Building Strong Leaders: Highlights from UCF’s New Supervisory Education Program
Effective leadership plays an important role in creating engaged teams, supporting employee development, and achieving institutional goals. Earlier this summer, UCF’s Talent Development team launched the Supervisory Education Program, a comprehensive learning experience designed to support supervisors develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to lead effectively in today's workplace.
“The Supervisory Education Program was developed as part of Human Resources’ commitment to invest in supervisor professional development,” says Lynell Hodge, training specialist for Talent Development. “We recognized that supervisors are critical to the employee experience, and many are balancing complex responsibilities.
The program represents UCF’s ongoing commitment to investing in its employees by providing meaningful opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
A Structured Approach to Supervisory Success
The UCF Supervisory Education Program was designed to build essential supervisory skills while encouraging continuous learning and development. Through a series of modules, participants engage in a structured learning journey that combines practical knowledge, interactive activities, and valuable resources for ongoing growth. “As we designed the program,” Lynell says, “our goal was to create a practical and engaging learning experience that builds confidence, self-awareness, and supervisory capability.”
By blending online learning, immersive in-person experiences, and curated learning resources, the program creates a well-rounded educational experience that supports both new and experienced supervisors. Participants are encouraged to develop the skills needed to effectively lead teams, navigate workplace challenges, and contribute to operational success across the university.
The program places a strong emphasis on practical application, self-awareness, and compliance, ensuring supervisors gain tools they can immediately apply in their day-to-day roles.
Learning Through Engagement and Interaction
One of the program’s standout features is its focus on creating meaningful and engaging learning experiences. Rather than relying solely on traditional instruction, participants are encouraged to actively engage with the material through discussions, collaborative exercises, and hands-on activities.
Throughout the program, supervisors worked through real-world scenarios and participated in interactive exercises designed to strengthen leadership skills and encourage peer learning. These activities provided opportunities for participants to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from one another in a supportive environment.
Gabe Fernandez, Senior Recruiter for UCF’s Talent Acquisition Unit reflects on his experience as an attendee of the course:
“One of the most impactful activities was built around a single scenario that kept evolving throughout the day. Every time we returned to it, the situation had progressed, and we had a new tool or concept to apply to it. What really made it click was that we worked through it both individually and as a group. Reflecting on my own first helped me notice how my own style was shaping my read on the situation. Then you'd hear other supervisors, some brand new, some with decades of experience, approach that same moment completely differently. It really drove home that there's no single right answer, but rather a range of different tools and approaches that can all lead to a good outcome."
The in-person sessions also created valuable networking opportunities, allowing supervisors from across campus to build connections and expand their professional networks.
Resources That Extend Beyond the Classroom
To support continued learning beyond the program, each participant received a workbook to serve as a leadership resource and professional development tool. The workbook provides additional content and tools that supervisors can reference long after completing the course.
Providing ongoing resources reinforces an important principle of effective leadership: learning does not end when training concludes. Strong supervisors continually seek opportunities to grow, refine their skills, and adapt to the evolving needs of their teams.
Exploring Essential Leadership Tools
The Supervisory Education Program covers a variety of topics designed to help supervisors become more effective leaders.
One key area of focus is emotional intelligence, which helps supervisors better understand their own emotions, recognize the perspectives of others, and build stronger workplace relationships. Developing emotional intelligence can lead to improved communication, greater empathy, and stronger individual, team, and institutional performance.
Participants also explored the GROW Model, a widely used coaching framework that provides a structured approach to employee development and goal setting. By learning how to use this model, supervisors can conduct
more effective coaching conversations and support employees in achieving their professional goals.
Another valuable component of the program is the DiSC assessment, which helps participants gain insight into their communication styles, behavioral tendencies, and workplace preferences. Understanding these differences enables supervisors to adapt their leadership approach, strengthen collaboration, and foster more productive working relationships.
In addition to these topics, participants were introduced to a variety of practical tools and strategies designed to enhance supervisory effectiveness and support long-term success.
Investing in the Future of Leadership at UCF
The launch of the Supervisory Education Program marks an exciting step forward in UCF’s commitment to developing strong leaders across the university. By equipping supervisors with practical skills, valuable resources, and opportunities for self-discovery, the program helps create a foundation for leadership excellence and organizational success.
Lynell further explains what she hopes supervisors will take away from their experience with the program:
“If participants take away just one thing, I hope it’s a practical strategy they can immediately apply in their role. Whether it’s supporting employee development, strengthening team communication, or having more effective conversations, our goal is for supervisors to leave feeling confident in their ability to put what they’ve learned into practice.”
As participants apply what they have learned in their daily interactions and decision-making, the positive impact of the program will extend beyond individual growth to benefit teams, departments, and the university as a whole. Gabe shares, “There were a lot of tools and methodologies from that training that stuck with me.” He specifically references the NAN framework, which explores the concepts of Notice, Affirm, and Need, as well as the DiSC assessment. What really stands out, however, is how the training has shaped his mindset. “I try to keep each person’s style in mind when I’m having a conversation with them,” Gabe explains, “since it shapes how they experience feedback and navigate their working relationships.”
Through programs like Supervisory Education, UCF continues to empower employees to lead with confidence, foster meaningful workplace relationships, and support a culture of continuous learning and development. We look forward to seeing the lasting impact this program will have on supervisors across campus and the many teams they inspire and support every day.
