Coaching supervision is a formal process of professional support, which ensures continuing development of the coach and the effectiveness of his/her coaching practice through interactive reflection interpretative evaluation, and the sharing of expertise.
Bachkirova, Stevens & Willis (2005)

Coaching supervision is a collaborative process facilitating coaches (and coach supervisors) to grow their reflective practice with a view to continuous improvement and professional development, client safety and the strengthening of professional identity. The process considers the entire system surrounding the supervisee and their client work and seeks to bring value to all those stakeholders connected to that work.
Clutterbuck, Whitaker & Lucas (2016)

Coaching supervision is a formal and protected time for facilitating a coach’s in-depth reflection on their practice with a Coaching Supervisor. Supervision offers a confidential framework within a collaborative working relationship in which the practice, tasks, process and challenges of the coaching work can be explored. The primary aim of supervision is to enable the coach to gain in ethical competency, confidence and creativity so as to ensure best possible service to the coaching client, both coachees and coaching sponsors. Supervision is not a ‘policing’ role, but rather a trusting and collegial professional relationship.
Association for Coaching (2018)

European Mentoring and Coaching Council (2016)

Supervision is the interaction that occurs when a coach brings their coaching work experiences to a supervisor in order to be supported and to engage in reflective dialogue and collaborative learning for the development and benefit of the coach, their clients, and their organisations.

Read More

International Coaching Federation

Coaching supervision focuses on the development of the coach’s capacity through offering a richer and broader opportunity for support and development. Coaching supervision creates a safe environment for the coach to share their successes and failures in becoming masterful in the way they work with their clients.

Read More

Coaching Supervision, Coaching, Mentor Coaching – some distinctions

• Coaching is designed to help clients achieve their objectives through self-awareness, goal setting, and action planning.
• Mentor coaching for an ICF coach credential is focused on developing the core competencies and skills required for coaching.
• Coaching supervision comprises a reflective space in which the coach and supervisor explore coaching quality, including ethical practice, the coach’s development and growth and the impact of the work on the coaching, in the service of the client work.

Who can benefit from coaching supervision?

• Professional coaches in private practice
• Internal corporate coaches
• Team coaches
• Agile coaches
• Mentors
• Leaders trained in coaching skills

The benefits of coaching supervision

• Improved client results through improving the quality and effectiveness of coaching
• Professional support for the coach to develop coaching skills and improved coaching strategies for challenging client situations.
• Competitive differentiation on corporate contracts to maintain and enhance coaching quality standards.
• Continuing professional development (CPD) of the coach. Note that supervision is recognised by the ICF for core competency Continuing Coach Education (CCE) hours.

Form and content of coaching supervision

Supervision can be provided in a one-to-one or group setting, either face-to-face or virtually.

The work may include:

• analysis of client cases to open possibilities for new client interventions and coaching strategies
• reflection on the coach’s internal thought processes and assumptions
• revealing blind spots
• exploring ethical issues and contracting challenges
• deepening self-awareness
• brainstorming solutions to complex and challenging client situations
• appreciating and celebrating the accomplishments of the coach
• providing accountability with a sounding board for ideas

Reflection and Reflective Practice in Coaching Supervision

Reflection can be defined as ‘the in-depth consideration of events, situations, words and actions in order to achieve a deeper and clearer understanding of them and how you view yourself through them.
Iordanou, Hawley, & Iordanou (2017 pp. 94)

Reflective practice is the ability to step away from your work and identify patterns, habits, strengths and limitations in your work and/or within the system you work in and is the foundation of supervision.
Turner, Lucas & Whitaker (2018, pp. 25)

Reflecting helps you consider what you have done, how you and your client behaved, what the outcomes were, how you might have handled things differently.
Hay, J. (2007, p 7)

The next step is to consider how the insights from reflection inform your practice and future client sessions i.e. what we have learnt.

If you would like to see the official codes of ethics and conduct used by organisations relevant to coaching and coaching supervision, these are in the Codes of Practice section.

You might also like to explore:

• Ethical Awareness or Scenarios to explore ethics in practice.
• Approaches and Models – some different ways of working through ethical issues that arise, some developed specifically with coaching in mind.