Guidelines for virtual group supervision

In coming to virtual group supervision, people tend to have two main aims:

• To present an issue arising from their experience with a client and learn from the supervisor and the group (How could it have been handled differently, or better? What can I learn about myself and my coaching or mentoring practice?)
• To listen to and learn from other people’s experiences

Virtual group supervision sessions tend to be relatively short (60 to 90 minutes maximum) compared with two hours or more for face-to-face group supervision. So it is important to prepare well to make maximum use of the time.

Typically, a session would involve:

• A brief check-in, where everyone gives a brief (30 second maximum) summary of their recent experience
• Presentations and exploration of issues presented by participants (typically 20-30 minutes each)
• Summary of learning (typically 5 to 10 mintes)

Presenting an issue

In presenting within the virtual environment, it is important to be succinct, to the point and open. Try to keep your explanation and scene-setting down to less than three minutes.

In preparation, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• What exactly is the issue here?
• What learning do I want to gain from this presentation?
• How can I present it succinctly, to help my colleagues help me?
• How clear am I about what I want from them?

When you are presenting, consider:

• How clearly am I explaining this?
• When would be the best point to ask for input from the group members?

After the discussion, you can reflect with the group:

• What have I learned?
• What actions can I now take?
• What options have opened out for me?
• What feedback would you like to give me about how I presented the issue?

If you present the issue again at another session, as it evolves, consider:

• What specifically did I do as a result of the previous conversation?
• What has changed?
• What went the way I expected it to and what didn’t?
• What learning have I already taken from that?
• What is the issue now?
• What do I now need from the group?

Listening to a presentation

• Accord your colleague all the patience, respect and attention you would wish to receive, when you present
• Allow them time to explain their issue before you ask questions
• Seek first to clarify – don’t jump to solutions or advice until the issue is fully understood and in context
• Use the chat room to comment and pose questions and allow the supervisor or the presenter to select which questions to address. Be prepared to elaborate if requested.
• Reflect upon the learning you can extract from this presentation.

© David Clutterbuck, 2017

Prof David Clutterbuck
Coaching and Mentoring International Ltd
Woodlands, Tollgate,
Maidenhead,
Berks, UK. SL6 4LJ

www.coachingandmentoringinternational.org
e-mail: info@coachingandmentoringinternational.org
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