Why All Coaches Need Coach Supervision
As a coach or consultant you may be fully aware of what coach supervision is and others around you discuss or take part in it. But perhaps feel that it’s not for you.
You may possibly be an inexperienced coach who has only just ventured out into the coaching world and feel that you don’t have ‘enough client work’ to focus on.
On the other hand you may be very experienced and feel that you don’t need supervision – any problems that arise you can check-in with a colleague, so that’s okay.
Look at supervision from another perspective and you’ll see that supervision is a great opportunity for all coaches (and any others who are doing client-centred work even in groups). For example, trainers, facilitators, consultants or managers.
Now, did the words “earn more money” get your attention?
I personally believe that great coaches still need supervision and that this creates more successful coaches, which can ultimately lead on to greater business opportunities and better financial reward.
Brause, Collins and Froebel (Training Journal Aug 2008) likened coaches’ attitude to coaching supervision as a bit like the way we sometimes treat our own health, ie we only visit the doctor when something is wrong.
But like our health if we focus on maintaining and improving our minds and bodies we are less likely to have problems in the long run. Also, as coaches we are trying to encourage our clients to grow personally and professionally by developing themselves in the long term. So isn’t it a good idea to practise what we preach by developing our practise and ourselves through supervision?
So, what exactly is coach supervision?
Simply, it’s a time in which a coach can reflect on all aspects of their practise, gain feedback and importantly gain insights from a relationship that may involve third parties. It is an opportunity to develop super (greater/improved) vision (far sight, higher wisdom).
“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself” – Henry Miller
The main focus of supervision is:
- A key part of CPD and action learning of the coach, mentor or consultant.
- Helps the coach to develop their internal supervisor and become a better reflective practitioner.
- Provides a supportive space for the coach to process what they have absorbed from their clients and their clients system.
- Helps keep the coach honest and courageous, attending to what they are; not seeing, not hearing, not allowing themselves to feel, or not saying.
- Looks at where and how the coach may need to refer the client on to more specialist help.
A newly trained coach may be looking for reassurance that they are doing it right, whereas a more seasoned coach with more confidence may be looking for a supervisor to gain insight, wisdom and reflect from a wider systemic perspective.
As the coaching industry progresses and moves towards a profession with much more regulation and joined-up thinking from the various coaching bodies, the more our clients are switched on to what coach supervision is and how it could differentiate the mediocre coach from the great coach.
This can only help us as coaches to build our business because if coach supervision builds credibility then credibility leads to better quality. This in turn leads to better ‘quality’ clients which ultimately leads to more financial success.
Spark Coaching and Training offers a variety of coach supervision options and these can be tailored to suit your needs and budget. You can choose between attending Spark Group Supervision, and/or a mix of one to one supervision with me and attending group sessions.