The Supervisor Brown Bag Series (SBBS) is an opportunity for supervisors to learn about and discuss relevant issues; network with other campus leaders; develop a support group; and share best practices.
Each session will be scheduled from 12:00-1:00…and feel free to bring your lunch!
The Pursuit of Happiness
Do you love your job? Do your employees look forward to coming to work every day? If so, come to the first
brown bag session of spring semester and share with your colleagues what makes your job so enjoyable. If not,
come to the session and learn about strategies and skills that you can implement immediately to make a positive
impact on your workplace.
Are We Having Fun Yet?
Research shows that people who have fun at work are more creative, more productive, work better with others
and call in sick less often. Also, did you know that a good hearty laugh burns up 3.5 calories? Come to this
session to gain new ideas for infusing more fun into your work environment (and burn some calories).
Painless "No Surprises" Performance Reviews
Are you a doubter that a painless performance review is possible? Then run, don’t walk, to this session to learn
the secret to taking the agony out of this important supervisory task. Come ready to roll up your sleeves and dig
deep into every detail of the pain-free performance management cycle.
From Destructive to Productive: Turning the Corner with Disengaged Employees
When confronted with employees who complain or try to stir up trouble, managers can feel frustrated and
helpless. In this session, supervisors will learn practical strategies for combating disengagement and for
motivating employees to become positive and productive members of your team.
From Fear to Confidence: Handling Difficult Employee Situations (presentation)
Many of us are uncomfortable with confrontation. However, as a supervisor, in order to be effective it is
important to occasionally address unpleasant and uncomfortable topics with your employees. This session will
explore skills and tools that will help you as a supervisor develop confidence in dealing with difficult situations.
Session 1: the beginning (presentation)
So, you have a position open in your department...now what? Come to this session to learn strategies and
tools to help you set up your new employee for success. We will cover a mixture between the “science” of
your supervisory role (including starting off with an accurate position description and understanding SCSU’s
recruitment and onboarding process) and the “art” of supervision (including strategies to ensure that your new
hire is set up for success).
Session 2: in between (presentation)
Successful supervisor/employee relationships start with good communication and clear expectations. What can
you do to make your relationships mutually beneficial? And what tools are available to you? This session will
highlight a variety of methods supervisors can use to enhance communication with their employees. It will also
address the importance of working together on performance improvements and professional development plans.
You will learn new strategies for addressing conflict as well as supporting your highest achievers.
Session 3: the end (presentation)
As they say, all things must come to an end. In employment situations, this can happen in a variety of ways,
including promotion, retirement, resignation and involuntary termination. Attend this session to learn about
effective ways to manage transitions when employees leave, including developing interim solutions while searching
for a replacement. In addition, we will cover things that you can do now to proactively plan for future transitions.
Supervisors are #1…when it comes to employee engagement (presentation)
President Potter and Holly Schoenherr, Director of Human Resources, will kick off the first session in the series by addressing the important role of supervisors in retaining valuable employees and creating a work environment where employees can thrive.
All Employment Contracts are not Created Equal (aka That Depends…) (presentation)
If you supervise employees in different bargaining units, you have likely become confused at some point by the nuances contained within the various contracts. And when you contact Human Resources with a question, you may hear, “Well, that depends….” This session will address some of the frequently asked questions about employment contracts as well as provide you with information to prevent you from making some common missteps.
Principles of Effective Performance Management (presentation)
This session will build on the foundation laid at the kickoff session in October (Supervisors are #1) regarding employee engagement. We will discuss common myths of performance management and explore the fundamental skills and practices of a “No Surprises” approach to helping your employees excel.