HOW DO YOU VISUALIZE YOURSELF AS A SUPERVISOR?

We all visualize, whether we realize it or not. To illustrate, close your eyes and try to recall a recent experience that involved a variety of physical sensations (for example, walking on your favorite beach, running a race, or eating at a new restaurant). Try to create an image in your mind of the experience using all your senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting), your feelings, and your emotions. Try to recall as many details of the experience as you can. You have probably done this hundreds of times without realizing it.

While visualizing an experience that has already happened can help you understand it better, visualizing can have even greater value when you use it to create a picture in your mind of something that has not yet happened—exactly as you want the picture to be—with the intent that it will actually happen.

When I was a new supervisor, I recognized after the fact that the picture I had created in my mind about what I wanted to achieve as a new supervisor led to my early success. I have continued to get a lot of value from visualizing different situations before they occur. I liken it to “prep work” when encountering a new situation.

Although it was not my first job in the federal government, it was my first opportunity to consider the possibility of becoming a supervisor. I was assigned to a team dedicated to supporting the procurement of products and services for a field organization. It was a very busy job, particularly in the months leading up to the end of the fiscal year. I had been in this job for about three years when I learned that my supervisor was interviewing for an opportunity with another civilian agency. I found myself wondering what it would be like to be selected as the person to replace my current supervisor. I felt I was ready to take the big step of becoming a supervisor.

I started to formulate an image of what it would mean to be a supervisor in this organization. I had learned a lot about supervising by observing other supervisors—the good things and the not-so-good things they did. I felt I had a good understanding of what it would take to fit into this new role. I knew about the constant change we were experiencing, the many interruptions my supervisor handled while trying to keep the flow of work in balance, and the diverse roles I saw other supervisors performing. I knew I would have to continually keep myself from getting bogged down by all the day-to-day activities.

I also recognized that others had formed views of me over the past three years and that all eyes would be on me if I stepped into this new role. I kept thinking about more details. I knew I wanted to share my philosophy of leading and managing others as soon as I assumed my new role. I thought about the key points I wanted to make to my new team. I still remember them today: “Make service the focus of our actions and behaviors.” “Get things done by working together.” “Build on the strengths of each person.” “Show personal leadership every day.” I knew I needed to take some time to prepare for this first meeting. I envisioned preparing for it like I had done for other key events by setting aside some time over several days to test my message to make sure it was clear.

Knowing I would not be able to visualize everything I would experience as a new supervisor—and that I am not perfect—I thought about using a technique I learned from one of my past supervisors. The technique was to set aside time each day to reflect on what was happening. I knew it would be hard to keep this up, but I thought I’d give it a try.

Another thing I learned from a past supervisor that I wanted to make my own was to solicit and capture feedback as a way to continue to improve while helping others learn. I decided that every time I engaged with someone I would try to remember to close the conversation by asking “What is going well today?” and “What could be different?” I realized it would take some time to integrate this approach into the flow of conversations until it felt natural. I wanted to see if this worked for me.

I did get the job and I was able to put many of my thoughts into action. Looking back on this first supervisory experience as well as others that followed, I can clearly see how valuable it has been for me to create mental pictures of myself in different situations. As a supervisor, you will always encounter situations that challenge you. If you can visualize yourself in the situation before you are actually in it, you will find that you are able to integrate yourself into the new situation more quickly and confidently.

Whether you are an aspiring or an experienced supervisor, you have a new group to supervise, or you are facing a new supervisory situation, how do you visualize yourself as a supervisor?