Ben McEwing
Leaders need supervision too
One of the most valuable parts of becoming a therapist is having supervision. It’s a regular, structured space where I can reflect on my work with someone more experienced. I can speak freely about what’s working, what’s not, what I’m feeling, where I’m stuck. And I know I’ll be met with curiosity, not judgement.
It’s not advice-giving. It’s not performance review. It’s not therapy.
It’s something deeper than all of those. It’s a place where refinement happens. And that matters to me.
Supervision allows me to slow down and name things I might not otherwise name. It helps crystallise a process that, for me, is often deeply intuitive. It also reminds me that I’m not alone; that someone else has walked a similar path, faced similar dilemmas, and is still here to tell the tale.
And I can’t help but wonder: why don’t more leaders have this?
In the world of leadership, we put enormous pressure on individuals to be decisive, clear, inspiring, and unshakable, often without giving them a safe space to process the complexity of their role. There’s rarely a dedicated time or relationship where they can say, “I’m unsure,” or “That really affected me,” or “I think I could’ve handled that better.”
But what if there were?
What if leaders had someone, or even a small circle, they could regularly turn to, not to be fixed or evaluated, but to be witnessed and gently stretched? Someone to ask the hard questions, not from superiority, but from experience. Someone who knows the terrain, and still holds faith in your capacity to find your own way through it.
I believe that kind of relationship could change everything.
When a leader has that space, something shifts. Self-awareness deepens. Reactions slow down. Insight lands. And with that, new options emerge. They can see more clearly what’s theirs to hold, and what’s not. They can stay with discomfort longer, instead of rushing to control. They can bring more humanity to their role, and give others permission to do the same.
Most of all, they stop feeling so alone.
In a world that still celebrates self-sufficiency, there’s something quietly radical about seeking wise counsel. About saying, “I don’t have all the answers, but I’m willing to grow.” It doesn’t make you less capable. It makes you more trustworthy.
Because leadership isn’t just about being out in front.
Sometimes it’s about knowing when to sit beside someone who’s walked before you, and listen to yourself speak, until your next step becomes clear.
Who is Melis Senova?
I am a coach and advisor to design leaders, C-level executives and leaders in government. My work in This Human is dedicated to the next generation of designers and leaders.
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