How to Communicate with Your Internship Supervisor

As an intern, keeping your supervisors informed about your progress matters because it helps them understand the workload you're dealing with, your progress with your work, as well as how well you are adapting in the office.

In this content, we'll discuss some useful tips for communicating with supervisors and how to improve your communication skills to fit the situation:

Tips to Communicate with Supervisor

Before reaching out to your supervisor, it's a good idea to understand their management style. Keep in mind that how you communicate with supervisors can vary because everyone has their own preferred way of managing work and talking with others.

Read more on the Types of Managers You Need to Know here!

1. Confirm Receipt

When your supervisor assigns tasks to you through email or any platform, make sure to confirm that you received the task and indicate that you will complete it before the deadline. Additionally, it's better to ask questions during the early stages to avoid any misunderstandings about the project. Feel free to ask your questions or request a brief meeting to ensure there's no miscommunication.

2. Send Draft

If your supervisor entrusts you with a project, be sure to draft the completed task for their review and to double-check for errors. This ensures that when the task is delivered to the intended recipient, it's error-free due to the prior review.

3. Get Feedback

It's important to send the draft to your supervisor a day before the initial deadline. This allows you more time to review and address any feedback provided.

Tips to Adjust Your Communication Skills

1. Frequency

Depending on the kind of managers you might encounter, a hands-off manager may appreciate fewer questions and prefer you to be more independent in your tasks. You can use this to demonstrate your problem-solving and show that you learn things quickly.

On the other hand, micromanagers might prefer more frequent communication. You can use this to demonstrate your reliability, incorporate feedback, and keep them informed about your progress.

2. Style

Some managers like the traditional way of having face-to-face meetings or talking in person, while others prefer emails, calls, or even text messages.

Agile managers often favor text messages over emails because they're quicker to read and respond to. On the other hand, busy managers may prefer using emails to communicate as they can respond at their convenience.

It's also essential to recognize your responsibility to follow up after a few days because it's ultimately your task.

3. With Peers or Co-workers

Similar to the various types of managers or supervisors you may encounter, there are different office dynamics at play. The office environment influences the interactions among coworkers, so it's essential to understand the workplace's pace before you communicate with your peers.

In a hierarchical office, make sure to seek approval before reaching out to higher-ups, as it can take some time and things need to be double-checked through different departments involved.

On the other hand, in a collaborative office, feel free to be more proactive in sharing your ideas or opinions on a matter, as they are more likely to be heard.

We've covered valuable tips, such as confirming task receipt, sending drafts for review, and seeking feedback to enhance communication with supervisors. By applying these insights, you can navigate workplace communication with confidence and make a positive impact during your internship.

ArtBound Initiative connects students and recent graduates with key players in the creative industry in New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Melbourne, Sydney & Hong Kong. The program includes a guaranteed internship, one-on-one coaching, travel support (housing, visa & insurance), and events.

Questions? Contact ArtBound Initiative at info@artboundinitiative.com