SEAHO Report - Spring 2019 - 21

SEAHO Feature Articles
Embracing Your Summer Environment
As I entered my ACUHO-I internship, the information I retrieved through all of this self-exploration was
incredibly helpful as I maneuvered through the internship experience. I decided to be incredibly intentional
while I was in my environment to ensure that I capitalized on my experience. As I close, below you will find
some tips on how to embrace your new environment and maximize your summer graduate experience:
* Develop a positive mindset and do your best to maintain positivity and flexibility.
* Absorb as much as you can. Be a sponge in the environment and allow yourself to learn all that you
can.
* Be observant of the department, embrace the culture and organization type.
* Keep a journal. I kept notes of all of the things I was learning, experiencing and observing so that
I could process them with my supervisor and/or mentors. This included both positive and negative
aspects because learning what you do not like is almost as important as what you do like.
* If possible, branch out to other departments! I expressed interest with my summer supervisor that
I wanted to network while I was there and we were able to set up one on one interviews with other
professionals so that I could learn their role in the institution but also what their collaborative
relationship looked like with Housing & Residence Life.
* Be transparent with your summer supervisor regarding any/all outside commitments you have such as
academic classes, planned vacations, etc.
* Explore the community! This was a really influential component of my experience. Having the
opportunity to spend time in the community, exploring my hobbies and passions outside of work
helped me to understand what self-care looked like for me. It also helped me understand how the
community would play a role in my professional job search post-graduation.
* Be prepared to share your experiences with your supervisor upon return to your home institution.
Allow all of your experiences that you have gathered to guide you through developing both a personal
and professional development plan as you prepare for your final year!
* Lastly, have fun and be authentically YOU! There is only one you, and you were chosen for this
exact opportunity for a reason. Enjoy every second of it and attempt to live in the moment as much as
possible!

Navigating the Inevitable: Developing Staff through
Effective Supervision and Accountability
Derrick D. Dixon, EdD and Nequel Burwell, University of Mississippi
At some point in every supervisory relationship, conflict will arise. An impasse will be reached, opinions
will differ, disagreements will occur, or poor decisions will be made. It is simply inevitable. However, there
are ways to prepare for and respond to these challenging moments that can create durable bonds rather than
emotional resentment. This article explores how developing a solid base of development-oriented leadership
and then practicing honest accountability conversations can help salvage - and even strengthen - supervisory
relationships when conflicts inevitably take place.
Effective staff supervision is an ever-evolving process. Supervisors are tasked with developing current and
future leaders within the field, and their support and guidance to staff is critical. Developing a relationship
with staff members is a great way to start understanding the needs of each individual person on a team. Staff
members must feel that their supervisor is both an advocate and someone who will support them in their role.
Through the creation of a supportive and welcoming environment, a supervisor can more seamlessly assist staff
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SEAHO Report Spring 2019

SEAHO Report - Spring 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Spring 2019