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PHI Guide on Coaching as an Approach to Supervision

Supervisors have a powerful impact on the lives of workers. A worker’s relationship with his/her supervisor is often the most influential factor in whether or not the worker feels valued and respected at work. Not surprising, feeling valued and respected is one of the biggest factors affecting a worker’s decision to stay on the job or quit. As one supervisor in a Massachusetts nursing home recently said, “Workers don’t leave their jobs, they leave supervisors."

Supervisors of direct support workers face challenging situations every day, especially working with employees who may have minimal work experience. Dealing with such problems as repeated tardiness, no shows, and negative or uncooperative attitudes can consume a significant portion of a supervisor’s time and energy.

Although it is tempting to blame workers for this poor performance, a recent guide by the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI) makes the case that it is helpful to remember that low-wage workers often have few resources for fall back on when the complexities of caring for their families conflict with the needs of the workplace. Supervisors have the opportunity to play a major part in helping workers succeed on the job. However, the traditional model of supervision sharply limits this opportunity.

One of PHI’s Technical Series Publication provides a useful guide on how a coaching approach can make the most of the opportunity to help workers succeed. Coaching is an approach to working with frontline employees that centers on developing problem-solving skills: the ability to think critically, prioritize, and communicate effectively. While the coaching approach can be applied to working relationships throughout an organization, it is particularly valuable and immediately effective in supervision.

According to the guide, direct-care workers who have more developed problem-solving skills are likely to become more successful employees by standard performance measures…. But more importantly, problem solving skills help workers develop better relationships with clients, co-workers, and supervisors. And relationships are what this work is all about.

Click here to download copy of Creating a Culture of Retention: A Coaching Approach to Paraprofessional Supervision.

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