Sometimes, employees new to supervisory positions need
a little help acclimating to their new roles. In other
instances, those who have been supervisors for a short
time can benefit from new knowledge.
Human Resources' "Supervision 101: Developing Effective
Supervision Skills" program recently filled that bill for
21 cohort members, 16 of which successfully completed the
course. The six-week course's primary goal was to provide
front-line supervisors and managers with practical knowledge
and skill development on the processes and procedures that
directly impact their daily work activities as a supervisor.
Vice presidents nominated employees in their divisions
to participate.
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CELEBRATION TIME: Eastern Michigan University's
first cohort of employees who completed "Supervision
101: Developing Effective Supervision Skills,"
recently
celebrated their achievement with a reception
and a
cake.
|
"The many topics covered were timely and will help me
be a more effective supervisor," said Ann Richards, manager,
admissions processing. "This class showed me how to use
many resources on campus that I was not aware of and also
where to go for answers to questions many supervisors have
on a daily basis."
"It was necessary to offer this program, which has since
been renamed 'Supervision EMU,' said Pat Harris, a human
resources consultant II in Human Resources. "We have a
Leadership EMU program for senior level APs and Management
EMU for mid-management. But, there was no training program
for new supervisors. We created a program that would reach
that niche."
The nearly eight-hour sessions covered:
- The role of the supervisor/manager
- Legal perspectives and the staff hiring process
- Timekeeping and payroll/HR processing/budgeting
- Performance management and progressive discipline
- Employee wellness/leaves of absence/worker's compensation/unemployment
compensation; and
- Customer service and managing technology.
The first cohort met once a week, from Nov. 3-Dec. 15,
Harris said. Each participant was given the Jim Collins
book, "Good to Great," which EMU President John Fallon
adheres to as a guidepost for effectively managing organizations.
Supervisors who attended all six weeks received a certificate
of completion. The five who did not will need to make up
courses to receive the certificate, Harris said.
"We did receive a lot of positive feedback from participants
and received suggestions for those who participate in the
next cohort," said Douglas Bunce, a human resources generalist
who helped coordinate Supervision 101.
"Supervision 101 was a great class, because you learned
things about other departments that we would not have known
about without taking this class," said Sherry Shopshear,
custodian foreperson, business and finance. "So, it will
benefit everyone to take this class and learn what each
area of this campus is all about."
Cyndi Jones, custodian group leader from McKenny Union,
agreed.
"The information that I gained from a legal point of view
alone will help me to either avoid costly mistakes or properly
solve problems with those I have working for me or with
me," Jones said. "I also gained a much better understanding
of how the University operates, is funded, the rules and
regulations which guide some decisions and who to go to
for any problems that may arise."
The next cohort, "Supervision EMU: Mastering Effective
Supervision Skills," is scheduled March 1, 8, 22, 29 and
April 3 and 12. The maximum number of supervisors who can
participate is 25. For more information, call Harris, 487-6858,
or Bunce, 487-4999.
