left each one excited and inspired. Its just a wonderful space to share ideas and experiences, brainstorm solutions, hear others’ points of view, practice coaching and much much more. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I also agree with what has been said by others about the value and necessity of coaching supervision for the coaching profession. We don’t expect our clients to have 360 degree vision, so why would we think we have it for ourselves?