Is Coaching Supervision worth the investment?
Recently, I was asked this question by a Human Resource practitioner seeking some support. She had found herself increasingly coaching Managers in her workplace and feeling challenged and exhausted by both the people and the issues raised.
So I thought I’d let fingers twiddle on the keyboard, as this seemed a general question most Coaches or internal consultants to their business coaching others would ask at some time in their career. Short answer is a big Yes but why?
How did I arrive at Supervision and become a Coach Supervisor?
As a professional practitioner I have coached and mentored employees, senior executives, leaders and managers at all levels for more than 25 years.
When “Coaching” evolved to the global phenomenon that it is now, and because I had not really ever shared my work and challenges with anyone formally, I found the initial journey into Supervision of my work both uncertain and uncomfortable and at the same time a new enticing adventure.
Although I had experienced some Supervision, whilst doing my Masters Research in the late 90’s, I didn’t have a real need for supervision in my work as a coach, or so I thought.
Some years ago I was led to Supervision by a colleague who was going to undertake a Diploma of Supervision with the Coaching Supervision Academy in the UK. This Diploma appeared at a time in my life when I was ready for more professionally and more importantly personally. I wanted to understand what being a Supervisor really entailed.
Ironically my colleague didn’t do the Diploma, I did, and became a convert.
This doesn’t mean I am a zealot about Supervision. People are open to and arrive at learning in their own sweet time. “When the student is ready the teacher will appear” – said Confucius. However I do believe that Supervision for Coaches requires greater leadership and education in Australia, where Supervision is still in its infancy, as a professional development opportunity.
There is growing research clearly showing that year on year more organisations are viewing “Supervision” as a selection criteria for the employment of external coaches. (Peter Hawkins Research and Presentation 5th International Coaching Supervision Conference, 2015 and the Ridler report 2015 www.ridlerreport.com.)