Newsletter

Empowering Leaders with the Supervisor Essential Skills Training Program

The inaugural 2024 Supervisor Essential Skills Training Cohort wrapped up this month, and the program, which will launch its second cohort in 2025, has made a lasting impact on California JPIA member agency staff.

“We developed the training program because we saw challenges within our membership of supervisors not necessarily knowing how to manage or lead a team,” said Senior Training Specialist Ryan Thomas. “Many successful employees are promoted to supervisory positions based on how well they performed in their previous non-supervisory job. Being a new supervisor can be very challenging because of the learning curve associated with leading and managing employees.”

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Thomas continued, “This program provides a safe space for supervisors to learn, practice, and fine-tune skills that help them navigate these challenges successfully.”

Designed to equip current and future leaders with the essential tools for effective supervision, the program helped participants develop problem-solving techniques, improve communication, and advance team management skills.

“We’ve seen significant growth in how participants approach leadership challenges,” said Renee Christensen, one of the course developers. “The discussions we had in class evolved from the instructor receiving questions and giving answers, to participants bringing actual situations/issues to the class for joint solution. By class end participants were speaking up and sharing how they applied these approaches and what was the success. The training absolutely equipped the attendees with strategies to drive change within their agencies.”

The program’s interactive nature encouraged participants to engage deeply in discussions and role-playing exercises that promote the practical application of the concepts taught. From conflict resolution to performance feedback, supervisors gained insights into handling complex scenarios professionally.

“I will strongly recommend that my colleagues participate in this program,” said Lake Forest Communications and Marketing Manager Jonathan Volzke. “I reached my position primarily through strong outreach and communication skills—this program provided me new tools to ensure I position my team—and myself—in an environment to do our best work.”

Cohort members also learned how to reimagine their departments and roles within their organizations. One group of three participants from the same agency was comprised of two supervisors and one manager. They all assumed these new roles months before the training program began. During the nine-month training period, they created a group based on performance and common goals. Despite their job hierarchy levels, they treated each other as peers with varying levels of power and authority. They also laid the framework for expectations on how people work together, communicate, and treat other departments as internal customers. This framework extends from the organization’s top to the employee with the least seniority. Effectively, they changed their work culture to one with a solution-driven approach. Anyone on the team can provide solutions and results, regardless of rank.

“Seeing how supervisors grew in terms of their thinking and how best to manage employees was inspiring,” said Sharonda Bishop, one of the course program instructors. “Continuous learning is a journey, and finding ways to develop, grow, and enhance management skills play a crucial role in ensuring that our leaders are prepared for the evolving demands of their roles.”

As the program develops, the Authority remains committed to supporting our members through educational opportunities that enhance leadership effectiveness, contributing to stronger teams and more efficient organizations.

To learn more about the Supervisor Essential Skills Training Program, contact Administrative Assistant Denise Covell.

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