What Kind of Supervisor Are You?

BY: RON QUINKERT

We all have had a bad supervisor at one point in our lives. Maybe they didn’t listen, didn’t show appreciation or didn’t include us in business changes. Whatever the particular issue was, they were the kind of supervisor who drives away employees. This leads to the question: What kind of supervisor are you?

Although you might not think of yourself as a supervisor, anyone who has people reporting to them can be considered a supervisor. While the definition is simple, mastering supervisory skills is much more complex. 

The best way to assess your leadership effectiveness is to think about your team, as the success of your leadership can be seen in their success. Ask yourself these questions: Is there mutual respect among you and team members? Are both sides listened to? Are employees made aware of all changes occurring in their department, and they support the changes? Do you have problems with employees showing up late, breaking safety rules or cutting corners just to get the job done? All of these issues could be resolved with stronger supervisory skills.

Bad managers are the number one reason people leave their jobs. Instead of being the reason your workers quit, be the reason they stay. How can you achieve this? By establishing core supervisory skills that will enable you to better relate to workers, inspire your team and make them excited to come to work every day. These skills include:

• Get to know your employees. This means being able to relate to co-workers as individuals, learning their likes and interests as well as sharing your own. Getting to know subordinates in this way will establish a more personal connection, helping you to learn the different behavioral characteristics of all employees. Once these characteristics are known, you can then identify the best approach for how to effectively lead each person based on their personalities and needs.
• Define your leadership style. There are many diverse styles of leadership commonly seen in business, each with their own pros and cons. For example, some leaders prefer to delegate and trust employees with making their own decisions, while others prefer to take the reins on all decisions to ensure swift and consistent results. It is left up to the supervisor to decide which style is best for them and their employees. Sometimes, the “right” leadership style will vary according to the employee you are leading. The most effective leaders can fluidly change between each type to successfully oversee all situations and subordinates.
• Learn to manage time effectively. Leaders who struggle with time management can cause much strain among their team. Successful supervisors learn how to maximize their time available and decrease non-productive activities to create a more efficient and productive work environment. Learning to set priorities and effectively communicate these objectives to team members will not only boost engagement but increase motivation for achieving goals, creating a win-win situation. 

Anyone can be a supervisor, but not everyone can be a leader. Target areas such as communication, conflict resolution and delegation to become the leader your team needs. By establishing stronger supervisory skills and reaching your full potential as a leader, you can help your team reach their full potential.

Learn how The Center can help you reach your full leadership potential here or contact inquiry@the-center.org. 


MEET OUR EXPERT

Ron Quinkert, Senior Business Solutions Manager
Ron Quinkert is a Senior Business Solutions Manager with the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and has 20 years of automotive sales and manufacturing experience. He works directly with manufacturers in seven Southeast and Central Michigan counties. Ron is a seasoned professional with expertise in team building, automotive product and manufacturing processes, tool design, operational audit practices, procedures and improvements.



Since 1991, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center has assisted Michigan’s small and medium-sized businesses to successfully compete and grow. Through personalized services designed to meet the needs of clients, we develop more effective business leaders, drive product and process innovation, promote company-wide operational excellence and foster creative strategies for business growth and greater profitability. Find us at www.the-center.org.