Questions to Ask During Supervision
Strategic questions for supervision sessions that help you understand expectations, receive feedback, and develop professionally while demonstrating your commitment to growth and improvement.
1What are your expectations for my performance and how will it be evaluated?
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What are your expectations for my performance and how will it be evaluated?
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Why this works
Shows interest in meeting expectations and reveals the specific performance standards, evaluation criteria, and how your work will be assessed.
2What are the biggest challenges facing our team or department right now?
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What are the biggest challenges facing our team or department right now?
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Why this works
Demonstrates strategic thinking and shows interest in understanding the current situation and challenges the team is facing.
3How can I best contribute to the team's success and what are my key responsibilities?
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How can I best contribute to the team's success and what are my key responsibilities?
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Why this works
Shows commitment to team success and reveals your specific responsibilities and how you can best contribute to the team's objectives.
4What opportunities are there for professional development and growth?
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What opportunities are there for professional development and growth?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your commitment to growth and shows interest in learning opportunities and career advancement within the organization.
5What feedback do you have on my recent work and how can I improve?
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What feedback do you have on my recent work and how can I improve?
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Why this works
Shows interest in continuous improvement and reveals specific feedback on your performance and areas for improvement.
6What are the most important skills I should focus on developing?
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What are the most important skills I should focus on developing?
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Why this works
Shows interest in skill development and reveals the key skills and competencies you should prioritize for your professional growth.
7How can I better support my colleagues and what collaboration opportunities exist?
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How can I better support my colleagues and what collaboration opportunities exist?
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Why this works
Demonstrates interest in teamwork and reveals how you can better support your colleagues and what collaboration opportunities are available.
8What are the company's goals and how does my role contribute to them?
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What are the company's goals and how does my role contribute to them?
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Why this works
Shows understanding of the bigger picture and reveals how your role fits into the company's strategic objectives and mission.
9What are the opportunities for advancement and what is the career path?
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What are the opportunities for advancement and what is the career path?
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Why this works
Shows long-term thinking and reveals the potential career progression and advancement opportunities within the organization.
10What are the biggest obstacles to success and how can I help overcome them?
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What are the biggest obstacles to success and how can I help overcome them?
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Why this works
Demonstrates problem-solving mindset and reveals the main challenges and how you can help address them.
11What are the best practices for success in this role and what should I avoid?
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What are the best practices for success in this role and what should I avoid?
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Why this works
Shows interest in learning from experience and reveals the best practices for success and common pitfalls to avoid.
12What are the communication expectations and how should I keep you informed?
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What are the communication expectations and how should I keep you informed?
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Why this works
Demonstrates interest in effective communication and reveals the communication protocols and how you should keep your supervisor informed.
13What are the opportunities for innovation and how can I contribute to improvement?
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What are the opportunities for innovation and how can I contribute to improvement?
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Why this works
Shows interest in innovation and reveals how you can contribute to process improvements and innovation initiatives.
14What are the company's values and how do they influence daily work?
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What are the company's values and how do they influence daily work?
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Why this works
Shows interest in company culture and reveals how the company's values are reflected in daily work and decision-making.
15What are the opportunities for mentoring and how can I learn from others?
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What are the opportunities for mentoring and how can I learn from others?
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Why this works
Demonstrates interest in learning and reveals what mentoring opportunities and learning from others are available.
16What are the performance metrics and how are they measured?
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What are the performance metrics and how are they measured?
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Why this works
Shows interest in performance measurement and reveals the specific metrics used to evaluate performance and how they're measured.
17What are the opportunities for training and skill development?
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What are the opportunities for training and skill development?
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Why this works
Shows commitment to growth and reveals what training programs, skill development opportunities, and learning resources are available.
18What are the team dynamics and how can I best fit in?
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What are the team dynamics and how can I best fit in?
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Why this works
Shows interest in team integration and reveals the team dynamics and how you can best contribute to the team's success.
19What are the opportunities for leadership and how can I develop leadership skills?
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What are the opportunities for leadership and how can I develop leadership skills?
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Why this works
Shows interest in leadership development and reveals what leadership opportunities and skill development are available.
20What are the next steps and what should I focus on in the coming weeks?
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What are the next steps and what should I focus on in the coming weeks?
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Why this works
Demonstrates forward thinking and reveals the immediate priorities and focus areas for the coming period.
Best Practices for Supervision Conversations
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Show Genuine Interest in Growth
Demonstrate authentic curiosity about your professional development and how you can improve. Ask follow-up questions and show enthusiasm for learning.
Focus on Performance and Success
Ask about expectations, performance metrics, and how to succeed in your role. This shows you're committed to performance and want to understand how to excel.
Demonstrate Your Commitment to the Team
Ask about team dynamics, collaboration opportunities, and how you can best contribute. This shows you're committed to team success and collaboration.
Question Sequences
The Performance and Expectations Sequence
The Growth and Development Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Ask Questions That Show Lack of Preparation
Avoid questions that could be answered by basic research about the company or role. Show you've done your homework and ask thoughtful, informed questions.
Don't Ask Questions That Are Too Personal
Avoid questions about personal matters or private information. Focus on professional and business-related topics that are relevant to your role.
Don't Ask Questions That Are Too Narrow
Avoid questions that are too specific or narrow in scope. Ask questions that are relevant to your role and show your understanding of the business.