Navigating Power Dynamics in Coaching Supervision

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Website – Coaching Supervision

Article - The power of reflective supervision in coaching leadership

Article – Building Trust with Family Businesses

Article – In Conversation with Shruti Sonthalia

257: Power Dynamics in Coaching Supervision: Naming, Navigating and Sharing It with Shruti Sonthalia

In this Episode

How does power truly manifest in coaching supervision? Host Helen O’Grady sits down with executive coach and supervisor, Shruti Sonthalia to unpack the often overlooked but critical dimension of power in supervision. Together, they explore how power is an inherent element of all human relationships and why acknowledging its presence is essential for supervisors, coaches, and leaders. From "power over" and "power under" to cultivating shared power, this episode dives deep into the ways identity, privilege, and cultural context influence supervision relationships.

Listeners will hear what red flags indicate power imbalance and practical strategies that foster shared power in supervision. The conversation also sheds light on systemic dynamics, the challenges supervisors face in balancing relational warmth with ethical responsibility, and the transformative potential of curiosity and humility. If you’re a coach, coaching supervisor, or leader coach seeking to navigate complex dynamics with greater self-awareness and impact, this episode offers a rich and thought-provoking guide to embodying shared power.

You Will Learn

Why power is an unavoidable and essential element of all coaching supervision relationships
How supervisors can consciously foster shared power dynamic within the coaching supervision relationship
The impact of broader systemic and identity issues on a shared power relationship

Guest Bio

Shruti Sonthalia is a highly accomplished Master Certified Coach (ICF), faculty at the Academy of Executive Coaching (UK), and speaker at global forums including ICF Global Converge. She has coached C-suite leaders across industries such as tech, healthcare, finance, and development. A past ICF Young Leaders Award recipient (top 3 globally under 40), she is a published researcher and active coaching advisory and jury member.