What is supervision?
Professional supervision provides a supportive space for personal learning and character development.
Our congregations and communities deserve the best of what we can offer. Through supervision, leaders are encouraged to grow into the best versions of themselves, so that they can serve their people with excellence and care.
Supervision is usually a requirement for professionals who have demanding, people-orientated roles, including counselors, pastors, and social workers.
How are coaching and supervision different?
That’s a good question.
Supervision and coaching have much in common. At the heart of both is a cycle of action and reflection; both modes aim to help leaders reflect on themselves and their activities so that they can grow and develop.
However, there are a couple of key differences.
Supervision is workplace-orientated, helping clients to keep their work ethical, professional, and safe. Coaching, on the other hand, is more flexible and driven by what the client wants to achieve.
Supervision tends to be backward-looking; exploring situations that have occurred in order to make sense of them. In contrast, coaching is forward-looking, and this orientation means goal setting and accountability play greater roles.
Supervision with Nathan.
The supervision I offer is one informed by sound missiology.
My own experience of supervision when in pastoral ministry often felt like a fireside chat. Now, while we all can do with one of those now and then, I offer church leaders more than just a listening, empathetic ear. Though I care deeply about the church and have spent close to two decades in various forms of ministry, I am, at heart, a missionary, not a pastor.
Leaders who work with me have the opportunity to regularly reflect on the role of local mission and discipleship—not just in their churches but in their own lives. This focus, of course, does not exclude other areas that are causing stress or concern.
If you're looking for a supervisor who will gently help you challenge the missional status quo of your church, I’d love to journey with you.