Why Supervision Matters
At Anavi Strategies, we recognize that the cornerstone of our success is the growth and development of our team members. By fostering excellent teams, we drive more effectively towards our core mission.
Investing in high-quality supervision practices leads to higher retention rates, lower burnout, and greater job satisfaction. Direct supervisors play a crucial role in this investment, facilitating dialogue that supports interpersonal safety, reflection, and feedback.
Our Trauma-Informed Approach
We understand that team members may have experienced emotional trauma, making opportunities for dialogue, feedback, and taking perceived risks challenging. Power dynamics in supervisor/supervisee relationships can further complicate this. This is why our supervision model prioritizes trauma-informed practices to ensure relational and emotional safety by institutionalizing the following:
Sharing personal updates and challenges
Providing feedback, advice, and guidance
Addressing wider organizational concerns
Exploring opportunities for professional growth and skill-building
Structured feedback for supervisors
As we grow and develop new tools to support mission-driven leaders, our team members will face new challenges and opportunities. Supervision meetings are critical in navigating these challenges and fostering a culture of care and support.
What Supervision Is Not
Not Therapy: Supervisors model safety and trust but are not responsible for managing an employees' emotional healing. They should encourage appropriate behavioral health interventions when necessary.
Not Only Task Management: While task management is a significant part of supervision, meetings should also allow for emotional processing, mentoring, and professional development.
Not a Substitution of Healthy Hierarchy: Clear boundaries must be maintained, with supervisors managing the process and holding decision-making power. Supervision meetings should not undermine the hierarchical relationship.
Preparing for Supervision
At Anavi Strategies, supervisors are expected to:
Identify self-care opportunities before meetings.
Develop a clear goal and mental map for the meeting, compiling feedback, questions, and updates beforehand.
Supervision Schedule
Regularly scheduled supervision meetings are mandatory. The frequency depends on the team member's tenure:
Starting Employees (0-18 months): Weekly
New Employees (18+ months): Bi-weekly
Elements of a Supervision Meeting
Supervision meetings blend project management, skill-building, and professional development, as well as opportunities for emotional processing. Supervisors at Anavi Strategies structure meetings using the following elements:
Project Management:
Identify action steps and review project timelines
Strategize client decisions
Skill Building & Professional Development:
Identify training and skill development opportunities
Support long-term professional planning
Emotional Processing:
Debrief challenging interactions
Identify emotional regulation strategies
Prepare for new challenges
By incorporating these elements, supervision meetings at Anavi Strategies become a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, ensuring that our team can innovate and achieve our mission effectively.
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