notes below

Original class announcement

• Coaching Supervision as a distinct practice
• Developing Coaching Presence through Coaching Supervision
• Building the Internal Supervisor
• Relational Dynamics made easy through Supervision
• Parallel process - how supervisors work with this to support coaches
• What supervision sessions look like and feel like!

The speakers

Coaching Supervision is one of the hottest areas in the coaching profession. Currently, there are developments in the ICF, EMCC and CIPD which will see coaching supervision becoming not just more available to coaches but also an essential part of successful coaching practice.

Key questions considered on the call:

1. Supervision - is it supervising the coach or is it more than that?
2. What are the differences between mentoring, coaching the coach and supervision?
3. Is Coaching supervision about 'wandering techniques'?

Coaching Supervision is NOT policing; on the contrary safety, encouragement and a professional relationship between coach and supervisor which fosters collaborative learning, are crucial.

3 key elements of Supervision-on-Call, which was the forerunner of the Coaching Supervision Academy, were: Reflection, Insight ( collaboratively generated) and Support. Coaching Supervision needs to be built on real trust, acceptance of who the coach is and where the coach is professionally.

Distinctions:

• Mentoring: A mentor is someone who has been there before, works with practice building and development, shows the way, offers tools and skills.
• Coaching Supervision: Magnifying, amplifying the whole place where the coach and the client meet, works on the coach's own development, on relational dynamics between coach and client, on what is going on within the coach as they coach their clients (Coaching Presence), and occasionally offers tools and maps. It also helps to create clear boundaries for coaches working in organisations.

Training for Coaching Supervision
Needs to be at least 4 or 5 weekends in duration, with a reputable training body. Trainee supervisors learn how to hold the relationship between themselves, the coach and the client in one frame. They also learn how to supervise using different, established models of supervision.

Coaching Supervision as a DISTINCT PRACTICE.
Supervision for coaches is less intense than clinical supervision, is faster paced, focusses on the forward movement of the client as well as what is going on in the coach. It also offers tools and insights particular to the coaching profession and utilises the many ways which coaches learn.

Question - ethical matters.
Coaching does not yet have a place where a Coaching Supervisor can take a difficulty to, say, the ICF because coaching's professional bodies are only just getting on board with the practice of Coaching Supervision. I have not yet needed this because in my experience coaches are very willing to explore and grow and are also quick to refer onwards when they feel that their professional competence will not currently cover a particular piece of work.

What is process work?
It's a bit like slowing down a video of someone coaching, freezing the frame and exploring what might be going on within the coach - their body/mind/spirit/value system. Getting to know everything in the moment which might be driving Interventions or affecting Presence. It's noticing and bringing to awareness what's going on between coach and client which is influencing the work - so that the coach has choice in the moment and the flow is uninterrupted and enhanced. Supervision takes the connection between the coach and client very seriously - it is the 'place' where the magic happens - or not!

Is Coaching Supervision about difficulties with clients or can we all benefit?
We can all benefit. Coaching Supervision is somewhere that coaches can go, have a space to 'sit down' and reflect on all aspects of their practice- even of there is not currently a challenging situation to deal with. It aims to give an extra perspective, a place for collaborative reflection. And it builds the Internal Supervisor - when functioning at our best, 'all our pores are open', we are aware of every nuance and our Coaching Presence is very powerful.

Wouldn't the coach get this from their own coach?
Yes, some of this, depending on the experience and training of the coach.
Coaching Supervisor should be well qualified in the perception and power of process and should be able to work in a neutral way - ie for both coach and client simultaneously. Should also be experienced in understanding and application of psychology of relationships.

Is supervision more or less directive then normal coaching?
On the whole it is less directive though some teaching or training may be passed from the coaching supervisor to the coach.

What does a Coaching Supervision session look/feel like?

• Can be random - eg someone shows up once when there is an emergency, and never again.
• Some people or teams set up a set of sessions eg 4 sessions which are open-ended and explore all aspects of coaching practice.
• Some sessions are focussed on a particular theme - eg how to work with angry client.
• Sessions can be focussed or open ended.
• Might be some follow up.
• Sessions are learning environments - and often fun.

Do you give feedback to the coach or to both parties?
Feedback to the coach about the coach and the client - insofar as the supervisor can perceive that. It's like holding up a big mirror for the coach.

Concern: there is some quite superficial supervision going on (compared to what Edna is describing); this can be more like mentoring - eg coach's coach sharing their experience.

Coaching Supervision in Business, Executive and Corporate Coaching

• Many companies are hiring supervisors.
• Often their coaches are required to have supervision
• Internal coaches can have little formal coach training
• Coaching Supervision works with setting clear contracts in organisations - often there is a complex set of relationships.

INVITATION
I will be taking a Coaching Supervision Workshop on the road in the autumn.
Please send me an email if you want to be kept informed about dates and venues.

FORM YOUR OWN GROUP.
This can be a great way to experience Coaching Supervision via telephone. Four or Five (max) coaches hire me fortnightly or monthly. Cost is £120 per hour, split between the members - a truly inexpensive way to learn fast, deepen your practice and have a lot of fun on the way.

Future Masterclasses