Transformative Learning: A Journey into Systemic Team Coaching® Supervision

by Renewal Associates

 

In 2021, Peter Hawkins and I launched the Systemic Team Coaching® Supervision Training Program (STC® STP), aiming to provide a transformative learning experience. The program featured Peter’s renowned 10-eyed model, a favourite among supervisors worldwide. To our delight, participants found that the training not only enhanced their systemic team coaching skills but also completed their systemic team coaching training or supervision training in unexpected ways. They elevated their practice and became more reflective and systemic practitioners. 

Many participants went on to pursue full supervision training programs and became Core Faculty in our Global Team Coaching Programs. This unique niche of combining Systemic Team Coaching® experience with supervision training has proven invaluable both in leading trainings and in coaching practice. 

Recently, I had the pleasure of supervising a pair of team coaches who had completed the STC® STP. It was encouraging to see them grasp parallel process, understanding how their dyad’s dynamics mirrored those of the team and organization. The next step for each of them to consciously ‘hold the whole’ system even when they coached different parts. Another takeaway was their surprise at discovering how they could step out of their comfort zones while remaining authentic—being bold yet encouraging, directive in one moment and supportive in another. John Heron’s styles introduced them to a new way of working, allowing for a fuller range of emotional expression in both directive and non-directive approaches. It’s akin to using the entire piano keyboard rather than just the 12 key octave you see in front of you.  

For those not familiar with John Heron’s styles, here they are: 

  1. Prescriptive: This style involves giving specific advice or instructions
  2. Informative: Providing information and facts to the coachee
  3. Confronting: Challenging the coachee’s assumptions or beliefs
  4. Cathartic: Allowing the coachee to express emotions or feelings
  5. Catalytic: Encouraging the coachee to explore new perspectives or ideas
  6. Supportive: Providing emotional support and encouragement.

 

Heron’s model underscores that we need to bring the fullness of who we are to support the full potential of who the team can be.  

A couple of questions for consideration: 

  • How do you match for rapport and mismatch for change, at the right moment, with the right skill?  
  • Are there any styles that you find challenging to utilize, or do you prefer certain styles over others? 

Our Systemic Team Coaching® Supervision Training Program has not only enhanced participants’ supervision skills but has also transformed their approach to team coaching. It’s gratifying to see our graduates apply their learnings in diverse settings, becoming more reflective, systemic, confident, and fully capable in their practice.  

 

Dr Catherine Carr, June 2024

 


How do I increase my ‘Confidence’ as a team coach?

by Renewal Associates

What do we mean by confidence?

Where does the word come from?

The prefix con, in Latin means ‘with’ or ‘connected to’.

Fidence, also comes from the Latin, and is connected to ‘fides’ which can mean either’ to have trust in,’ or ‘to have faith that’.

One of the most well-known lines in the Christian Bible is:

Nunc autem manent fides, spes, caritas, tria hæc

‘And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity or love.’

In mediaeval Christian mythology Faith, Hope and Charity were the three martyred saints who were the daughters of Sophia, or wisdom.

So, let us focus on Saint Fides, who do we need to have faith and trust with or in? We might start by saying I need to have trust and faith in the coachee, or others might say, no I must have faith and trust in my ability and expertise as a coach.  Both of these might be partially helpful in our early development as coaches.  However, the most transformational coaching happens at the learning edge, where neither the coach, or coachee have the answer, but both know in their heart of hearts that life is requiring an answer, or at the very least a response.  In the many years I have been supervising coaches and practising as a coach, I know that when we are faced with the learning edge, most of us panic and fall back on old patterns and defences.  At this place of transformation, neither the client or the coach can be fully trusted, for we are both flawed, limited learning humans.

So where to place my trust and faith?

Some people say: “trust the process”, and others “trust the relational container”.  This is a helpful relational turn in our focus and a useful next step. For here we are invested in our collective wisdom as being greater than the sum of our limited individual wisdoms, we are trusting that if we continue to explore and inquire collaboratively together, new generative thinking and being, can emerge.

I believe there is a third step, where we move from the relational to the systemic turn.  Here we place our faith and trust not in individuals, or even a collection or team of individuals, but in the greater system we are all part of.  In coaching teams, this might involve bringing in the perspectives of: other parts of the organization; the wider stakeholders; and/or past and future generations.

The fourth step is the eco-systemic turn where we move beyond placing our faith just in human individuals and  human groupings or even in  humanity as a species, but the much larger eco-system of creation, evolution, life and death.

When you encounter the panic at the learning edge, both in you and the team you are working with, do not react, or try harder, but instead pray.  It does not matter who you pray to, as long as it is a greater system than you. Some people then ask: But what if no answer comes?  My response: “Be patient and pray harder?”

This protects us from the four dangers:

  1. Over investing your trust in another, which becomes a burden
  2. The arrogance of trusting yourself,
  3. Individualism and
  4. Human-centricity.

Instead, we are left with the wisdom of vulnerability, held and supported by humility and faith.

Peter Hawkins, March 22nd 2023

THE WORLD’S FIRST GTCI SYSTEMIC TEAM COACHING® GLOBAL SENIOR PRACTITIONER PROGRAM

The last chance to join an amazing global cohort of Senior Practitioners taking Systemic Team Coaching® to the next level of development. This program, led by world leading Practitioners and Authors; Professor Peter Hawkins, Colm Murphy, Dr Catherine Carr & Inge Simons


Advanced Training in Coach Supervision

by Renewal Associates

To meet the ever-growing demand for trained supervisors of systemic team coaching, Renewal Associates are running a virtual 3 day specialised advanced programme, for those experienced team coaches/coach supervisors who want to develop their capacity in supervising systemic team coaching.  The programme is designed to support practitioners growing their inner capacity and growing their circle of influence and impact.

 

In the last twenty years we have witnessed the exciting spread of coaching supervision around the world.  Also, for the last ten years the fastest growing aspect of coaching has been team coaching and systemic team coaching.   Now we are seeing a new challenging frontier for both.  Although there are many trained coach supervisors and a growing number of trained team coaches there is a global shortage of trained and experienced team coach supervisors. The Global Team Coaching Institute have developed a global list of accredited team coach supervisors.

This will be lead by Professor Peter Hawkins and Dr Catherine Carr, both of whom are global thought leaders and writers in both systemic team coaching and coaching supervision.  This programme is on 14th – 17th June 2022, with timings being arranged to accommodate different time zones.  Those interested in applying for the few remaining spaces should complete the application form using the link here.

Due to demand Peter Hawkins is also running Advanced Retreats twice this year, 29th June – 1st July 2022 and 7th – 9th September 2022.
Hosted at Barrow Castle in the countryside on the edge of Bath, for those experienced coaches, team coaches and consultants who want to deepen what supports and resources their work and discover ways of partnering with the wider ecology in their practice. For an application form click here.

Both programmes are designed to support practitioners growing their inner capacity and growing their circle of influence and impact.

 


The next frontier for Coaching Supervision and Team Coaching

by Renewal Associates

In the last twenty years we have witnessed the exciting spread of coaching supervision around the world.  Also for the last ten years the fastest growing aspect of coaching has been team coaching and systemic team coaching.   Now we are seeing a new challenging frontier for both.  Although there are now many trained coach supervisors and a growing number of trained team coaches there is a global shortage of trained and experienced team coach supervisors. The Global Team Coaching Institute, which I lead in partnership with my colleague David Clutterbuck and WBECS have developed a global list of accredited team coach supervisors.  But more are needed, people who are trained experienced team coaches and trained coach supervisors with specific training in how to supervise systemic team coaching.

To meet this need Renewal Associates are providing a specialised advanced virtual 3 day programme for experienced team coaches/experienced coach supervisors who want to develop their capacity in supervising systemic team coaching.

This will be lead by Professor Peter Hawkins and Dr Catherine Carr, both of whom are global thought leaders and writers in both systemic team coaching and coaching supervision.  This programme is on 15th – 18th June, with timings being arranged to accommodate different time zones.  Those interested in applying for the few remaining spaces should complete the application form using the link here.

Peter Hawkins will also be running the annual Advanced Retreat at Barrow Castle 1st -3rd September, in the countryside on the edge of Bath, for those experienced coaches, team coaches and consultants who want to deepen what supports and resources their work  and discover ways of partnering with the wider ecology in their practice. For further information and an application form click here.

 Both programmes are designed to support practitioners growing their inner capacity and growing their circle of influence and impact.