We Can Change the Workplace by Being Better Supervisors!

I wrote this post originally on my nonprofit leadership blog but I think it is relevant to all of us. I am tired of working for baby boomer workaholics who don't make an effort to be better supervisors. As we–Gen Xers and Millennials become supervisors–we can improve the workplace by being better supervisors!!

Nonprofit Management and Supervision

"I attended this amazing workshop last week about Management and Supervision put on by the San Francisco Bay Area Young Nonprofit Professionals Network. It was great to hear from my peers about how they manage and supervise their staff. This workshop provided me an opportunity to think about how I want to be a better manager. My favorite speaker at the workshop was Vini Bhansali, Program Director at Juma Ventures. She was so inspiring!!

She encouraged us to create an equitable culture, a culture where passionate people thrive. To hire talented individuals and create systems for individual growth and accountability; provide outlets for communications where staff can bring to the surface underlying conflicts and values and a culture where reflection is accepted. She is very successful at creating a team/collaborative working environment at Juma Ventures.

A couple of other great points I heard during the workshop.

• Not everyone is cut out to be a supervisor. One must make an effort to be a good supervisor and truly enjoy supervising your staff.
• Supervision takes self-awareness, knowing what you are good at.
• Communicate with staff and pay attention to subtle changes in behavior.
• Work to bridge the gaps between different nonprofit departments, finance working with HR, HR working with Development, Development working with Program etc.
• Supervision is not about power over, it is about power with.
• The leader's role is the facilitator.
• Supervision is not about task mastery, it is about working with people!

As busy nonprofit managers, it is really easy for us to focus on the task at hand and on accomplishing the mission of our organizations. However, good leaders in successful organizations spend as much time, if not more on working with and encouraging their staff then they do on accomplishing their work. I learned from this workshop I need to spend more time listening to my staff and find out more about their personal and professional needs.

We are trying to provide equitable opportunities for our clients and constituents, however are we truly making an effort to provide an equitable environment to our staff? I know it sure isn't easy, but it is worth it!!"