Abstract
D.Cur.
Supervision is not a new concept in psychiatric nursing. It has a long history in
clinical practice to bridge the gap between theory and practice. However, supervision
is fairly new and still emerging in the coaching profession. Bluckert (2005:1) says
that if one has to trace the references to supervision in coaching books, one will
barely find anything before the millennium. It is only now recently that a demand is
growing in coaching professions for coaching supervision.
The practice of supervision is strongly advocated by professional associations like
COMENSA (Coaching and Mentors of South Africa) and EMCC (European
Mentoring and Coaching Council) that business coaches and other practitioners in
coaching supervision should have regular supervision. In the continuing professional
development (CPD) framework, supervision gives vital support, monitors and
encourages personal and professional growth of coaching supervisees, be they
experienced practitioners or trainees (Stevens, 2004:18). This yields enormous
benefits for business coaches, for their clients and for the organisations that employ
them or purchase coaching services from them (Anonymous, 2006:52).
Supervision is a complex and demanding task. It requires significant interpersonal,
intellectual and communication skills on the part of the supervisor as well as the
business coaches. Along with these skills, it requires high emotional awareness and
competence, all of which can be exciting, energising and at the same time
demanding (Hodge, 2008:3).
Supervision is viewed to be an important aspect for business coaches and the
supervisor in the coaching profession. Hawkins and Schwenk (2006:2) point out that
even the most experienced coaches need assistance to constantly re-examine their
practice to continue to develop their skills and self-awareness and to avoid being
drawn into their clients’ systems.
Coaching supervision should be an imperative in the coaching profession to support
the business coaches and to stand back and reflect on their coaching practice. The
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aim of supervision is that the business coaches should open their work to scrutiny of
supervisors. The role of supervisor is to create a safe environment for the business
coaches to muse, reflect and consider alternative intervention strategies and learn in
a coaching supervision relationship. Through this research, it is hoped that business
coaches and supervisors will embark on this learning journey together in the context
of a coaching supervision relationship grounded in an ethical framework.