Internal coaching presents some unique challenges. Regardless of coaching skill, experience, qualifications, or credentials, internal coaches encounter and manage a myriad of ethical issues. These include navigating appropriately confidentiality requirements, complex relationships, appropriate boundary setting and potential conflicts of interest.
As a Coaching Supervisor and Mentor Coach I am able to support the ongoing learning of internal and external coaches at all levels.
Who I worked with:
Australian Public Service Commission (APSC): in 2023, 2024, 2025.
The challenge:
To support the continuing development needs of a panel of approximately 20 coaches, as their Mentor Coach and/or Coaching Supervisor. The coaches on the panel were a diverse mix of internal/external and new/experienced. Some were credentialed (at different levels and with different Associations), while others had only completed introductory coach-specific training.
Group Mentor Coaching Program
In 2024 two cohorts, with 8 coaches in each group, completed my 7-hour virtual group mentor coaching program. The program comprises 4 x small group sessions, held over 4 consecutive weeks.
The group mentor coaching program is about deepening understanding and application of the ICF Core Competencies. This happened in a collaborative and supportive environment, where you each participant could observe, share, learn and receive feedback from me (as the mentor coach) and from other coaches. During group sessions we explored each of the competencies in detail through discussion, practice exercises, examples, and short demonstrations. To deepen understanding, there were also short pre-work activities and optional reading/viewing for each session.
Notably, coaches at PCC/MCC level do not require additional mentor coaching hours for ICF purposes. For this group, supervision can be counted for up to 10 hours of the CCE requirement for re-credentialing.
Group Supervision Sessions
Group coaching supervision, like one-to-one coaching supervision, is about reflective practice. My Supervision Groups for internal coaches provide a space (virtual, or face-to-face) where coaches can step away from their workday busy-ness, take a broader view of their coaching practice, uncover any blind spots, and reveal what they are unable to see in their own work.
90-minute coaching supervision sessions were first scheduled throughout 2023 and these groups included a mix of new coaches (ACC), and experienced/established professional coaches (PCC and Master level).
The results:
Group Mentor Coaching ran with two cohorts of 8 x coaches in 2024. Further group mentor coaching will be offered again in 2025.
To support ICF re-credentialing requirements, some of the coaches in this cohort have also chosen to undertake additional 1:1 mentor coaching with me.
Supervision groups were first offered in 2023 and continued in 2024. These will be offered again in 2025. Some support for 1:1 coaching supervision was also provided in 2024.
Some feedback from participants is provided below:
“Professional. Articulate. Helpful.”
“Good at gently guiding the conversation but not leading it. Making a safe space to encourage reflection and awareness which leads to action and change.”
“Julie created a safe space to discuss coaching challenges in a group setting. The questions asked helped me to create meaningful insights and enabled me to takeaway some things to think about further.”
“Thoughtful… good listener… natural enquirer”.
“Kind and supportive, explained the process well, and ensured everyone in the group had the opportunity to contribute to the conversation.”
“Julie guides the group as a whole, and each individual, along on the coaching journey, recognising where they are currently at. Her knowledge, care and compassion were immediately evident. She has a great ability to hold the space and encourage contribution from each participant.”
“It helped me to refine aspects of my coaching practice and enhanced my confidence.”
“Skillful, warm, able to ensure everyone in the group is gaining.”