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Successful Member Coaching & Supervision for Sub-Site Supervisors

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Agenda

VISTA training philosophy Supervisor roles & responsibilities Building relationships – key to success Supervision – what is it? Supervision activities Coaching – what is it? Coaching activities Understanding civil rights for sites and VISTAs Resources and help

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VISTA Training Philosophy

Adult learning theory Practical & relevant Directly applicable skills Based on needs, interests, and goals Based on regular intervals and progressive knowledge

acquisition Values-based Professional development in mind

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Supervisor Roles

Intermediary Sponsor Your role is often called “project supervisor” or “project director.” You have the primary responsibility for management of the VISTA project, including reporting requirements, but the day-to-day responsibility of supervising VISTAs rests with sub-site supervisors. It is your job to inform sub-site supervisors of their responsibilities to both CNCS and the intermediary sponsoring organization.

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Supervisor Roles (cont’d)

Single-site Supervisor If you are a single-site supervisor, you are in charge of all aspects of a VISTA project, including reporting and day-to-day management of VISTAs.

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Supervisor Roles (cont’d)

Sub-site SupervisorYou are responsible for day-to-day supervision and coaching of your VISTAs. You must notify the intermediary project supervisor immediately of any change in a VISTA's service status, including a VISTA leaving service early, a change of site address, etc. The sub-site supervisor also must immediately report any issues that develop regarding a VISTA's performance or conduct.

Refer to your Memorandum of Understanding, your State Office, and CNCS for complete details of your supervision and legal responsibilities

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Building Relationships

Productive relationships with supervisors are the #1 factor in VISTA retention and success

Cooperation is good: Enables someone to act more effectively by adjusting your activity

Collaboration is better: Working alongside someone to achieve something

Professional development requires deliberate relationship planning Shared purpose Shared power Respect and trust Shared control Shared progress indicators

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Elements of Supervision

Provide a supportive working environment Professional Welcoming Empowering Knowledge- and fact-based activity

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Elements of Supervision

Assign activities that align with the VAD Clearly stated purpose Instructions as needed, but also allow independent action Expectations set

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Elements of Supervision (cont’d)

Provide support Explain Encourage Listen Give consistent feedback Reassure Validate

Meet regularly

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Structuring Supervision Activities

Hold regularly scheduled meetings (weekly is best) Communicate availability outside/between

scheduled meetings Partner with VISTA(s) in thinking about challenges

and opportunities Problem solve and coach (avoid directing activity)

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Coaching

Coaching and supervision are related, but are NOT the same thing.

Coaching is about performance, action, and strategies that lead to success.

Coaching grows on the foundation of good supervision, and assumes VISTAs are: Set up to succeed—and will Ready to contribute ideas and effort Prepared to work hard to achieve clear goals Open to learning based on perceived value to your

organization

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Coaching Activities

Improve performance Assess current capabilities and map growth areas Provide actionable feedback Help identify various solutions to problems Create a culture of continuous learning

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Coaching Activities (cont’d)

Open possibilities Ask open-ended questions Challenge VISTAs’ thinking Supply additional information and resources Allow for failure, reassessment, and growth

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Coaching Activities (cont’d)

Remove obstacles … when appropriate Play an active role in clearing the way Observe and be a sounding board to allow VISTAs to

overcome problems on their own

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Civil Rights & VISTAs

Civil rights is a cornerstone of VISTA work, and civil rights training is required of VISTA members and supervisors. Carry out your responsibilities equitably, and guide your VISTAs to adhere to and apply them when working in your community.

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Civil Rights & VISTAs (cont’d)

You are the gatekeeper for civil rights: Take any indication or accusation of violations from your VISTA(s) seriously, and act on it accordingly and quickly.

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Civil Rights: Discrimination

Treating people differently because of who they are, where they’re from, or the groups they belong to. These groups include CNCS-identified protected classes: Race, color, or national origin Sex/gender Disability (physical or mental) Age Religion Political affiliation Gender identity or expression Sexual orientation

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Civil Rights: Harassment

In VISTA service, harassment is any severe and/or pervasive verbal or nonverbal communication relating to any of the protected classes, or any other non-merit factor, that interferes with performance and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. This includes but is not limited to: Explicit or implicit demands for sexual favors Pressure for one’s company Unwelcome persistent contact Distribution or display of offensive material Offensive looks, gestures, physical encroachment, or

threatening behavior

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Resources and Help

VISTA Campus VISTA Supervisors

Manual Webinars for

Supervisors Your State Office Corporation for

National and Community Service

National Service Knowledge Network

My AmeriCorps VISTA Member Support

Unit (VMSU) Service Inclusion Act