A Guide to Being in Charge

Hello!  I'm grateful for the chance to blog a little... the topic is on "supervision" and I'm struggling with some titles.  What do you think of...

"Who's the Boss?" (wait, taken by a 1980's TV show)

"Gaining SUPER-Vision" (this blog will get deleted for violating a NACA anti-cheesiness policy statement)

"All I do is sign forms" (hold on, my boss might read this)

"Follow the Leader" (I need to stop playing games with my son and focus on this blog) 

So, I landed on "A Guide to Being in Charge".

 Although this is my first blog, I'm pretty excited!  I think blogging casts a much more modern and hi-tech light on what I'm doing instead of calling it "online therapy" and "storytelling."  How often is it that you get the chance to reflect on major issues in the field and all without the pressure of correct footnoting?!

I'm hoping that someone out there in cyberland is reading this, because I'm excited to share some thoughts regarding experiences with developing staff.  In campus activities, I think it's challenging for us to maintain the focus on both the "urgent" and the "important," and all too often we don't get the chance to explore our challenges with supervision until they are upon us and we are staring a huge problem in the face. So, let's cut to the chase.

Challenges of Supervision

I look around the director's meeting table every now and then and can't resist the temptation to compare my perception of my work life with that of my peers, especially when the world of supervision is getting me down.  Let's face it, the world of campus activities does not afford us the opportunity to make supervision our most concentrated area of focus.  I don't know if there are a lot of areas that do get that luxury, but I know that when I compare my load of direct program responsibilities and advising roles to that of my fellow directors it definitely seems that I do a lot more "hands on" work than just "management."  I will confess, my tally when comparing my work life against that of my peers sometimes ends up in frustration.  To add to that, since I work at a public institution a local paper confirmed my salary fears by publishing some numbers recently. Gee, isn't that nice of that reporter!

I know I don't need to write about the need to focus on the "intrinsic rewards and benefits of helping students" to the audience for this site as it will define that cliche about preaching to the choir.  What I also know is that I have learned a few great lessons over the years that have proven successful in working to focus my energy in appropriate and positive direction.  I'm not going to sugar coat a thing for you.  There have been times where I've been ready to just cash it all in and try to pursue my dream job of becoming the person who wears the college mascot costume instead.  However, just when something drives me to make the next trip to the NACA Northeast Regional my last, I am reminded of what an amazing impact supervision and leadership in campus activities can have on the future of our profession.

The journey to supervision is always interesting, as we aren't always afforded the chance to "practice" these skills before we are required to show them. You could easily go from supervising no one to supervising professional staff with just one job shift. As overwhelming as this responsibility might be, it's worth it.  Every painstaking detail on every search process is worth it.  Every anguished discussion analyzing every aspect of who to hire is worth it.  Every dollar of institutional money invested toward staff development, volunteer experience, and whatever we can scare up for compensation...worth it.

Meeting these challenges

I'm hoping that this blog can help someone out there in NACA-Cyberland to effectively navigate challenges relating to staffing and supervision.

My most recent adventures have focused on the need to adjust staffing to cover for a mid-year departure AND someone's maternity leave, all in the same semester.  We have had our share of staffing challenges like this over the years, but never to this degree and never at the same time! The staffer who was on maternity leave also happened to be the specialist in a new area for us of International Student Services.  So, we were figuring out who would cover what areas for one campus activities position, but also learning the new aspects of the joys of SEVIS, quickly ramping up skills in cross-cultural communication, and then having to figure out who was ready to take on these areas as additional workload for both positions. Of course, all of this happens while our "normal" workloads burst at the seams.

Good news - we did great and we're coming out of the "storm" as we speak! Honest news - it was really tough. 

I'm going to focus on a few areas relating to staff development and supervision this week.  First, I want to share some suggestions for coping with significant staff transition, including changes to staffing roles and ways to approach what may seem insurmountable.  I'll also talk about adaptations to my own role as Director that will be long-term gains for our office.  Finally, I'll talk a little about some tips for welcoming a new staff member to your team as we are preparing for such an event on June 23rd.

Hope we can make this an active blog and send lots of comments around!  Now, off to check in on Orientation...academic advising ends in 10 minutes!  (no one can multi-task like a campus activities person!)

Cindy