253: Dancing with Uncertainty: Developmental Artistry in Coaching and Supervision
Release Date: 07/28/2025
The AC Podcast
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In this fascinating episode, host Helen O’Grady is joined by executive coach and coach supervisor Neel Arya to talk about developmental artistry - a creative, embodied approach to coaching and supervision and its relevance in times of significant change. Neel explains how this philosophy, co-developed with Carissa Bub, encourages practitioners to embrace uncertainty, experimentation, and the exploration of liminal spaces – the ‘messy middle’ of growth - and their significance in the developmental process. Neel explains cultural dimensions and individual personality's influence on the...
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In this episode, we take a deep dive into coaching readiness and coachability, as host Helen O’Grady is joined by Clare Norman, Master Certified Coach and author of two key coaching books. When coaches come to supervision doubting themselves, because their client is not engaged, Clare encourages supervisors to go beyond asking what the contract says, asking a second question, ‘Was the client and their organization coaching ready?’ With this question in mind, Clare explores the difference between ‘coaching readiness’ and ‘coachability’. She emphasizes the crucial role of...
info_outlineIn this fascinating episode, host Helen O’Grady is joined by executive coach and coach supervisor Neel Arya to talk about developmental artistry - a creative, embodied approach to coaching and supervision and its relevance in times of significant change. Neel explains how this philosophy, co-developed with Carissa Bub, encourages practitioners to embrace uncertainty, experimentation, and the exploration of liminal spaces – the ‘messy middle’ of growth - and their significance in the developmental process. Neel explains cultural dimensions and individual personality's influence on the openness to developmental artistry, and they discuss using creative techniques, such as works of art and poetry, to foster deeper awareness and learning.
The conversation highlights the importance of presence, playfulness, and courage, challenging traditional reliance on structured models and inviting coaches to explore emergent, experiential ways of knowing. Neel also shares his experience using the dark and invites listeners to join his Dark Workshop series this autumn, using the discount code found on the AC website below.
You will learn:
· The concept of ‘developmental artistry’ in coaching and supervision
· How to apply developmental artistry for both experienced and novice coaches
· How the dark can be used to explore liminal spaces
“What we're trying to do with development artistry is, is to say, well, actually, how might we go about the art of development by really focusing in on the embodied, the experiential, the emergent things which are entangled…to move out of, out of our heads into a deeper, more natural felt sense and embodied intelligence. And to learn and to develop through experience.”
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