Leadership style & workload management

Thomas, Kwesi & Albert

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LEADERSHIP STYLES: Supervisors trainingExposure to various leadership approaches

Identification of leadership orientationTo understand the leadership orientation of

supervisorsIntroduce supervisors to various leadership stylesImprovement of leadership skills for PhD

supervision

Activities: using questionnaires to identify their management

orientationGroup discussion

AssessmentFeedback from students through questionnaires

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Supervisors training (cont)Effective communication skill

Improve communication skill of supervisorsImprove supervisor-supervisee relationshipIdentify appropriate communication channelsTo improve monitoring and feedback on PhD work

ActivityLecture by communication expert/practitionerRole-play based on the content of the lecture

AssessmentFeedback from supervisee/supervisor through

interactionStudent’s progress report

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Supervisors training (cont)Motivation/encouraging skills

Identify strategies to motivate PhD studentsAcquire the relevant motivating skills relevant to PhD

supervisionImprove commitment and work rate of studentsIdentify economic, social and local needs of students

ActivitiesLecture by an expert or practitionerGroup work to identify and discuss strategies that relate

their context Develop individual action plan to motivate students

Assessment Feedback on the progress of students

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Supervisors training (cont)Ethical challenges – abuse and harassment

Identify practical challenges in PhD supervisionIdentify various forms or harassment/abuse in PhD

supervisionRecommend strategies to promote high ethical

standards

ActivitiesLecture on code of ethics and ethical issues in PhD

supervisionGroup discussion to share practical challenges and make

recommendationsIndividual action plans to achieve high ethical standards

AssessmentFeedback from studentsInstitutional report on unethical behaviors 5

Workload ManagementMentoring

To identify potential teaching and research assistants Train and build capacity of assistants To reduce workload of supervisors To allow supervisors to devote more time to PhD supervision To recommend to management to recruit prepared and tested

faculty

Activity Identify potential teaching and research assistants through

personal observation, class participation and academic performance

Formal and informal training of identified assistants

Assessment Deliverables – ability to perform assigned task

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Workload Management (cont)Team work with colleagues

To promote team supervisionTo promote joint teaching and research To prepare for succession in the absence of supervisorTo promote joint publication

ActivityIdentify likeminded, willing and reliable facultyShare work and interact with each other’s students Seek direct assistance from colleaguesJoint research work with colleagues and PhD students

AssessmentJoint research outputProgress of jointly supervised workFeedback from students through deliverables

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