Supporting Yourself as a Leader: The Power of Coaching Supervision
Who Supports the Supporters?
Leaders are often the ones people turn to. Whether it’s guiding a team, juggling organisational goals, or simply managing the day-to-day human complexities of the workplace, it’s a role that carries weight. But who do leaders turn to when they need support?
Rebecca Daniel and Sarah Bramall, co-founders of The Coaching Catalysts—a practice focused on coaching supervision for leaders and coaches. Together – unpack what coaching supervision is, how it differs from traditional coaching, and why it’s an essential tool for modern leadership.
What Is Coaching Supervision—And Why Does It Matter?
You may already be familiar with coaching. It’s goal-driven, action-focused, and often future-oriented. Coaching supervision, however, offers something different.
“Supervision is not someone telling you what to do—it’s a reflective, protected space where you get to pause and process.” – Rebecca Daniel
Unlike coaching, supervision focuses less on where you’re going and more on how you’re being. It’s a supportive container to:
- Reflect on emotional load and decision-making
- Unpack challenging conversations
- Manage internal conflicts between organisational goals and personal values
- Explore leadership identity and impact
- Protect your wellbeing as you support others
Supervision isn’t therapy. But it is a powerful, therapeutic experience—one that provides space to be vulnerable, messy, and honest without judgement.
The Hidden Weight of Leadership
So often, leaders carry the emotional residue of their teams: the stress, the conflict, the self-doubt. As Sarah and Rebecca shared, this emotional load builds quietly, then overwhelms us in bursts—sometimes through tears, irritability, or burnout.
“You’re carrying everyone else’s energy and decisions… but you don’t always get a space to release it.” – Sarah Braml Hall
We often assume this is just part of being a leader. But it doesn’t have to be. Supervision offers an outlet—a regular space to “download” everything you’ve been carrying, untangle the thoughts racing through your mind, and realign with your values.
What Happens If Leaders Don’t Have Supervision?
Without space to process the emotional load, many leaders carry stress into other areas of life—arguments at home, disrupted sleep, exhaustion, and guilt. Sound familiar?
Rebecca shared how supervision gives her the only hour in her diary that’s truly just for her—a space to slow down, think clearly, and reset.
“If we don’t talk it through, we carry it. And eventually, it comes out—just not always where we expect.” – Heather Black
Why Supervision Belongs in Every Organisation
Coaching supervision isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s a cornerstone of safe, ethical, and effective leadership cultures. When leaders feel supported, reflective and resourced, they lead with more intention, care, and clarity.
The Coaching Catalysts run regular free virtual roundtables for leaders who coach. If you’re curious, it’s a great first step to explore the support and community available to you.
“If you want a safe coaching culture, you need to support the people doing the coaching.” – Sarah Braml Hall.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a CEO, a people manager, or a leader juggling work and life—you deserve support, too. This episode is your reminder that leading with compassion starts by giving yourself the space to be supported, seen, and heard.
You don’t have to hold it all alone. Supervision helps you lead with less overwhelm and more alignment.
