How best to prepare for supervision

Here are some suggestions that may help you to get the most from our supervision conversations:

  • Be clear about what you are coming to supervision for and have realistic expectations
    • What is it that you want from supervision and is that doable?
  • Think about what kind of relationship you want to have in supervision
    • Who will you be within the supervision relationship?
    • What relationship do you want to create with me, your supervisor?
  • Prepare for your supervision by coming along with issues that arise in your coaching conversations
    • What is it that you want to bring?
    • How will you make sure that you bring what is most important?
  • Be prepared to step away from all other distractions while you are in the supervision session
    • How will you do that?
  • Arrive prepared to
    • Be as honest and open as you can
    • Share where you are right now and where you are on your coaching journey
    • Share experiences and insights that you have had and what you have done with them
    • Hear alternative ideas and approaches and explore how they might work
    • Take guidance and be challenged
    • Play your part in the process and take responsibility for what you do as a result of the conversation
  • Keep an open mind
    • Learning from the experience
    • Considering lots of perspectives
  • Notice your reactions, emotions and thoughts during the conversation and use those to increase your self-awareness
  • Commit to continuous learning and development
    • Set yourself goals
    • Reflect and carry through on action plans
    • Adjust your coaching approach as a result of your insight and learning
    • Keep a log of your coaching and supervision and how you have put learning in to action
  • Commit to regular supervision

In a nutshell supervision is a relational conversation where supervisees reflect on their work and their work experiences in order to learn how to practice better.

Michael Carroll