Week 1: Learning and the Sometimes Supervisor

To sustain our vision, we must be able to change and improve. We begin this series by focusing on how we learn and relate it to working with and supervising others. We'll identify our learning styles and analyze characteristics of different generations in the workplace.

Reading:

• Generational Communication Grid by Sarah Gibson, Accent Business Communication

References:

• Eric Chester's Website on Generation Y
• Chester, Eric. (2002). Employing Generation Why: Understanding, Managing, and Motivating Your New Workforce. Lakewood, CO: Tucker House Books.
• Chester, Eric. (2005). Getting Them to Give a Damn. Chicago, IL: Dearborn Trade Publishing.
• Meier, Dave. (2000). The Accelerated Learning Handbook. New York: McGraw Hill
• Vella, Jane. (1994).  Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach: the Power of Dialogue in Educating Adults. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
• Lucas, Bob. (August, 2008). Engage Your Brain for Learning. ASTD Info Line. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press.

If you missed this session, please review...

• Week 1 Packet
• Week 1 PowerPoint

Week 2: Listening is the Key!

Good communication is the single most important skill of managing others. In this session, we will break communication into smaller pieces so we can practice setting aside judgments before we speak. We'll analyze three levels of listening and identify ways to check our assumptions.

Readings:

• Four Components of Nonviolent Communication by Penny Wassman, A section from The Nonviolent Communication Process

References:

• Senge, Peter et. al., (1994). The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. New York: Double Day.
  
• Rosenberg, Marshall . (2003). Nonviolent Communication. Encinitas, CA: PuddleDancer Press.
• Huang-Nissen, Sally. (1999). Dialogue Groups: A Practical Guide to Facilitate Diversity Conversation. Michigan: Medicine Bear Publishing.
• Bolton, Robert. (1986). People Skills. Austen. TX: Touchstone.
  
• Griffin, Jack. (1998). How to Say It at Work. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Press.
  
• Elgin Hayden, Suzette. (2000). The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Press.

If you missed this session, please review...

• Week 2 Packet
• Week 2 PowerPoint

Week 3: Questions, Recognition and Cooperation

Discover and use the power of dialogue with your staff.  We'll begin the session with barriers to communication.  We will then practice asking open-ended and non-judgmental questions to ourselves and with others.   

Reading:

•  Impediments to Empathetic Connection by Penny Wassman, A section from The Nonviolent Communication Process

References:

• Rosenberg, Marshall . (2003). Nonviolent Communication. Encinitas, CA: PuddleDancer Press.
• Blanchard, Kenneth et. al. (1985). Leadership and the One Minute Manager. New York: William Morrow and Company.
• Faber, Adele and Mazlish, Elaine. (1999). How to talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk. New York: Avon Books.
• Bolton, Robert. (1986). People Skills. Austen. TX: Touchstone.
• Nelson, Bob. (1994). 1001 Ways to Reward Employees. New York: Workman Publishing.

If you missed this session, please review...

• Week 3 Packet
• Week 3 PowerPoint

Week 4: Flexible supervision: When-to-do-what

We'll explore a framework to help us be flexible and deal effectively with student employees, co-workers, and maybe even your boss!

Reading:

• "A Situational Approach to Managing People" by the KenBlanchard Companies, Newsletter Archive

References:

• "Situational Leadership" Summary by 12manage.com or wikipedia.com
• Blanchard, Kenneth et. al. (1985). Leadership and the One Minute Manager. New York: William Morrow and Company.

If you missed this session, please review...

• Week 4 Packet
• Week 4 PowerPoint

Week 5: On the Job Training and Coaching

This session is all about how to set new employees for success.  What do new employees need from us?  They need lots of training, constant feedback and helpful tools.  We'll practice creating tools such as orientation plan and task analyses.  We'll then use a coaching model that's perfect for giving feedback.  But before we dive into steps in training and coaching, we will identify what's teachable and what's not. 

Readings:

• What Great Managers to Do Differently by Susan M. Heathfield, About.com
• "One to One Training", Adapted by Mary Hoddy from R.W. Leatherman, International Training Consultants

References:

• Maximizing Your Employee R.O.I. in the Economic Crisis by Eric Chester, GenerationWhy.com
• Buckingham, Marcus and Coffman, Curt. (1999). First Break All the Rules. New York: Simon & Schuster.
• Buckingham, Marcus and Clifton, Donald. (2001). Now Discover Your Strengths. New York: Simon & Schuster.
  
• Blanchard, Kenneth et. al. (1985). Leadership and the One Minute Manager. New York: William Morrow and Company.
• Cottrell, David. (2002). The Manager's Coaching Handbook. Dallas, TX: Cornerstone Leadership Institute.
  
• Cottrell, David. (2002). Monday Morning Leadership: Eight Mentoring Sessions You Can't Afford to Miss. Dallas, TX: Cornerstone Leadership Institute.
• Whitmore, John. (2002). Coaching for Performance. London: Nicholas Brealey.

If you missed this session, please review...

• Week 5 Packet
• Week 5 PowerPoint

Week 6: Coaching and Performance Reviews

How can we give feedback that's constructive and in a respectful way?  Performance review is essentially a summary of feedback to your employees.  Instead of passively waiting for performance to improve, we'll practice different ways to step in and help employees. 

Readings:

• Management Style: Accountability vs. Blame, Tech Republic (website)
• NVC Short Overview (OFNR) by Penny Wassman, A section from The Nonviolent Communication Process

References:

•  Paul, Marilyn. (1997, February). Move from Blame to Accountability. The Systems Thinker

If you missed this session, please review...

• Week 6 Packet
• Week 6 PowerPoint

Week 7: Dealing with Difficult Situations  ♦ Memorial Union ♦

We've covered ways to train and coach employees with effective listening skills.  When giving feedback to employee's performance, we've used open-ended and non-judgmental questions.  But what if nothing works?  This session prepares you for having difficult conversations with your employees.

Reading:

• The Ostrich, the Sand, and You: What's the Diversity Connection by A.S. Tolbert

References:

• Tolbert, A.S.. (2002). Reversing the Ostrich Approach to Diversity: Pulling Our Head Out of the Sand. Mimmeapolis, MN: Nasus Publishing.
  
• Huang-Nissen, Sally. (1999). Dialogue Groups: A Practical Guide to Facilitate Diversity Conversation. Michigan: Medicine Bear Publishing.
• Rosenberg, Marshall. (2003). Nonviolent Communication. Encinitas, CA: PuddleDancer Press.

If you missed this session, please review...

• Week 7 Packet
• Week 7 PowerPoint

Week 8: Managing Projects & Processes

How do you grapple with all the work you have to do? We'll explore Stephen Covey's model for doing what matters most and doing it well. If you are a busy person, these principles will help you pay attention to the distinction between "urgent'" and "important," and then create a plan to do it in your workplace!

Readings:

• Summary of 7 Habits by Stephen Covey
• The Urgency Index

References:

• Covey, Stephen. (1989). The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon & Schuster.
• Covey, Merrill, & Merrill (1994). First Things First: To Live, to Love to Learn, to Leave a Legacy. New York: Simon & Schuster.

If you missed this session, please review...

• Week 8 Packet
• Week 8 PowerPoint
• Note to Self

SASS Resources

• Weekly Readings & References
• Job Aids Packet
• Courses for SASS Grads -- Legal size paper

• UW Campus Climate Website
• Equity & Diversity Virtual Resource Center
• Joan Lloyd at Work

SASS Spring 2010 Schedule

EVENT	TITLE	DATE	START	END	LOCATION
Week 1	Learning & the Sometimes Supervisor	2/25/2010	2:30PM	4:15PM	Memorial Union
Week 2	Supervising Four Generations: When-to-do-what	3/4/2010	2:30PM	4:15PM	Memorial Union
Week 3	Listening is the Key!	3/11/2010	2:30PM	4:15PM	Memorial Union
Week 4	Questions, Recognition and Cooperation	3/18/2010	2:30PM	4:15PM	Memorial Union
Week 5	On the Job Training and Coaching	3/25/2010	2:30PM	4:15PM	Memorial Union
Spring Recess	NO CLASS	4/1/2010
Week 6	Collaboration and Evaluation	4/8/2010	2:30PM	4:15PM	Memorial Union
Week 7	Dealing with Difficult Situations	4/15/2010	2:30PM	4:15PM	Memorial Union
Week 8	First Things First!	4/22/2010	2:30PM	4:15PM	Memorial Union