Foundation: Professionalism and Communication

A new supervisor was hired for the division and immediately implemented changes to the daily workings and procedures. No consultation meetings about current practices were conducted. One of the staff members asked the supervisor in the staff meeting about one of the changes and the response was “suck it up, buttercup.”

• What is your perception in terms of the supervisor’s professionalism in terms of communication, level of competence in leadership, personality characteristics, and conduct in this scenario?
• What are the human elements that influence this dynamic?
• How would you respond if you were the receiver of that message?
• How would you respond if you were a staff member witnessing this interchange?