90 Day Reflection: The Role and Responsibility of a Supervisor

  Working under the supervision of anyone offers the opportunity to experience growth in many ways.  The challenges and advantages of this type of work dynamic present themselves for the entirety of the relationship... at least this has been my experience.

I took time to find myself, affirm my talents, and expand my norms through working and traveling in a series of countries during my 20s. So, when I started my first US-based "office job", I saw the work environment through the eyes of an anthropologist. It was wild. I felt affirmed in my young adult instincts to avoid this lifestyle for as long as possible. Nevertheless, as hoped for, I begin working back at my alma mater and it is this chapter of growth that I find myself reflecting on now- from my first real leadership position in the US. 

My ability to observe my "boss" imagine and put effort into embodying a leadership persona was an opportune position for me as I prepared myself to uphold the same, and even greater, responsibility as one sponsored to be a visionary. The thing was, like more folks in subordinate roles, I was never coached to see my experience from this invaluable vantage point- the opportunity to study the art of leadership. 

Today, I arrived at my first 90-days in my director level position. This role is one in which I proved through a long interview process that am suited to hold the responsibility of managing others' professional well-being. I showed as well, that I have the capacity to design a vision and the capability to execute on it. Today, I reflect on my past experience of being a number two, of being supervised.

In Truth and Service, love, and deep respect for my colleague (supervisor, if you will) of the past, I share these important lessons learned:

Number 1. In higher education, everybody has a supervisor. The sense of direction, feelings of empowerment, job satisfaction, and openness to partnership of one's supervisor influences the relationship and experience of everyone else down the reporting line. In other words, there is always a cause to the effect.

 Number 2. One must be recognizable in order to be influential.  Whether it be one's fashion or overall approach to being "omnipresent" (or ideally, both), being memorable/visible is the first step through the doorway. Being prepared for being on the other side of the door is what determines one's long-term relevance/positive influence. 

Number 3. Think Big and talk BIGGER...its less important whether it all works out, or not. Having the confidence to promote a vision that invokes the power of imagination and is audacious enough that most second guess dreaming that big ensures that one has peoples' attention...whether they're watching to see whether you succeed or fail. 

Number 4.  Just do it. Acting regularly (often without planning) on ideas and taking advantage of every opportunity that presents itself leads to success, simply based on the odds. I realize that most folks have "analysis-paralysis"...but, where has it gotten them?

Number 5. Folks are just doing their best (And it only helps to believe that). Very few people are educated on how to manage, lead, or supervise others. As a result miscommunication and hurt feelings are inevitable over the course of a professional relationship. Inevitably, what it boils down to is whether trust and openness to candid and two-direction feedback are established and actively fine-tuned over the course of the relationship. We're educators and got into this profession to serve the greater good, right?! 

In sum, it's not easy being given the responsibility of "supervising" another adult. (Let's just think about how Eurocentric and colonial-minded this form of hierarchical system really is!) Furthermore, within the context of higher education, it is certainly not simple (nor possible) to take on the responsibility of caring for "the whole person(s)" on one's team. I realize this now more than ever and extend much more gratitude, grace, and compassion to former supervisors of the past and acknowledgement of the positionality of those in the present. 

So as folks in higher education continue to move around, following the era of post-COVID lockdown, in search of the new and improved ideal of a professional landscape, I offer this reflection as more encouragement. We're all still just trying to figure it out.