The Difference Between Coaching Supervision and Mentor Coaching
Coaching supervision and mentor coaching are both processes that provide support and development for coaches, yet they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. Here's how:
Purpose
The primary purpose of coaching supervision is to ensure the ethical and effective practice of coaching. It focuses on the coach's personal and professional development, helping them reflect on their coaching practice, address any challenges or ethical dilemmas, and enhance their skills. Coaching supervision is often a requirement for maintaining professional coaching credentials and standards with bodies such as the International Coach Federation (ICF).
Mentor coaching, on the other hand, is primarily focused on supporting coaches to improve their core coaching competencies such as being present, active listening, powerful questioning, and partnering with thinkers to set resonant goals and actions. It is often used to support coaches who are preparing for coaching certification or re-/credentialing exams. Mentor coaches provide feedback, guidance, and specific coaching techniques to help the coach meet the required competencies for certification.
Target Audience
Coaching supervision is typically aimed at experienced coaches who are already practising professionally. It helps them maintain and enhance their coaching skills, reflect on themselves and how they ‘show up’ when coaching with their thinkers, and ensure that they adhere to ethical guidelines and standards.
Mentor coaching tends to be aimed toward newer coaches or those in the process of becoming certified, and is also used for those who want to be re-certified in order to stay “sharp”. It is intended to help them develop fundamental coaching skills, gain confidence, and meet the specific competency requirements set by coaching credentialing bodies like the ICF.
Focus on the Coach
In coaching supervision, the focus is on the coach's personal and professional growth, self-awareness, and the impact of their coaching practice on their thinking partners. It often involves exploring who the coach is being when they are coaching, the coach's emotions, values, and beliefs as they relate to their coaching work through reflective questioning and discussion with their trusted supervisor.
Mentor coaching primarily concentrates on the coach's coaching techniques, competencies, and ability to work effectively with their thinking partners. It aims to improve the coach's proficiency in delivering coaching sessions.
Frequency
Coaching supervision is typically an ongoing process that coaches engage in regularly throughout their careers. It may involve periodic meetings with a supervisor to discuss various coaching cases and experiences. Regular sessions are essential for reflecting on practice, maintaining ethical standards, and continuing development.
Mentor coaching is often a more structured and time-limited process. It is often required for a specific number of hours or sessions to meet the certification or re/credentialing requirements set by organisations like the ICF.
Certification and Re/Credentialing
While coaching supervision may contribute to a coach's ongoing professional development, it is also a mandatory requirement for coaching certification or credentialing. The amount of hours required depends on the level being applied for and the coaching body.
Mentor coaching is often an essential requirement for coaches seeking certification or credentialing from coaching organisations such as the International Coach Federation (ICF). It is used to assess and validate a coach's competence against specific coaching competencies.
Advocating for both Coaching Supervision and Mentor Coaching
Pursuing these two forms of support can provide experienced, professional coaches with a powerful combination of skill enhancement and whole-person development.
Engaging in regular coaching supervision enables a deeper self-awareness through ongoing reflection, ensuring coaches consider how their inner lives shape their practice. This allows for ethical adherence, skill refinement, and enrichment of their coaching approach.
Pairing supervision with targeted mentor coaching around advancing specific coaching competencies accelerates proficiency in core skills like powerful questioning, active listening, and expanding thinking partner growth.
Together, these two practices cultivate greater self-mastery and technical capability, complementing one another in service of superior coaching. Coaches who participate in both types of development are able to stay true to their values while continuously improving - avoiding stagnation.
The integrated growth supported through simultaneous coaching supervision and mentor coaching provides professional coaches with a comprehensive path toward reaching their highest potential while making lasting positive impact on their thinking partners.
The dual journey of focusing inward to one's inner wisdom and outward to elevate external skills enables complete coaching excellence. Undertaking both supports coaches in fully realising their coaching abilities in service of others.
Decision Guide:
Am I working towards a coaching credential that requires mentor coaching hours?
If yes, mentor coaching would be applicable.
Is improving my foundational coaching skills and techniques my primary aim?
If yes, mentor coaching would help strengthen competencies.
Am I an experienced coach wanting to enrich my practice and ensure I adhere to ethical standards?
If yes, coaching supervision would allow reflection and ensure ethical practice.
Would discussing specific coaching cases and getting unbiased feedback be valuable?
Coaching supervision can provide objective feedback on coaching cases.
Is self-reflection on how my inner life impacts my coaching essential for me now?
Coaching supervision enables reflection on personal growth and its impact.
Do I need support both in developing concrete coaching skills for certification AND working on my inner life as a coach?
If yes, then both mentor coaching and supervision may be valuable.
As an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who simultaneously works as both a coach mentor and coach supervisor, I hope this overview has helped clarify the meaningful differences between these two impactful forms of support for developing coaches.
Undergoing both supervision and mentor training enables profound personal and professional growth that allows you to reach your highest potential.
My call to action is for all coaches to pursue the enriching gifts of self-discovery and skill-building these pathways offer. Whether you seek to meet requirements for an ICF credential, maintain ethical standards throughout your coaching journey, or realise the greatest levels of capacity for beneficial influence in your thinking partners’ lives – partake fully of what supervision and mentorship provide.
To discuss which type of support would best serve your learning objectives or if you would like to get connected to an ICF mentor coach or supervisor, do get in contact today.
It would be my honour to have a conversation about how these processes of growth could uplift your coaching and empower the transformational work you have the privilege of conducting in the lives of others.
Amanda Livermore is the founder of LORE Consultancy Ltd. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a trained mentor coach and a coach supervisor.