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Custom Supervisory Academy

UC Davis Extension's Supervisory Academy helps organizations build their supervisory teams by enhancing supervisors' individual leadership abilities and developing their talent management skills. Incorporating a variety of teaching methodologies—mini-lectures, individualized and small-group work, discussion and exercises—we will work with you to develop a comprehensive program to fit your specific needs and your budget.

Anyone who supervises knows it can be very time-consuming. We work with our partner organizations to create a program that gives your supervisors the skills they need to make effective supervision almost second nature. The sample program outlined below provides an idea of the scope and direction we offer.

Sample Custom Supervisory Academy

Each course in the six-course series is taught by an instructor with specific and practical expertise in the subject matter. Courses will take place during regular business hours, typically from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at your place of business, the Sutter Square Galleria at 2901 K St. in Sacramento, or a place of your choosing. Courses may include the following sessions:

  • Leading with Emotional Intelligence
  • Managing Employee Talent by Understanding Work Styles
  • Dealing with Difficult People
  • Problem Solving and Decision Making
  • Coaching and Motivating
  • The Work of Leadership

Sample course descriptions

Leading with Emotional Intelligence
10 hours of instruction over the course of 1.5 days

Participants increase their awareness of emotional intelligence as the foundation for effective communication, relationship building and extraordinary leadership. They examine the most critical functions of a leader and access and develop the three core capacities of emotional intelligence.

Managing Employee Talent by Understanding Work Styles
6 hours of instruction over the course of 1 day

Students will explore what the world's most talented managers do, including how to appreciate and relate to people whose work styles are different. They will also look at strategies for improving productivity and results; managing talent; identifying their own talents and how to add value and create opportunities; supporting others and finding the right fit; and creating a more flexible, engaged and innovative staff.

Dealing with Difficult People
6 hours of instruction over the course of 1 day

Participants will focus on why people are the way they are, how to move from reacting to responding, general techniques for dealing with others, and specific strategies for coping with the most difficult kinds of people. Students look at practical and usable ideas they can use immediately in the workplace, with customers and in other situations.

Problem Solving and Decision Making
6 hours of instruction, 1 day

Students will learn to develop their analytical competencies in problem solving and decision making. Participants will define their own preferred style(s) of thinking; use the solution problem solving model; gain an understanding of group decision making and problem solving; acquire insights into how creative thinking differs from analytical/rational processes and when this creativity can be most helpful.

Coaching and Mentoring: Developing Employees and Getting Results
6 hours of instruction over the course of 1 day

Students examine the attitudes and attributes of successful coaches/mentors, learn a five-step process model, and acquire the ability to train, listen and provide feedback. They will also develop an action plan to help retain skills learned and put them into practice.

The Work of Leadership
12 hours of instruction over the course of 2 days

Participants explore Harvard Kennedy School scholar Ron Heifetz's six critical functions of leadership, and in particular highlights of his concept of "adaptive change" and the leadership skills required to meet challenges. They will also compare and contrast adaptive leaders to situational leadership, moral and ethical leadership, empowering leadership and other forms of leadership.

Additional sample courses

  • Building High Performance Individuals and Teams
  • Communication: What Every Supervisor Must Know
  • Communicating Effectively
  • Coping with Difficult People
  • Delegating for Maximum Results
  • Difficult Conversations
  • Effective Meeting Management
  • Four Generations at Work
  • Improved Communication & Conflict Management
  • Leadership in the Performance Review
  • Leading by Example
  • Making Transition to Supervisor
  • Managing Differences and Resolving Conflict
  • Role of a Leader—Five Simple Rules for Today's Leader
  • Role of Supervisor
  • Staff Motivation
  • Stress for Success
  • Taking the Conflict Out of Working Together & Motivating Employees
  • Time Management

Learn More

Please contact our associate director of Corporate Education, Kathy Canevari, at (530) 757-8895 or email for information about developing a program specifically designed for your organization.