Why is Supervision so important to the coaching profession?

Coaching is still a largely unregulated profession, which means almost anyone can call themselves a coach and start working with clients. That's why I believe supervision is one of the most important practices a coach can commit to. 

Supervision isn't about someone checking whether you're coaching the "right" way. It's a reflective space where coaches can discuss ethical dilemmas, challenge their own thinking, explore difficult coaching situations and continue developing their practice. 

As coaches, we often work in isolation. We don't always receive direct feedback on our work, so having a supervisor and a community of peers helps us learn from one another and maintain high professional standards. 

If we ask our clients to reflect, challenge their assumptions and keep growing, we should be doing the same ourselves. I genuinely believe supervision helps lift the professionalism of the entire coaching industry. 

Why did you want to do the Supervision course with IECL? 

For me, this course wasn't about learning how to coach. It was an investment in my own professional development and a practice I believe should be part of every coach's career. 

I was also interested in how the supervision model could strengthen my approach to group coaching. I wanted to broaden my capability and continue developing beyond my initial coaching qualifications. 

I originally trained with IECL, so there was already a strong level of trust in the quality of the learning and the way they approach coach development. 

How did the course help your coaching and professional development? 

One of the biggest shifts for me was realising that supervision isn't about someone giving you the right answer.  It's about slowing down, becoming more curious and exploring coaching situations from different perspectives. The pace of the programme encouraged reflection rather than rushing towards solutions, and I found that incredibly valuable. 

The course reinforced that good coaching isn't about having all the answers. It's about continuing to question your own assumptions and remaining open to learning. 

What new perspective has this qualification given you? 

One image from the course has stayed with me.  We talked about coaching as carrying a backpack full of rocks, with supervision being the place where you work out which rocks you can finally put down. 

That completely changed how I think about supervision. It isn't about being the expert in the room. It's about creating a space where coaches can think more clearly, learn together and become more aware of their own practice. 

Supervision has absolutely been the most valuable tool in my coaching practice. It is the one place where I can go to talk through what I am experiencing. It is absolutely critical for me and has provided more learning opportunities than any course I’ve ever taken.  

 What tips would you give someone considering supervision? 

 I'd encourage every coach, particularly those entering the profession, to make supervision a regular part of their practice.  In fact, I don't think anyone should call themselves a coach without an active supervision practice. 

For me, the topics I'd most often bring to supervision are ethical dilemmas, situations where I'm unsure of the best way forward, or coaching conversations that I keep thinking about afterwards. Those are usually the moments that tell me there's something important to explore. 

Over time, I've become much less interested in looking like a good coach and much more interested in being useful, professional and maintaining strong boundaries with my counterparts. Supervision has helped me become a more reflective, self-aware and responsible coach. Learning to be a supervisor is an incredible privilege, and I am sincerely excited to support other coaches in their practice.

Lauren Locke, ACC, PIECL | Client Development Manager Enterprise Markets Sales IECL

Explore IECL's Organisational Coaching Supervision Certification