Coaching supervision at all levels, online and available to coaches across the UK, Ireland and Worldwide.
What is Coaching Supervision?
Supervision is perhaps unfortunately named, because of its implications of status dynamics - the idea that someone is watching over you! I prefer to describe it as professional reflective practice. It is a highly valuable and an essential part of developing any impactful coaching practice.
What are the Benefits of Coaching Supervision?
Supervision has many benefits. Many coaches work on their own and it can be a lonely experience. One of the benefits is that of being able to share your experiences, your recollection or anticipation of them and what you can learn about yourself as a result.
We often come across situations in coaching where we don’t know what to do, where we sense or know that an ethical boundary is being crossed. Ethical maturity is not just having a set of rules but being able to hold and work with a range of such challenges and we learn this, amongst other things, through supervision.
Also, by participating in coaching supervision, you can identify areas for improvement in your practice and make changes that will lead to better outcomes for your clients.
Above all, it will significantly enhance your self- awareness, your self-efficacy and your ability to self-regulate - the coaches’ superpower.
WHAT DOES COACHING SUPERVISION INVOLVE?
The major accrediting coaching bodies - ICF (International Coaching Federation), AC (Association for Coaching) and EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council) either require or recommend supervision as part of the accreditation process of any accredited coach.
They also stipulate the frequency of supervision in contrast to the amount of coaching hours undertaken. For each them, at entry level it is as follows:
ICF Credential-holders may submit up to 10 hours of Coaching Supervision (delivering or receiving) as core competency Continuing Coach Education (CCE) units toward their credential renewal.
AC 6 x 1 hour sessions per year.
EMCC considers that experienced practitioners require a minimum of four hours individual supervision per year, evenly distributed across twelve months. EMCC also considers that the minimum ratio of practice to supervision for an experienced practitioner should be 35 practice hours to 1 hour of supervision received.
Supervision involves meeting with a supervisor, usually for between an hour or two hours, to discuss and work on you and your coaching practice. The three elements named as an integral part of supervision are:
Normative
Helping you, as the coach with ethical dilemmas and challenges;
Formative
Giving you the space and context to develop as a person and as a coach; and
Restorative
Provisioning emotional, psychological and moral support.
HOW MUCH DOES COACHING SUPERVISION COST?
Coaches are at different stages in their careers and work in different environments and countries. Supervision engagements are priced taking that into consideration and I usually arrive at an agreed price that works for each client. This seems to work very well.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT COACHING SUPERVISION WITH ME.
It will come as no surprise that I ask the coaches who work with me what it is like. The main things they say are that I am:
Engaging, positive and purposeful.
Stretching, challenging and thought provoking.
Relaxed, calm and easy to work with.
Other words they have used include ‘grounded, reassuring, skilled, strategic and inspiring.
I like to be experimental and introduce different theories and methods to help create a learning edge and a stimulating environment. I bring a systemic lens to my work, something which I think is essential in the work of all coaches and team coaches. I am always learning and work in supervision myself, to ensure my practice is developing.
Want to find out more about Coaching Supervision with myself?
If you’d like to talk more about how coaching supervision works or find out what it would be like to work with me, I would be delighted to have a chat with you.
What You Said
RT
Senior OD business partner
NHS Nottingham
Working with John is always enriching and encouraging. He is a hugely skilled and committed tutor, coach and supervisor, with great knowledge and wisdom. I always leave my time with John with new reflections on who I am as a coach, a broader and deeper understanding of myself and insights to help refine my coaching practice.
DPK
Team Coach AND HR Consultant
Zagreb, Croatia
Merriam Webster dictionary says that the term supervision implies “a critical watching and directing of activities or a course of action”. This strict definition of the term is actually so inappropriate for the experience I have had with John as my supervisor in team coaching group supervision and also in our 1-1 interactions.
It is difficult to describe what John actually does, because it is not about “doing” but “being”. John has mastered the “being” competency of coaching so wonderfully. From the very beginning of each session, John creates a calm and welcoming environment, which is extremely important for supervision sessions. I feel encouraged to share all that is on my mind and in my heart and do not feel judged, but supported and empowered to continue coaching, despite of all the shortcomings I tend to ascribe to my coaching competencies.
I would recommend John to anyone who wishes to deepen their coaching expertise and who wants to grow with the support of an excellent coach supervisor and a warm and empathetic person.
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