DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF YOURSELF?

It is often easier to give your attention to something other than yourself. However, to be at your best when supporting others, you must first know how to get the best out of yourself. As a supervisor, you will face many situations that will require you to muster up enough strength to get through, only to find another situation waiting to be addressed. The better you know and understand yourself, the easier it will be for you to be at your best while supporting others in working toward their goals.

How well do you know and understand yourself and what you bring to work every day? Do you know what gives you energy? Do you know what causes you to lose focus? Do you have a clear sense of your own strengths and limitations? Is there something about you that others always notice? Is there something about you that makes others uncomfortable? Do you know what it takes to propel you to a new level of insight, learning, and performance? Do you know how to create a spark in others so they can do their best work?

Addressing these questions will give you greater insights into how you can bring your best self to each supervisory situation. Over the years, I have found a variety of ways that help me understand myself, unlearn things that no longer serve me well, and find new ways to adapt to new and changing environments.

During a year-long mid-career professional development program, I had the opportunity to reflect on my supervisory experiences through several assignments. One assignment in particular stands out because I was asked to identify the things that have helped me get to know myself on a deeper level. I came to realize that while the opportunity to supervise is not unique, how I prepare myself for that opportunity is unique to me, as is what I bring to every supervisory situation. I learned a lot from the assignment. Each of the following learning points has become a guidepost for me as I continue to build my supervisory strength and try to bring my best self to each supervisory situation:

Reach out to experience new things. I have raised my hand and often sought out opportunities to help me learn about something new or different. These experiences have helped me become more comfortable with change. They have also helped me appreciate that there is often more than one way to get things done.

Keep an open mind. When I do not keep an open mind to listen and hear the views of others in challenging situations, I feel drained physically and emotionally. I feel like my brain is on mute. When I remember to step back and check my feelings, it becomes easier for me to refocus on the situation with a more open mind.

Recognize your choices. I am keenly aware that my interests and experiences influence how I see and interpret situations, but I have also learned that I can choose to change the way I think about a situation. Once I came to appreciate that I have choices, it became easier to work through issues quickly and with better outcomes.

Listen on a deeper level. As a supervisor, it is easy to get distracted and feel overwhelmed by the many things going on at the same time. It is also easy to get lazy about using good listening skills. Even though my first supervisory training exposed me to the value of putting aside my own thoughts, opinions, and history—and really trying to hear what the other person is trying to convey—at times I still catch myself not listening with intent.

Be curious and experiment. When in a new supervisory situation, I find I am naturally curious and want to use my energy to find the best solution. I am not afraid to try new ways of doing things or to initiate little experiments to see what happens. I use questions to connect with others, uncover new information, and clarify understanding.

You will face the choice about what to do, how to act, and who to be in every supervisory situation. If you have a clear understanding of how you can bring your best self to your role as a supervisor, it will be easier for you to make decisions, take action, and respond to whatever comes your way.