The Association of Coaching Supervisors’ new Co-Supervision Space is a free benefit that allows members to expand their repertoire ethically by practising supervision first with their peers
by Michelle Lucas
In January 2021, the Association of Coaching Supervisors (AoCS) launched a free member benefit: a monthly online Co-Supervision Space.
While many coaches use co-coaching, we think co-supervision is a first.
It works along familiar principles:
- The host suggests new techniques for use in one-to-one coaching supervision work
- Triads practise with each person, taking a turn at being supervisor, supervisee and observer
- Feedback focuses on supervisor learning.
Michelle Lucas, an AoCS member, prompted the idea. She had noticed that when supervisors want to expand their repertoire, the default is to practise on existing clients. While a supervisor can contract for this kind of experimentation, she felt that a more ethical alternative would be to practise with peers, before offering to clients.
It is rewarding to be a part of the growing community of regular participants committed to extending and building rigour into their practice. Each month we focus on a different philosophy and offer three techniques to practise drawn from Michelle’s edited book, 101 Coaching Supervision Techniques, Approaches, Enquiries and Experiments.
We’ve been pleased by the sense of community created and delighted by the feedback from members, with an average satisfaction rating of 88% across our first six sessions, with comments like:
- “Action based learning at its best!”
- “Clear contracting. Clear and simple instructions. Permission to play and explore in a safe environment.”
- “Good to practice and explore and build confidence. Excellent ‘space’ created for us to work. Strong on contracting, purpose and practice, light on rules, regulations and talk… .”
- “Always gain insights and learning.”
(July 2021)
Looking ahead, we plan to continue with the Co-Supervision Space and are pleased that Michelle and co-host Yvette Elcock will continue to co-facilitate the events into 2022. We have learned from the past year the scale of admin required to make things happen!
As a result, advance booking will be possible for the full year. We will re-offer the techniques as participants typically only had time to practise one of the three options. The guidelines and short videos we created in the last year will continue to help set up participants for success. We get feedback that preparing well helps participants maximise the practice opportunity with other members.
AoCS is not able to accommodate practising group techniques as Michelle runs Group Supervision Experimentation labs through her own business, Greenfields Consulting Limited.
AoCS members can join Co-Supervision Space sessions free at any time. Non-members may attend for £35 a session; come twice more and become an AoCS member, subject to joining criteria, without further charge in the first year of joining.
- More info: https://bit.ly/3aPVE9u
- Book here: https://bit.ly/3lZHQjn
Find out more
- AoCS is an international community of coach supervisors and source of good practice, where you can easily find an experienced, qualified and often accredited coach supervisor to work with: www.associationofcoachingsupervisors.com