SEAHO Report - Winter 2018 - 35

SEAHO Features
is an intricate part of being successful in your job. If you supervisor values dependability and likes for tasks
to be turned in on time, that is good to know so you can ensure you complete tasks in a timely fashion. These
instances cultivate a mutual relationship where your supervisor is being attentive to your needs and vice versa.
As a Supervisor
As a new professional, supervision can be a big challenge. This may be your first time supervising. In training,
you will likely hear sessions on finding on your supervision style and how to excel in supervision. These are
sessions you should focus and reflect on. It is challenging to inherit a team of RA's and grads, who do not know
you at all. Therefore, it is important to put yourself in their shoes and hone in on your supervision style to find
a balance to propel your team forward. Supervising a team is hard, and you will make mistakes. However, you
should give yourself grace to make mistakes and challenge yourself to learn from those decisions. A particularly
challenging navigation as a supervisor is balancing being liked versus being respected. We would argue both are
important! Depending on your supervision style, the balance between the two may look different. However, it is
important to know who you are as a supervisor to understand when those two facets come into play.
Challenge #3: Identify Stakeholders
Professional
As a new professional, you have the opportunity to start with a clean slate and begin meeting new people
from across your institution. You want to capitalize on this opportunity and stretch yourself to meet Directors,
Assistant Directors, and more! Relationships matter in Student Affairs so it is important to meet people.
Personal
This is when you are able to begin building your "Board of Trustees." Your board are individuals you trust to
give sound advice and help you throughout your career. Your board should vary in experience from a colleague
to a Director to someone at another institution. However, take the time to observe and align yourself with the
appropriate people. Your reputation should be based on your work, but can still be impacted by those your
associate yourself with.
Challenge #4: Work Investment
Complacency
It may be challenging entering your 4th year in the same position. However, it is important not to get
complacent. You should be fairly skilled at the job so there is an opportunity to take on new projects! You
can ask to coordinate professional development sessions for your colleagues or even run for a position in
a professional association. Keep in mind, you committed to returning and should find a way to combat
complacency to thrive.
Increased Responsibility
On the other hand, you may just be starting a new job and will need to adjust to the increased responsibility.
You have the autonomy to shape your team and hold them accountable. For some, this can feel intimidating
and frankly scary. Remember to reflect back on your experiences and trust your instincts. It is important to be
committed to putting your best foot forward.

Challenge #5: Transition
Transition can be hard! You may be moving to a new state and have no ties in that area. You may be
transitioning to a new position. Either way transitioning can be challenging and there is not an exact time frame
of when it ends. However, if you are new to an area, look at common interests in the community. If you enjoy
playing baseball, find a recreational team to join! There are so many opportunities to connect, but you will need
to seek those out. Stretch yourself to connect with people affiliated with Student Affairs and not affiliated so you
have a balance. Most importantly, trust that the transition will fade in due time.
SEAHO Report Winter 2018

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