#163 ‘I know I should have coaching supervision, but setting up my coaching business is getting in the way.’
There is a mismatch between the attitude coaches have toward supervision and their actual engagement with it. In a nutshell, coaches believe they should have supervision, but many find reasons not to.
In this article, I will share the evidence, address some of the challenges that get in the way and make you an offer you can’t refuse!
Findings
A survey in German-speaking countries in 2023 resonates with my experience here in the UK. The survey found:
Coaches overwhelmingly have a positive attitude towards supervision, and notably those who have more supervision value it the most.
Coaches believe the primary purpose of coaching supervision is to help them develop (47%), for quality control (30%), support them through their challenges (18%), and to combat the loneliness and isolation of being a coach (5%). In reality it is all of these things!
Coaches benefit most from the moments in supervision where they learn something new about themselves, suddenly gain a new perspective or spontaneously generate brilliant ideas.
73% of coaches access multiple forms of supervision – usually peer supervision where groups of coaches meet without the help of a qualified supervisor, and formal coaching supervision with a supervisor either in groups or one-to-one.
Coaches are more likely to discuss coaching methods in peer supervision, whereas they are more likely to explore challenging cases with a coaching supervisor.
Why is there a mismatch between attitude and behaviour?
The top reasons coaches don’t hire a supervisor:
They choose to attend a peer network where they can discuss their challenges.
Clients do not require them to have supervision.
It is too expensive.
Where coaches do engage in supervision, the top reasons they choose not to access it more often are:
Lack of time.
A perceived lack of good supervisors (or not enough transparency about their background).
Their expectations of supervision have not been met when they have engaged. This last reason was cited by 28% of survey respondents.
What is your experience?
If these findings resonate with you; if you want to reveal your blind spots, explore challenging cases and achieve breakthrough moments to develop your coaching practice, but are fearful of supervision - perhaps you are among the 28% whose expectations of supervision have not been met in the past – I feel you. If you feel you do not have the time or cannot find the right supervisor with the right experience, I want to help. In short, if you believe the business of being a coach is getting in the way of developing yourself into the coach you want to be, I have a no-risk solution.
What is my experience?
The survey’s findings really resonated with me, because they are very similar to the reasons I set up Grow the Coach in 2020. I am an EMCC-accredited coaching supervisor. With a background in OD consultancy (mostly in financial services, local government and housing), I have delivered over 1,500 hours of coaching and coaching supervision. I have supervised 120 coaches and continue to supervise many of them one-to-one and/or in groups. I work with coaches at all career levels, from those in training, those who are newly qualified just setting up their business, right through to mid-career coaches and ‘master’ coaches.
You need to feel psychologically safe to engage in supervision.
You need to have a supervision plan that matches where you are in your practice and grows as your practice grows.
You need a supervisor who is experienced, affordable and easy to access.
You perhaps need to ‘try before you buy’, so that you can be sure the experience will match your expectations.
What next?
That is why I am trialling large group supervision this year, aimed specifically at new coaches yet to experience the full value of supervision. I believe the approach has the potential to provide newly qualified coaches the support they need to get started, hone their coaching skills, and realise the value that supervision brings to their personal and professional development.
To try out this idea, I am offering up to 24 places to join me in piloting the approach. Twelve places have already been reserved, so hurry. I expect this offer to book up soon.
Pilot: large open supervision group:
Up to 24 coaches in the group
Suitable for coaches-in-training, newly qualified coaches, and coaches who are establishing their practice
Introductory webinar
Group supervision: two 2-hour online group supervision sessions
Peer coaching: two 90-minute online sessions of coaching practice, observing each other coach and providing feedback to each other in triads
Investment in your CPPD
You commit to attend both group supervision sessions & provide feedback
Peer coaching is optional (yet highly recommended)
FREE, and will commence once we have at least eight participants
To find out more, apply for a place https://tinyurl.com/GrowtheCoachPilot
