Remote and Hybrid Supervision
Remote and hybrid supervision provide some unique opportunities and challenges. We share below a variety of recommendations to most effectively supervise remote and/or hybrid student employees.
Develop Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication Guidelines | Build Clear, Structured Projects |
Share Explicit Recommendations for Downtime | Schedule Regular, Ongoing Supervision | Create Relationship Building Events and Opportunities
Develop Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication Guidelines
Communication guidelines are very helpful for any office, but are vital as you consider supervising a student in a remote or hybrid setting. Develop clear guidelines and expectations for both asynchronous and synchronous communication.
- Remote/hybrid supervision requires some creativity and flexibility as compared to in-person supervision. It is very likely that you and your student may be completing asynchronous assignments, so developing a plan for how to provide feedback is vital.
- Set expectations around how communication should take place. Being clear and up-front about these expectations helps to prevent miscommunications or burnout from overworking or working outside of regularly scheduled hours.
- For example, you could clarify that it is appropriate for the student to send emails/messages during their asynchronous hours and that there is no expectation that anyone checks or responds to these messages outside of their work hours.
- Clarify if you would rather students send one email daily with all questions or if you want them to message you as each question arises. There is no right way to approach this, but be clear about your expectations and preferences.
Build Clear, Structured Projects
Because so much of work may take place asynchronously, ensure that projects have clear instructions and a structure, particularly for students who are new to your organization. Written instructions are particularly helpful and serve as a great reference.
Some projects lend themselves very easily to remote work, so if a student is in a hybrid role, ensure that you clearly communicate what projects or tasks need to be completed in-person. Consider this list of potential remote project ideas.
Share Explicit Recommendations for Downtime
There are many informal ways you might know when your student has downtime in in-person settings. It is harder to gauge with remote opportunities.
- Normalize that downtime is healthy and typical in most roles.
- Discuss ways to take initiative and some examples of tasks or projects during downtime. Taking initiative can feel particularly intimidating in a remote setting, so providing examples is very meaningful to ensure the success of your student.
Schedule Regular, Ongoing Supervision
For completely remote roles, consider adapting supervision to best fit the needs of the student. For example, you might block 10-15 minutes each day they are in to discuss questions and tasks for the day, building in more frequent communication.
For hybrid roles, we recommend providing supervision in person if possible.
- Regardless of the hybrid or remote setting, ensure that you are still providing between 30 minutes-1 hour of concentrated support for the student on a weekly basis.
Create Relationship Building Events and Opportunities
When individuals are not directly in the office, we may forget to include them in relationship-building activities, events, and opportunities. Ensure that you create remote or hybrid options for students to build relationships with other staff and be flexible in your professional development support.
- Record in-person professional development if students are unable to attend in-person to ensure they have equitable access to the content.
- If you host a number of students, consider scheduling monthly meet-ups to help them get to know one another alongside professional development workshops or trainings.
