Show notes
Everyone has had a bad boss. But what can you do about it? How do you balance the needs of the employee vs. the agency? And what are supervisors looking for in new hires? Join our hosts, Juliet C. Dorris-Williams and Gabe Howard, as they interview Susan Steed, a certified peer recovery supporter and program manager at The PEER Center. Susan tells us about her personal history of mental illness and trauma. Listen in as she explains how she entered the field, and what it has been like to move up the ranks into a supervisory role. We also explore how to improve your relationship with your boss and Susan shares what she looks for in a potential employee. Show Notes: 10:51 – “If you have some challenges, please talk to your supervisor. If you're not getting through to them, speak to the person above them.” (Don’t allow problems in the workplace to go unsolved. Advocate for yourself and find solutions.) 12:42 – “If we're being good supervisors, we want to take care of our people, and we want our people to be successful. And that's a partnership relationship.” (You and your employer are on the same side, working together for a common goal.) 14:08 – “If you don't know how to do it, don't assume that everything is just magical and that's going to fit into place.” (Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We are all peers.) 17:07 – “I look for someone with compassion. I think someone with compassion will have a lot to give.” (Successful peer recovery supporters are understanding and empathetic.) 17:27 – “ . . . having lived experience and also having the ability to articulate that.” (Just because you are in recovery, doesn’t mean you would be a good peer recovery supporter.) 18:07 – “I want someone that has been in recovery for a while, maybe a couple of years. Because I want someone that is ready.” (It takes time and experience with your own recovery to help others.)
