-Ray Blunt, author of Leaders Growing Leaders: Preparing the Next Generation of Public Service Executives

As the world premier border enforcement agency and the unified border agency for the United States, it is important that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have a cadre of leaders to shape our new agency and guide us into the future. To accomplish this, CBP has put in place a number of formal training programs and other resources that can help supervisors and managers perform their current jobs and prepare themselves to assume positions of greater complexity.

The starting point for new supervisors is the CBP Supervisory Leadership Training program (SLT). The SLT is designed for the new, first-time supervisor and provides the basics in leadership and management topics. The SLT will enable participants to do their jobs with the knowledge and confidence necessary to lead the workforce. Topics covered in this training include:

• Making the transition to supervisor
• Managing work
• Communicating for results
• Motivating employees
• Ethical leadership/professionalism
• Managing performance and performance problems
• Managing in a crisis
• Leading employees through change
• Employee and labor relations
• EEO awareness
• Safety/Workers’ compensation overviews
• Presentation/briefing skills

Experienced supervisors who have held frontline positions lead each class. In addition, a CBP executive addresses the class to discuss CBP expectations for supervisors, their role in a global environment, and current hot topics facing the CBP workforce.

The SLT course is supplemented with an on-the-job training (OJT) program for new supervisors during their probationary period. The OJT checklist compiles those technical, management, and leadership components of supervisors’ jobs to enable them to assess their additional training needs and to meet those needs using on-site resources at the local level.

To meet needs that are beyond the training provided for new supervisors, we have resources that address:

• Employees who are interested in becoming supervisors
• Current supervisors who want to add skills to their leadership toolkit
• Experienced supervisors or managers who want to continually improve as leaders
• Managers who want to develop their supervisors

The Leadership Center, a division within the Office of Training and Development, offers training programs, resources, and consultation to help supervisors and managers excel. The Leadership Center web page on CBPnet is a “one stop” source for information on developing, enhancing, supporting, and improving leadership skills.

All CBP employees have access to the Leadership Center web page on CBPnet to help them in their personal and employee development. Review your target career goals and take steps to make them happen! Take time to look at the resources available on the web page then schedule time each week to work on a plan for your own development and the development of your employees. It’s your career, and you’re the best person to make the right development opportunities happen for you!

Leadership Center Products Leadership Development Guide – Newly updated, this three-part guide is designed to help leaders create an environment where development is a normal part of everyone’s job, and where individuals and supervisors take equal responsibility for creating and implementing development plans. Supervisor’s Desk Reference Guide – Currently under revision, this guide is a “first source” of information for CBP supervisors on such issues as performance and conduct, employee assistance, workers compensation, and hours of duty. Each topic area provides a brief description of the supervisor’s role, checklists and guidelines, references and contacts for additional information. Mentoring Guide – This newly updated tool is designed to provide practical information for starting or continuing a mentoring partnership. This guide is appropriate for someone wanting to find a mentor and someone who would like to pass on their knowledge to a less experienced employee. On-the-Job Training Handbook – Currently under revision, this checklist guides new supervisors in identifying the knowledge and skills the organization has identified as important to first line supervisors. Leadership Development Plan – Easy to use, this online format captures leadership development plans and documents success.

In their own words

Photo Credit: Gerald L. Nino

"I believe that the SLT training that I received provided the basic skills, knowledge and foundation to help me transition into becoming a first line Supervisor and handle the diversity of the new position."

Don Conroy
Office of Field Operations
Headquarters

The Supervisory Leadership Training (SLT) course was a resounding success. The principles covered in the course are used on a daily basis. I only have great things to say about how SLT is conducted.

Rich Hammond
Port Director
Reno, Nevada

I attended the supervisory development program long after becoming a supervisor, and I’m just sorry I didn’t attend sooner because it truly was excellent. By bringing together different elements within CBP, including the Border Patrol, not only did it provide direction on transitioning to supervisor and managing work and communication, but it also allowed us to gain knowledge of leadership from other operational perspectives. Learning with these groups showed us how much broader an organization we have become, while also providing direction about what our future holds.

Lorraine Henderson
Port Director, Boston