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To be an effective supervisor, analyze your weaknesses, be open to constructive criticism, and develop relationships with your team. Maintain a balance of authority, be constantly learning, and motivate your team to perform better.
If you want to become a more effective supervisor, start by analyzing your weak areas. You might already know what they are, or you can determine them after a little thought. It may, however, require someone else’s insight to enlighten you. Being open to constructive criticism, from others or yourself, is essential to your goal.
Recognition of one weakness can often lead to recognition of another. For example, maybe you are too authoritative with your team. Realizing this can also lead you to realize that this behavior actually reduces productivity. If you are committed to change, you can work on multiple issues at once.
It is important to remember that there is more to supervision than enforcing rules and getting people to meet quotas. An effective supervisor is one who takes care of his team. You don’t necessarily need to create personal relationships that involve activities outside of work. However, you need to make your team members feel like they can approach you at work when they have issues or concerns.
If you are not approachable, a number of things can happen that can reflect badly on you. Your team may, for example, start bypassing it and seeking contact with senior management. This can make the management team wonder why your team avoids you.
Being unreachable also means that you may not be informed of impending problems. There are often issues that the team knows about before others. If they have a supervisor they are not close to, crew members often allow preventable problems to escalate. If you have a good relationship with your team, they are likely to be more protective and act in your best interest. This will allow you to resolve issues before it’s too late.
You still need to maintain a balance of authority. Developing relationships with your team doesn’t mean you can forget that there are jobs that need to be done, including yours. It can be difficult to keep that balance, especially if you’ve been promoted from the team you now oversee. You must develop a strategy for exercising your authority without appearing as if you are redefined by the power you now have.
An effective supervisor is one who is constantly learning. If you think you know it all, you are likely to encounter recurring problems. You must be willing to accept input and suggestions from those above and below you. You must also be able to make wise decisions. Other people can provide information, but there are likely to be instances where you will have to make the final decision.
To be an effective supervisor, you must be a leader. A leader is someone who can not only set an example, but who can motivate others to follow that example. Focus on ways you can encourage your team to do better and take pride in what they do. People who feel good about their work and who feel appreciated for their efforts often perform much better than those who don’t. If you can be a sign of positive change, you will feel and look like an effective supervisor.
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