Supervisory Skills Webinars

The Role of the Supervisor

Supervisors play a key middle management role. They need to be effective leaders and mentors for their direct reports while also serving as authentic messengers for leadership. In many ways, they set the tone for the whole organization. It’s not a role that should be taken lightly if you’re serious about creating a positive, constructive work environment.

Crucial Supervisory Skills

No matter what industry you’re in, these interpersonal and professional skills are crucial for success in a supervisor role. Make sure your workforce is prepared:

Communication Transparent communication is absolutely essential for supervisors. They need to be able to set clear expectations, communicate issues and differences, and articulate any problems or areas for improvement. Clear communication is fundamental to ensuring all employees and teams are on the same page and set up for success.

Conflict Resolution Supervisors must be equipped to manage conflict between employees and teams. Strengths here include mediation, listening, and diplomacy. Effective conflict resolution empowers learning and growth in the process and ultimately makes for a more cohesive team.

Trust Employees perform better and exhibit higher morale if they feel trusted to do their jobs well. Supervisors must place trust in employees to get the job done—otherwise it can become a micromanaging situation in which a supervisor sows doubt and resentment with their direct reports.

Time Management Supervisors must be deadline-oriented and able to manage tasks at an appropriate cadence. This involves organization, a sense of urgency and a forward-thinking mentality. Supervisors should anticipate how projects might go, correct for any foreseeable complications, and help their employees keep objectives on track.

Active Listening Nurturing successful relationships, both with leadership and with direct reports, requires active listening. Supervisors need to understand the unique needs and expectations of both parties and work to deliver on those expectations.

HRDQ-U supervisory skills training events can help to set your middle management leaders up for success.