Employee retention and engagement are key to successful companies. The Supervision Essentials certificate program, developed by a faculty team with both academic and managerial experience, is designed for first-level supervisors, managers new to supervising others, and/or individuals likely to move into a supervision role. The certificate consists of four courses; each course consists of four modules (for a total of sixteen modules). Classes are in partnership with Penn State Wilkes-Barre and are instructor-led and held virtually, via Zoom.

  • MDEV 6000: Supervisor Roles & Reponsibilities
  • MDEV 6001: Managing Employee Performance
  • MDEV 6002: Solving Problems and Managing Priorities
  • MDEV 6010: Developing Individuals and Teams

Supervisor Roles and Responsibilities

Course Content

Module 1: Meeting Supervisory Responsibilities

  • The Transitions to Supervision
  • Supervisory Roles and Skills
  • Values and Ethics
  • Management Approaches and Styles

Module 2: Communicating Effectively

  • Interpersonal Communication
  • The Elements of a Message
  • Communication Barriers and Problems
  • Effective Listening

Module 3: Building Work Relationships

  • Interpersonal Styles
  • High Quality Work Relationships
  • Strengthening Work Relationships
  • Building Trust with Employees

Module 4: Leading Others

  • Characteristics of Effective Leaders
  • Leadership Focused Areas
  • Providing Excellent Direction
  • Delegating Effectively

Dates: Thursdays, October 19 - November 9, 2023
Times: 6:00-8:00 p.m., plus two hours of independent work weekly
Location: Virtual instructor-led training via Zoom video conferencing
Cost: $745 per person
Registration: Register here

Managing Employee Performance

Course Content

Module 1: Setting the Stage for Excellent Performance

  • Performance Management
  • What Motivates Employees
  • Supervisor as Performance Manager
  • Expectations for Excellence

Module 2: Clarifying Expectations and Observing Performance

  • SMART Performance Objectives
  • Setting Standards and Measures
  • Communicating Expectations
  • Observations and Performance Data

Module 3: Coaching and Providing Feedback

  • Supervisor as Coach
  • Providing Effective Feedback
  • Developing Coaching Skills
  • Planning a Coaching Session

Module 4: Dealing with Challenging Performance Situations

  • Performance Improvement Sessions
  • Positive Approach to Discipline
  • Planning for Performance Improvement
  • High-Quality Performance Evaluations

Future dates to be announced soon.

Solving Problems and Managing Priorities

Course Content

Module 1: Managing Time and Priorities

  • Identifying Priorities
  • Maintaining Focus
  • Dealing with Time Wasters
  • A Goal-Based Approach to Time Management

Module 2: Solving Problems

  • Problems Faced by Supervisors
  • The Six-Step Problem-Solving Process
  • Tools and Techniques for Solving Problems
  • Applying Tools to Current Problems

Module 3: Resolving Conflicts

  • Causes and Nature of Interpersonal Conflict
  • Conflict Resolution Styles
  • Planning Positive Resolutions
  • Guidelines for Positive Interactions

Module 4: Supervising Projects

  • What is a Project?
  • Project Stages and Elements
  • Tools for Project Planning, Coordination and Monitoring
  • Reducing Project-Related Problems

Future dates to be announced soon.

Developing Individuals and Teams

Course Content

Module 1: Interviewing and Selecting Employees

  • Behavioral Interviewing
  • Planning the Interview and Developing Questions
  • Conducting Effective Interviews
  • Legal Considerations in Employee Selection

Module 2: Developing Employee Skills

  • The Supervisor's Role in Skill Development
  • Determining Employee Needs for Development
  • On-The-Job Training and Coaching
  • Tips for Effective Classroom Training

Module 3: Developing a Team

  • Characteristics of Effective Teams
  • Developing Teams for Success
  • Reducing Barriers to Teamwork
  • Virtual Teams

Module 4: Building a Postive Work Climate

  • Employee Interactions, Work Climates and Performance
  • Respect in a Diverse Workplace
  • Dealing with Difficult Behaviors in Others
  • Keeping on Top of Stress

Future dates to be announced soon.

For more information or group registration, contact [email protected]