Harlene Anderson, Ph.D.

Houston Galveston Institute • Taos Institute

www.harlene.org • harleneanderson@earthlink.net

A Supervisor

 Approaches each session and each course of supervision as a unique endeavor.

 Assumes responsibility for inviting collaborative relationships (context) and

dialogical conversations (process).

 Allows a supervisee to be center stage, to lead with his or her story as he or she wants
to tell it without being guided by what a supervisor thinks is important.

 Keeps inquiry within the parameters of the supervisee’s agenda (i.e., problem as
described by the supervisee).

 Entertains multiple and contradictory ideas simultaneously.

 Uses “cooperative” rather than uncooperative language.

 Learns, understands and converses in a supervisee's language--offering questions,

opinions, speculations or suggestions in a tentative manner that conveys an open
posture and allows a supervisee to shape his or her own story.

 Maintains a respectful, active and responsive listening position and shows that he or
she values what a supervisee thinks is important.

 Does not assume and does not understand too quickly (if ever), but rather as a learner
asks questions, the answers to which require new questions and opens up other ways
to talk about the familiar.

 Maintains a dialogical conversation with him or herself, as a first step toward

dialogue with others.