Support to build your coaching skills and practice
As well as being a coach, I am a coach supervisor, and provide support to coaches, career advisers, career consultants and other career practitioners.
Coaching supervision creates an objective space for you to reflect on your work with clients, consider new ways to deal with the challenges which arise in coaching or careers work, and find ways to continue developing your practice.
What is coaching supervision?
Coaching supervision is a type of work which occurs across many of the helping professions, including coaching. Although the name might conjure images of a manager or more senior individual, supervision in this context is neither. It is a supportive role, to facilitate the development and effectiveness of the coach (or supervisee) they work with. Hawkins and McMahon (2020) define supervision as:
‘… A joint endeavour in which a practitioner, with the help of a supervisor, attends to their clients… and by so doing improves the quality of their work, transforms their client relationships, continuously develops themselves, their practice and the wider profession.’
Coaching professional bodies require coaches in practice to undertake supervision, due to the benefits not only to the coach, but also their clients and the profession. It is also increasingly encouraged for career practitioners by career development professional bodies including the Career Development Institute (CDI).
How could coaching supervision help me?
A coach or careers practitioner can bring specific examples of work with clients (anonymised) to coaching supervision which they would appreciate a chance to discuss with another practitioner, for example:
- Challenges the client is facing, where both client and coach might feel ‘stuck’
- Uncertainty over the right strategies and interventions for this client
- Difficulties in the working dynamic between client and coach
- Managing situations where the coach is facing challenges of their own, which may impact on their work
- Working with wider systemic issues which are impacting on the work of the coach and the client, for example organisational settings.
- Responding to certain situations in a way which they would like to change
- Difficulties working with particular types of client
- Awareness of their own ‘inner game’ and how this might affect their work with clients
How does supervision work?
Much like coaching, supervision is a non-directive activity aimed at helping the coach or careers practitioner.
At the present time I work with coaching supervision clients on a 1:1 basis.
A typical session lasts for 60 minutes, and the frequency of sessions will depend on how many clients the practitioner works with, and how often the coach feels it would be helpful to be supervised. In addition to standalone supervision sessions, I offer a range of annual supervision plans to support practitioners based on their needs.
The process of supervision is similar in many ways to coaching, with use of open questions to encourage reflection and learning. I use a range of different frameworks to facilitate supervision sessions, including the Seven Eyed Model of Supervision by Hawkins and Shohet (2012).
About me
I'm Scott Foley, for over 15 years I’ve been helping people face challenges in their work, make a greater impact in their organisation, develop their leadership skills, and find career fulfilment. In addition to my coaching work I provide coaching supervision, helping coaches and career practitioners in providing the best support and challenge they can to their clients. I'm a member of the Association for Coaching and Association of coaching Supervisors, and bring to our sessions experience of supervising coaches in a wide range of niches.
How do I find out more?
If you would like to get some support with your coaching or career guidance work, why not get in touch to arrange an initial conversation? We'll discuss the work you do with your clients, where you would appreciate some support, and how I could help if you wanted to take it further. It's completely free.
If you have questions you wish to raise before going ahead with a conversation about supervision, please contact me.
Supervision client feedback
Britta
Leadership Coach
As my coaching supervisor, I really appreciate Scott's calm, considered approach. Scott is supportive and helps me think differently about coaching scenarios. As a result of our work together my awareness and confidence as coach has improved and I've gained valuable insights about the various facets of my coaching work with clients. I highly recommend Scott as a coaching supervisor for coaches seeking a trusted and skilled support for their professional development
Stefanie
Executive Coach
Scott is a highly competent and empathetic Coach Supervisor. I provide senior and executive leadership coaching at Higher Education institutions and I’m benefiting greatly from our regular coaching supervision sessions. Scott creates a safe confidential setting that allows time and space for thorough reflection and discussion. His approach focuses on development, support and also advice if and when it is needed. He is able to draw on his extensive experience as a leadership coach and between sessions follows up with helpful resources.
Kim
Executive Coach
I have found that Scott's coaching supervision style has been great for me as I develop my own coaching practice. Our discussions have given me perspective when I have needed it. He has helped me to focus in on some of the key things I need to address, with charm and interest, and provided some good ideas about tools and techniques I might try. If you are a coach looking for a supervisor, I can recommend Scott to you.
Lindsey
Career Consultant
Scott has provided a very safe space for me to explore my work with clients. Having not had supervision previously it's been so helpful to be able to discuss individual clients and the general elements of being a practitioner that I find challenging and to identify ways of addressing these difficulties. Even when I think I don't need supervision, I do!
Lola
Career Coach
I was lucky enough to have some supervisory sessions with Scott over the past few months and I found them really eye opening. Having been a coach for many years, and now having my own practice, it was great to have someone there who is both knowledgeable in the career coaching space and skilled to act as a supervisor, as a sounding board. Scott is professional and supportive but also challenging where needed. I would not hesitate to recommend Scott for coaching supervising and support for both new and established coaches.
Sarah
Executive Coach
As part of my coaching CPD I have been taking part in supervision with Scott. The sessions have proven to be very worthwhile helping me to improve my practice, build my knowledge and have a sounding board to help me in confirming my coaching is of a high standard and learning new techniques as the need presents itself. I can highly recommend Scott as a career coach.
Denise
Retirement & Wellbeing Coach
I have been working with Scott as my supervisor for the last 12 months. He has a calm and patient approach. He has helped me to unpick sometimes complex situations in order to make sense of them. He listens without judgement and is not afraid of challenging my thinking in order to offer the opportunity of exploring a different perspective. Working with Scott helps me to review and reflect on my coaching and enables me to continuously improve my coaching service to clients. Thank you Scott.
Frequently Asked Questions about Coaching Supervision
Please click on the FAQs below to find out more.
Coaching supervision is a supportive practice across various helping professions, including coaching. It’s not about management or seniority but focuses on aiding the development and effectiveness of the coach. It provides an environment for coaches to reflect on their client interactions, improve the quality of their work, and continuously develop themselves and the profession.
Coaching supervision is for coaches, career advisers, career consultants, and other career practitioners. If you work closely with clients and are looking for ways to improve and reflect on your practice, coaching supervision might be beneficial for you.
While there are some similarities between coaching and coaching supervision, supervision is not focused just on you as an individual coach but in your interactions with clients, helping you enhance the quality of your coaching work and client relationships.
Professional bodies in the coaching field often require coaches to undergo supervision due to its numerous benefits. It not only aids the coach's development but also positively impacts their clients and the wider profession.
Supervision provides an avenue for you to discuss topics such as: Client challenges where both parties feel ‘stuck’. Strategies and interventions for specific clients. Managing personal challenges that might affect your work. Addressing systemic issues in your coaching environment. Reflecting on certain responses or behaviours you'd like to change. Understanding your own ‘inner game’ and its influence on client interactions.
A session typically lasts 60 minutes. The frequency depends on your client volume and how often you feel supervision would benefit you. The process is quite similar to coaching, leveraging open questions to spur reflection and learning. I use a range of frameworks, such as the Seven Eyed Model of Supervision by Hawkins and Shohet, to guide these sessions.
To begin, simply reach out to arrange an initial conversation. This chat is free, and it's a chance for you to discuss your work, the areas you feel you need support in, and explore how the supervision process can benefit you further.
Yes, in addition to standalone sessions, there are annual supervision plans tailored to individual practitioner needs.
Currently, coaching supervision is offered on a 1:1 basis. This individualised approach ensures that the sessions are tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each coach or practitioner.