Who coaches the coach?
A Peek Into the Supervision Room - and Why It Matters to You
Ever heard the phrase “The cobbler’s children have no shoes”? It’s a cautionary tale not to trust the shoemaker whose own boots are falling apart. And I think about this often when it comes to coaching.
If I’m going to ask you to slow down, to reflect, to grow, to receive challenge and face discomfort - then I need to be doing that work too. Otherwise, what am I really modelling?
So who coaches the coach?
Who supports us as we support you?
The answer for me is: supervision.
If you’re thinking it sounds clinical or hierarchical, I get that, I thought that too. It’s not - quite the opposite actually. Supervision is a sacred, rigorous, and deeply human space where I bring myself to the table: my work, my questions, my inner patterns, my edges, my dark side (yes, I have one too). And while you're never in the supervision room with me, the impact of that space shows up every time we sit down together.
I have three supervisors (soon to be four) and they all bring different things. That’s why I love them all. One helps me on a 1:1 basis, another hosts a group where I can work with them and other coaches and the third helps me think longer term about my business.
So, what is supervision?
Supervision is a professional reflective space for coaches. It’s where we pause and zoom out. Where we look at what’s happening in the coaching, around the coaching, and within ourselves as coaches.
It’s not about being “checked up on” and if it feels like that, I would run a mile! It’s about checking in - on our effectiveness, presence, blind spots, values, and patterns. It’s where I ask:
Am I truly serving my client’s growth, or colluding with their comfort zone?
Am I leading with curiosity, or subtly trying to fix or rescue?
What’s the dynamic between me and the client, and what role am I playing in it?
It’s like holding up a mirror to the work so I can stay clean, clear, and in service.
What gets covered in supervision?
Almost anything. That’s the beauty of it.
Sometimes it’s a client I can’t stop thinking about. Sometimes it’s a session that left me feeling unsettled, or a dynamic that feels “off” but I can’t quite name. Sometimes it’s about ethics or boundaries. Other times it’s deeply personal - because coaching doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
We explore:
The relationship I have with my clients (what’s happening under the surface)
The systems around my clients and what is in and out of their control (organisations, power dynamics, culture)
My ‘self’ as a coach (values, triggers, identity, presence)
Supervision is a space where all of me is welcome - not just the polished, shiny professional, but the reflective, imperfect human behind the role. Much in the same way as coaching is the space where all of YOU is welcome.
Why does this matter to you?
…A well-supported coach is a better coach.
As a direct result of my supervision:
I’m more present with you.
I hold deeper space, without rushing or rescuing.
I catch my assumptions before they cloud our work.
I stretch beyond tools and techniques, into real transformation.
I stay grounded in complexity, even when things feel messy.
In other words - I’m doing my inner work, so you don’t have to carry it.
Supervision helps me stay in integrity, in alignment, and in learning. It protects the sacredness of our coaching relationship. It means you’re not just hiring a coach - you’re choosing someone who is actively evolving, processing, and taking responsibility for how they show up with you.
What I’ve learned through supervision
Over the years, supervision has been a source of challenge, humility, and growth. It’s where I’ve come to understand:
That my experience of my client in a session - be it joy, sadness, or discomfort - often holds valuable information that doesn’t belong to me. So, I learn to share it with courage and curiosity.
That the people and experiences that have influenced and shaped me can sneak up in the room without me noticing - so, I practice holding my hunches and hypotheses lightly.
That being human is not a flaw in this work - it’s a feature and a massive strength.
And perhaps most importantly, that I don’t need to have all the answers. Now that sounds obvious for a coach, doesn’t it?! But, guess what, we too find it uncomfortable sometimes when we’re not sure what to ask, what to do or how to be.
I just need to keep showing up, eyes open, heart soft, ego in check.
Why am I sharing this?
If you’re going to trust someone with your growth, your edges, your unfiltered self, don’t you want to know they’re doing the same somewhere else?
For me, supervision isn’t optional. It’s the ethical backbone of this work. It’s how I honour your courage and my responsibility. It’s where I stay resourced, relational, and real.
So yes: the coach has a coach. (Several, in fact.)
And that makes all the difference.