Supervision for Executive, Leadership and Organisational Coaches

what is ORGANISATIONAL COACH SUPERVISION?

There are many subtle and overt factors which impact executives and the coaching work. Knowing what these factors are, how they are related and how they show up in the coaching space is crucial if you are to be an effective executive coach. An example:

  • Coaching an executive includes reflecting on and responding to the complexity of their role as leader within an organisational context.
  • Executive coaching conversations cover personal life, relationships with colleagues, organisational departments, key employees, and organisational strategy and dynamics.
  • The executive client’s approach to these aspects and their challenges in each are just one of several elements of coaching in this space.

As a coach supervisor, I work with executive, leadership and organisational coaches, to map out the elements of coaching in organisations, reflect on their overall impact, and strategise on appropriate coaching responses. The tangible outcome for the coach, is a potent and lasting impact on the organisation as a whole, beyond the work with the individual coaching client.

The outcome of coach supervision is a positive-shift in the relationship between coach, their client and organisation. It opens the opportunity to feed back thematic and strategic information to the organisation so that changes can be made on the systemic level, whilst maintaining client confidentiality.

When coaching is working well, it is personally enriching to the leadership coach and their client. I work with coaches operating in an organisational space, in an explorative way, to recognise where their own stuff, their approach, client challenges or organisational dynamics get in the way of fulfilling and effective organisational coaching.

Managing complexity in an organisational coaching setting can be particularly difficult. I am trained to help coaches make sense of these situations and design ethical and safe responses relevant to client and organisational needs.

Looking at coaching from a systemic perspective means considering the broader context in which the coaching is taking place, including the client’s organization, industry, and culture, as well as the relationships and networks that the client is a part of. This approach can bring several important values to coaching, including:

  1. Holistic Understanding: A systemic perspective allows coaches to gain a more holistic understanding of the client’s situation and identify the interconnected factors that may be impacting their performance. This understanding can help coaches to tailor their coaching approach and interventions to address the client’s specific needs.
  2. Greater Impact: By taking a systemic approach, coaches can help clients to identify and address not only their individual challenges but also the systemic factors that may be contributing to those challenges. This can lead to more sustainable change and greater impact in the client’s work and life.
  3. Improved Relationships: Coaching from a systemic perspective can help clients to build stronger relationships with stakeholders in their organization and industry. By understanding the broader context in which they operate, clients can develop more effective communication and collaboration strategies that lead to better outcomes.
  4. Increased Resilience: By understanding the systemic factors that may be contributing to their challenges, clients can develop greater resilience in the face of change and adversity. They can also identify opportunities to leverage the strengths and resources of their organization and industry to achieve their goals.

If you work professionally with people individually or in teams, supervision will

  • Support you as a person- learn to regulate your own experience and reactions to client/organisational behaviour and attitudes.
  • Develop you professionally- clearly understand dynamic interactions between yourself and clients, within organisations; learn tools, principles, models, foundations which create optimised environments for effective work and relationships.
  • Integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes into pertinent cases; understand where you are in your professional development journey and strategise your path.

HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER?

If you’re experiencing a challenging client or situation, we will first work towards feeling grounded and whole, to then make more sense of what is going on in your practice so you can be more effective for your clients.

I work in a relational way, integrating expertise from various developmental frameworks into our work, to give you a human, valuable, and meaningful experience, so that you can do the same with your clients.

I am adaptable to your needs and preferences as a coach, whilst maintaining the spirit of personal and professional development, and coaching standards. I use a variety of methods, models, approaches, and philosophies as is relevant to your needs and case. Of particular interest to organisational coaches is Peter Hawkins’ 7-Eyed Model of Supervision, which maps out elements of coaching in this space.

I work with my clients through encrypted online video calling. This provides convenience, saves resources, time and allows global connection with the ease of a click. 

I supervise executive coaches typically on a monthly basis. This supervision is usually done in a one-on-one format.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND SAFETY IN EXECUTIVE SUPERVISION

As a practitioner working with other human beings, you will always be one element of the relational dynamics in these organisational systems.

Navigating the complexities of relationships within organisations can be a challenging and sensitive issue, fraught with ethical dilemmas, personal triggers, and layers of complexity. As a coach, it is not always easy to identify these dynamics or understand how they may be affecting your relationship with your clients.

In our supervision sessions, I work together with you to gain a deeper understanding of these issues. By shining a light on the places where you are effectively managing these challenges, I work with you to strengthen your skills and approach them with even more intention. If you are feeling stuck or uncertain, I can provide support and frameworks to inform your thinking, so that you can respond in a way that is both safe and ethical, with an impact that benefits not just your executive client, but the organisation as a whole.

I recognize that the relationships within organisations can be incredibly intricate and multifaceted, and that it is not always easy to navigate them with grace and sensitivity. That is why I approach this work with empathy and humanism, recognizing the many layers of emotion and complexity that can come into play. Together, we will explore the issues that arise, work to build your skills and understanding, and develop strategies that will allow you to work more effectively with your clients and make a positive impact on their organisations.

OUTCOMES FROM EXECUTIVE COACH SUPERVISION

Executive coach supervision helps you recognise how you approach your practice and engage with executive clients.

It is about understanding your strengths and developmental areas with deeper insight, so you can use them consciously and with intent as needed, within the context of leadership coaching in organisations. You will learn to recognise patterns that emerge in your experiences with executive clients and the management of your practice as a business. This helps you avoid repeat difficulties whilst increasing your effectiveness as an organisational coach, leadership coach or executive coach.

HOW WILL IT HELP?

In coach supervision you can expect to resolve the challenges you experience with clients and in managing your practice. I supervise professional coaches both new to the field and experienced, whether working with individuals or groups, or at executive level in organisations.

I am passionate about helping coaches to grow their online and face to face businesses. In addition to supervision, I share a number of business tools and best practices to help coaches enhance their approach to their practice and engagement with clients.

SUPERVISION PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

I am certified by EMCC Global as coach/mentor supervisor (ESIA) and Accredited Coach (EIA) at Senior Practitioner level, and hold a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential with ICF.

I supervise using a co-creative and appreciative approach, aligned with supervision’s core of psychological mindedness. I use transactional analysis as a framework to help explore experiences and relationships. I maintain professional practice by working with my own supervisor and other continuous professional development training.

WHAT SETS ME APART?

The work I do in supervision goes beyond only thinking as a means of problem-solving. You can expect to experience a paradigm shift in the way you think but also how you feel, your energy, your behaviour and your engagement with clients and your practice. The outcomes of supervision with me are whole-person focused and sustainable. 

Having shifted into the space of working with people from an entirely different career, I have first-hand experience with the challenges that come along with starting and running a business.

In addition to case supervision I can guide you to a number of technical solutions and tools that not only make running your business easier but save you time as well.

Use the link below to schedule a free connection session with me.

Jens
Jens Kleis Frederiksen
JKF Coaching
Executive Coach

Alex has been supervising me for quite a long time, during which he has become an integral and highly valued contributor to my continuous learning and development. Despite the considerable distance between South Africa and Switzerland, I chose Alex as my supervisor because of his remarkably solid academic foundation, strong coaching experience and his straight forward, friendly and results-oriented approach. Coaching supervision is so much more than a tick-box compliance exercise and I cherish my sessions with Alex as opportunities to reflect, challenge my assumptions and design actionable outcomes. I recommend Alex to any professional coach looking for a top-tier, committed and highly competent supervisor.

Karolyne
Karolyne Williams
South African College of Applied Psychology
Head of Strategic Innovation at SACAP (The South African College of Applied Psychology) & CEO Coach

Alex is an insightful and supportive supervisor. I’ve very much enjoyed working with him as he gently asks thought provoking questions to help me reflect on my coaching practice. Alex adds value to enhance coaching mastery!

Angelina
Angelina Yonekura
Success | Development | Leadership Coach ⚬ First-Gen Graduate ⚬ Addictions Counselor ⚬ US & South Africa

Alex is beyond amazing when it comes to really connecting to the core motivation and challenges I have experienced as a coach. I respect his professionalism and keeping me aligned with ICF core competencies. He goes deep, but carries the conversation with empathy and genuine motivation in helping me find my strengths and desire to continually grow and find what style and methods work for me. Alex has been one of the most significant influences in my coaching journey with SACAP and I appreciate the work he has done to help me maximize my abilities, and compassion to understand the human side of the trials and successes in personal and professional development.

 

Althea
Althea Banda-Hansmann
Founding Director, Transformation Coach, Consultant and Facilitator

I left each group supervision session with Alex being expanded by his role modelling coaching supervision. My horizons were broadened by the individual learning and edge work of participant coaches, by the collective group learning and the sense of community that developed. A warm smile crosses my face, as I recall the clarity of intention and skill with which Alex fostered the coaching supervision environment by using creative structure. He is skilled at applying both supervision and Transactional Analysis theory to help coaches grow in their practice, in themselves as well as areas of vulnerability. I experienced Alex as grounded in his coaching supervision approach and resourceful in sharing knowledge, tools, observations and reading material for growth.

Kathy
Kathy Lewis
Leadership / Management Coach, Facilitator & Consultant

I grew in a number of ways through working with Alex as my coaching supervisor. His gently challenging attention kept me focused when I digressed. He is a master of asking questions that nudge (and sometime necessarily push) one forward and I learned a lot from listening to him question fellow coaches in the supervision group as well as from the results I derived from his questioning me. His approach of supervising in groups increased the scope and depth of learning. His broad theoretical knowledge expanded my coaching repertoire and his careful attention to detail and the bigger picture contributed significantly to my unfolding professional development.

Gaby
Gaby Leone
Goal and Purpose Coach: Free To Fly Life Coaching

I found my supervision interaction with Alex very useful. Through incisive questions and focussed listening, he helped me gain valuable insights into myself as coach.

Nkulu
Nkulu Madonko
Common Good
CEO

Alex has been a consummate professional in his Supervision of my Coach learning journey whilst completing my SACAP Post Grad Diploma in Coaching Internship. Alex provided me with relevant and informative reflection, and oversight of my coaching as practice. He attentively focused on: 1) my growth & development as a coach – enhancing my competence as a practitioner; 2) carefully supported and nurtured my role of coach as a person – deepening my confidence and self-belief of who I am as a coach; and 3) skilfully displayed what it means to be a professional coach – providing me a lived experience of integrity and collaboration in the way in which he supported our reflective dialogue. It has been an absolute privilege partnering and collaborating with Alex!

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Stephen Beukes
Stephen Beukes (Pty) Ltd
Professional Life Coach

I place great value on the contribution that the supervision work I do with Alex has made (and continues to make) to my coaching practice. His gently rigorous way of being has helped me negotiate tricky coaching challenges, develop practices that take care of myself and supported me to clarify the sort of coach I wish to be. I cannot recommend him highly enough.

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David Kossew
Software Architect and Leadership & Team Coach (ICF - ACC, ORSC)

Alex has been my supervisor since my business coaching internship in 2018. I have taken many varied and different things into supervision with Alex, from referrals, to incorporating assessments into my coaching practice, to conflicts of interest, and even team coaching with a co-coach.

I find Alex to be extremely knowledgeable, especially when it comes to Transactional Analysis (TA), the “7-eyed model of supervision” and other theory he draws from in the moment. Everything I’ve brought into supervision, we have looked at through the lens of one of these frameworks, and every time I’ve come away with more insight and awareness of what I am responsible for in these coaching relationship systems.

A supervision session feels challenging, insightful and highly rewarding, as long as you work for it and are willing to be honest with yourself in terms of thoughts, feelings, judgments and decisions.