Field Notes #3: What is Compassionate Supervision

The Situation:

A supervisor told me she had an annual performance review coming up with an employee who had been underperforming. I asked what kind of feedback the employee had received leading up to the review. Silence. Then came a few comments Jamesa and I hear all the time when supervision has become informal or inconsistent.

• "Well, we talk all the time, so we don't really do formal, documented supervision."

• "I've tried to be encouraging. I didn't want to overwhelm them while they were learning."

• "People should know how they're doing. They're adults."

• I just dont have time to sit down with each employee.”

We decided to postpone the annual review. Instead, we spent several months building a more intentional supervision process with regular meetings, objective performance data, and clear expectations. By the time the review happened, there weren't many surprises left as the employee had received the feedback and the support they needed to engage effectively in their role.

Compassionate Supervision:

Many supervisors equate compassion with protecting people from difficult feedback. But when feedback isn't regular, objective, and transparent, performance reviews can become the first honest conversation an employee has about how they're doing.

Compassionate supervision isn't about lowering expectations. It's about making expectations clear enough that people have the opportunity to meet them. It assumes people can grow, and it gives them the information and tools they need to do so.

Your Turn...

Jamesa and I don't help organizations memorize supervision scripts. We help leaders build systems where feedback is honest, consistent, and focused on growth.

As you reflect, consider:

• Would your employees be surprised by their next performance review? If so, what does that say about your supervision process?

• What role does objective data play in the feedback you give?

• If compassion isn't about avoiding difficult conversations, what does compassionate supervision look like in your organization?

Field Notes is a series of leadership dilemmas drawn from real organizational life. Names and identifying details have been changed. The aim is to help us all lead with more humanity.

Ben & Jamesa