As with any relationship, supervisors and members can clash over any number of things. Some common sticking points include:

• Different work ethics
• Differences in personalities, work habits, communication styles
• Not keeping each other informed about emerging issues
• Power struggles over responsibilities and credit for work done
• Failure to follow through on commitments

Here are some ways to address these issues:

• Negotiate a solid set of working agreements
• Clarify expectations from the beginning
• Address the behavior, not the person
• Give specific, timely feedback
• Try to understand the situation from multiple perspectives
• Commit to working together for a win-win
• Consult a neutral third party (like your CNCS State Office)

However you tackle supervisor-member conflicts, document every conversation.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don't worry, you're not alone. Read what expert supervisors say "I wish someone had told me... "

See what advice experienced supervisors gave incoming supervisors in one program.

Test your own problem-solving skills with these supervisor scenarios, drawn from actual field experiences.

Go back to Creating Effective Member-Supervisor Relationships