D3.03 - Roundtable: Nurturing New Leaders: How Supervisory Training Transforms Public Health Practice

Brief Abstract Summary: Quality supervision is essential for a resilient public health workforce. However, many professionals find themselves in supervisory roles without formal training or ongoing support. In this session, we will explore practical tools for developing effective public health supervisors, based on a training model initially designed for new leaders in local health departments. This program not only equips supervisors with the necessary skills but also encourages a shift from traditional supervisory frameworks to one that emphasizes capacity building. This shift fosters employee growth, enhances staff engagement, and improves organizational retention. By attending, you will contribute to a collaborative effort to expand leadership skillsets, integrate mentoring principles into supervisory practices, and support workforce well-being across various public health settings. This session is ideal for an oral presentation or poster.

Detailed abstract description: Quality supervision is essential for building a resilient public health workforce; however, transitioning into a management role calls on a different skill set. Unfortunately, many professionals step into supervisory roles without the necessary preparation or ongoing support. A 2016 survey study revealed that 87% of managers wished they had received more management training when they first became managers (Grovo, 2016). Research also supports the impact of poor supervision in the workplace. According to a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey, 84% of workers believe that poorly trained managers contribute to work-related stress on the job. Additionally, 50% feel their performance would be significantly improved if their direct supervisor received additional training in people management (SHRM, 2020). To address this critical gap, Miriam Link-Mullison, in partnership with the Illinois Public Health Association, developed a targeted training series designed to cultivate essential supervisory competencies in new and emerging leaders within local health departments.

Tailored for supervisors with fewer than five years of experience, this program equips participants with practical and immediately applicable tools, which include a complementary training workbook with practice prompts and external links for additional resources. These tools empower leaders to enhance their skills in delegation, communication, performance management, and staff development. Our training challenges participants to reframe their approach from simply managing tasks to actively nurturing the capacity of their teams. Through dynamic, interactive sessions, learners will adopt a growth-oriented framework for supervision that emphasizes self-reflection, mentorship, and effective delegation. Early evaluation data from over 200 trainees across 12 cohorts shows significant increases in supervisor confidence, team engagement, and clarity around performance expectations. These are promising indicators of the program’s potential for making a substantial difference.

In this session, we will share vital lessons learned from our program's implementation, evaluation, and partnership opportunities while highlighting how this adaptable model can strengthen leadership pipelines nationwide and prepare the next generation of health education professionals. Attendees will leave with powerful strategies to embed mentoring and self-care within their supervisory practices, foster workforce diversity and retention, and align leadership development with broader organizational goals. By transforming supervision into a deliberate practice of empowerment and education, this initiative demonstrates how localized training efforts can create a global impact.