How Can You Benefit from Professional Supervision
In professional supervision, a person works with a supervisor who provides guidance on their professional growth. This kind of supervision is most common in fields where people provide services to others, but it can be useful in a wide range of occupations.
About Professional Supervision
Professional supervision involves regularly-scheduled meetings with a trained supervisor. The supervisor is someone who has developed their own professional skills so they can guide others.
Supervision sessions happen at scheduled intervals. For instance every month, or every two or three months, or more. The pacing depends on how much guidance the supervisee prefers, and can be adjusted as needed.
In a supervision session, discussion focuses on reviewing work-related issues, and receiving feedback on how to resolve problems, develop new skills, and evaluate ideas. The scope of supervision is fairly wide. The focus of each session depends on the supervisee and their professional goals.
The relationship between a supervisee and their supervisor is separate from work, and sessions happen outside of the workplace. Anything that happens in a supervision session is confidential.
Who is Professional Supervision Useful For?
Professional supervision is a way of helping people in professional positions improve their work performance. It’s most useful for people in certain types of employment, including:
- Professions such as the law, medicine, psychiatry, and psychology; e.g., doctors, nurses, therapists.
- People who are self-employed or who run their own small business.
- People who work in management or executive positions.
Most professional supervision focuses on professional service providers and executive-level employees. However, it can be helpful for anyone, in any kind of job. Most people benefit from some kind of work supervision. It helps employees improve their job performance, and helps them feel appreciated and supported at work.
Benefits of Professional Supervision
Some kinds of workplace supervision are about monitoring an employee who is underperforming. Professional supervision is different, because it’s not targeted to people with performance issues. Instead, it focuses on helping people develop their potential in the workplace.
For individuals:
Have you ever felt that you’d benefit from more guidance at work? Even when your work performance is good, it’s useful to evaluate your work and reflect on how you might improve, and discussing things with a supervisor can help you gain clarity.
There are many ways in which professional supervision can help. For instance:
- Develop the skills you need to succeed in your job.
- Help you manage your workload more effectively.
- Improve your confidence, morale, and self-esteem as they relate to your work.
- Help you improve your workplace practices and provide quality service to clients and customers.
- Keep you on target and focused on achieving your own professional goals.
For employers:
Professional supervision can be an effective way of supporting key members of staff. It doesn’t just help employees who receive supervision, but also benefits the business at every level of operation.
- Less workplace conflict and improved employee relationships.
- More productive and efficient employees.
- Better management of job-related stress.
- Improved job satisfaction and performance.
- Fewer work absences, and reduced employee turnover.
Interested in Learning More? Contact Dunedin Psychology Today
Wondering if professional supervision might be a good fit for you or your employees? Give us a call at Dunedin Psychology. We can help you decide if professional supervision might be helpful, and set up an appointment for preliminary sessions.