In my last blog, I shared my personal journey of overcoming imposter syndrome as a coach — a journey that, even now, is ongoing. Today, I want to take you deeper into a part of that process that has profoundly transformed my practice and perspective: supervision.
Just like imposter syndrome, supervision has become an integral part of my growth as a coach. When I first started, I didn’t realize just how much support I would need. But the more I’ve walked this path, the clearer it’s become that coaching is not something you should navigate alone. Supervision has opened doors I didn’t even know were there. It’s provided me with clarity when I’ve felt stuck, and in many ways, it’s been a lifeline for me.
When the Roadblocks Hit Hard
After I qualified as a coach, I was fortunate enough to attract a lot of clients. And while that was exciting, it also came with challenges I hadn’t anticipated. Each client brought their own stories, their own complexities, and sometimes those complexities mirrored my own. One client, in particular, threw me off balance.
I found myself feeling stuck. There was a palpable sense of resistance between us, and I didn’t know how to proceed. I started questioning my ability as a coach — Was I doing something wrong? — and in some ways, it echoed the imposter syndrome I had been working so hard to overcome. I wasn’t showing up as my best self. I wasn’t being the challenging, disruptive, or daring coach I knew I could be. Instead, I held back, hesitated, and doubted myself. And as I soon realised in supervision, this wasn’t just about my client; it was about me, too.
Why They Call It “Super-Vision”
When I brought this issue to my supervisor, something incredible happened. My supervisor helped me helicopter out and take in the bigger picture. That’s why they call it super-vision — it gives you a wider perspective on the work you’re doing. In this particular case, I realised that my client and I were going through the same personal situation at the time, and it was clouding my ability to be present.
I had been holding back, not ‘taking my seat at the table’ as their coach. I wasn’t embodying the qualities that I typically bring into a session — being challenging, courageous, and sometimes a bit disruptive when needed. Supervision gave me the space to explore why that was happening and how I could shift my approach.
Through this process, I gained not only a better understanding of my client but also a deeper understanding of myself. It became clear that I (was) needed to show up fully, no matter what personal circumstances I might be facing. My clients need me to be present and courageous, even when it feels uncomfortable. Supervision helped me find that courage again.
Supervision as a Place for Development — and Disruption
In preparing for my supervision course, I read a lot about the different roles supervision plays. It’s a space for development, resourcing, and reflection — a place where coaches can replenish their energy, gain new insights, and grow. But what really struck me this past summer was the idea of supervision being a disruptive force.
This spoke to something deep within me — the rebellious child, the one who left a successful career in luxury retail at 26 to start my own cupcake and confectionery business. Supervision, like entrepreneurship, challenges you to see things differently. It shakes up your assumptions and invites you to confront the stories you’ve been telling yourself, whether they’re about your clients or about your own capabilities.
This is the part of supervision that excites me the most: the potential for disruption. It’s not just about reflecting on what’s happening in your coaching practice or leadership style; it’s about actively challenging your ways of being. It’s about breaking through the barriers you didn’t even realize were there.
A Journey into Supervision
As I begin my journey as a supervisor-in-training, I’m eager to explore this disruptive potential even further. Over the next 12 months, I’ll be working with coaches who are seeking supervision as part of my training. I’m excited to work with others who, like me, are ready to dive into their way of being, embrace their challenges, and come out stronger on the other side.
If you’re a coach or leader looking for supervision, I’d love to connect. Check out my website for more details about pricing and availability.
How Supervision Has Supported Me
Supervision has provided me with more than just solutions to specific challenges. It’s given me the opportunity to exchange ideas, re-energize my practice, and have fun exploring new ways of thinking and being. It’s been a space where I can reflect not only on my coaching but also on who I am in the world. It’s an invitation to journey home.
Through supervision, I’ve developed new skills and gained fresh perspectives — not only about my clients but also about myself. I’ve learned to be more courageous, to lean into discomfort, and to embrace the uncertainty that comes with coaching. Most of all, I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask for help. In fact, it’s essential.
The Power of Asking for Support
In a profession that is often about supporting others (I have a book coming out on this soon!) it’s easy to forget that we need support, too. Supervision has reminded me that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength. It’s a recognition that we can’t do this work alone, and we don’t have to.
The emotional weight of coaching can be a heavy backpack at times, especially when you’re dealing with complex clients or challenging situations. Supervision offers a place to set that weight down, to unpack it, and to gain new insights that can propel you forward.
Just as I learned in my first blog post about imposter feelings (which you can read here) finding your voice and/or your seat at the table is an ongoing process. Supervision has helped me stay grounded in that process and continue to grow, both as a coach and as a person.
Next Steps
If you’re a coach who’s feeling stuck or in need of a fresh perspective, consider seeking supervision. It’s more than just a space for development — it’s a place for discovery, disruption, and growth. If you’d like to explore how supervision can support you, feel free to reach out to me or check out my website for more details on how we can work together.
And if you feel like this might be for you, but you don’t like the name; the joy of this process is that it gives you permission to embrace the intelligence of love. Call it Reflective Partnering, Executive Contemplation, or my term that’s forming/taking shape is supra-vision (beyond limits of what we think we see).
And once again, this writing has already inspired something else I feel the need to write about. I’ll soon share what happened when a client and myself both got stuck — and how to navigate such turbulent waters through a different vessel; mentor coaching.
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