If two things are two sides of the same coin, it is understood that they are very closely related although they seem very different.
The same can be argued for Mentor Coaching and Supervision - very closely related in the sense that Mentor Coaching and Supervision are supportive systems in which the coach can find refuge and resource but completely different in their approach.
From the perspective of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) 10 hours of Mentor Coaching is essential for any accreditation. With respect to Supervision, they stipulate that delivering or receiving Supervision can be recorded as Continuing Coach Education (CCE) of up to 10 hours.
So whilst both form essential steps in your path to (re)accreditation, how can we as coaches work within both of these frameworks to ensure not only our growth as individuals but also the continued development of coaching professionalism?
I believe that by understanding the key differences between mentor coaching and supervision, we can adapt accordingly our own personal development needs when they arise. So that begs the question: what are the key differences between Mentor Coaching and Supervision?
Purpose:
The primary purpose of Mentor Coaching is to support the development of specific coaching skills. The mentor coach and coach observe the coach’s session and feedback on the specific competencies that were present and those aspects of one or several competencies that there needed to be more of. In a wider sense, Mentor Coaching can also open up to portfolio preparation and ethical/coach knowledge assessment, however its main purpose, in the truest form is competency led feedback based on observations of one’s coaching.
Supervision is a broader process that focuses on the overall professional development and well-being of the coach. It involves reflection and/or reflective practice on the coach’s work, exploration of personal and professional challenges, and the integration of these learning experiences into their work. Supervision relates to the safety and humanity of the coach whereas Mentor Coaching focuses on the continued development and fine tuning of your coaching instrument.
Structure:
Mentor Coaching is typically follows a structured process involving a series of sessions with a mentor coach, during which specific coaching competencies are observed and overtime, refined. Supervision whilst also structured in terms of regularity and fixed number of sessions provides a flexible and open space for the coach to explore a wide range of challenges, not just specific coaching competencies - and yet there is a clear intersection whereby the process of supervision supports the development of specific competencies which Mentor Coaching also sets to achieve. I would argue in this sense that both work towards the overall quality of presence of the coach, however the journey and look-out points are different; Mentor Coaching has some clearly defined signposts with directions on where to go next, whereas Supervision offers less defined signposts, such as ‘diversion’, ‘road closed’, ’slow’ or ’scenic route’.
Focus:
The focus of Mentor Coaching is often on the technical aspects of coaching, such as listening skills, open questions, the coaching mindset and ethical practice all set within the overall coaching process. The aim is to support the coach’s level of presence. The focus tends to be broader in Supervision and may include personal and emotional aspects that are impacting the work of the coach, ethical considerations, challenges in the client-coach relationship, all of which are set within the coach’s personal development journey.
Regulatory Context:
Mentor Coaching is often associated with accreditation requirements in coaching professions. I would like to stress the words of Clare Norman MCC who shares quite rightly that “mentor coaching is for life, not just for accreditation” in her book Mentor Coaching - A Practical Guide. Whilst the ICF requires 10 hours of mentor coaching for accreditation, it is advisable to engage in 4-5 hours of mentor coaching per year. I tend to think of this as much like having your car checked for its annual service by a third party; getting under the bonnet (of your coaching) with a mentor coach ensures that your coaching engine is running smoothly.
As highlighted above, Supervision is not tied to accreditation in the same way that mentor coaching is for the ICF (at this time of writing) however, the work we do on ourselves in Supervision ensures that as coaches, we keep ourselves safe, within an ethical framework. By going deeper into who we are (and thereby how we coach) we ensure that the person sat in that well-serviced car metaphor from above, is in a responsible ‘adult’ ego state.
Overall, Mentor Coaching is focused on competency development while Supervision has a broader scope, encompassing personal and professional development, ethical considerations, and the overall well-being of the coach. Both seek to support the overall presence of the coach and both are essential to the continued development of the coach, and the professionalism of the coaching industry.
