Growing the Next Generation of Leaders: A Supervisor Development Blueprint

Frontline leaders play a critical role in patient experience and workforce retention, especially in high-touch areas like support services. Yet many healthcare institutions struggle to support “working supervisors”—leaders with limited time for development who may lack formal authority or direct reports.

To address this gap, the UNC Hospitals support services division launched a tailored leader engagement program in September 2024 to elevate the confidence, capabilities and professional identity of frontline supervisors. Developed in collaboration with department leaders and human resources, the program was grounded in feedback from supervisors and customized for relevance across diverse departments.

Learn details and results of the program and leave with a practical, adaptable blueprint for frontline leader development—designed to enhance employee experience, support retention and build a culture of continuous learning without major financial investment.