New Supervisor: Skills For Success By Josiah Stephan, SFBC&TS

Objectives Define what a good leader is The Roles of A Supervisor Expectations from SFBC Conducting an evaluation

Leading The management function of influencing people to act or not act in a certain way. Leadership traits that are often suggested as useful include: a sense of responsibility, self-confidence, high energy level, empathy, internal locus of control, and a sense of humor.

Traits Associated with Leadership a. Sense of responsibility. Supervisors must be willing to take seriously the responsibility that goes with the job. b. Self confidence. Supervisors who believe in their ability to get the job done will convey confidence to employees. c. High energy level. Many organizations expect supervisors to willingly put in long hours in order to handle the variety of duties that come with the job.

Traits Associated with Leadership d. Empathy. Supervisors need to be sensitive and higher management. Supervisors who have difficulty understanding what makes people tick are at a disadvantage. e. Internal locus of control. People with an internal locus of control are thought to be leaders because they try harder to take charge of events. f. Sense of humor. People with a good sense of humor are more fun to work with or for.

Characteristics of a Successful Supervisor The characteristics of a successful supervisor include: positive attitude loyal fair good communicator able to delegate wants the job

Leadership Styles: Supervisors can be authoritarian, democratic, or laissez-faire. They often use more than one style of leading depending on employee and situational factors. Paul B. Malone III, “a manager focuses just on getting a task done, a leader focuses on getting it done in a way that gives employees a feeling of accomplishment and willingness to follow the leader again.”

The Role of the Supervisor Setting goals Demonstrating effective behaviors Decision-making Managing Change Time Management Communication Skills Effective Meeting Skills Motivation Delegation Training

Decision Making Be truly open-minded Avoid taking sides Recognize your own bias Don’t let titles or prestige influence your decisions Avoid absolute wordings in your decisions

To manage change: Determine the method for introducing and selling the change to your team Break the change down into smaller steps Create a contingency plan Monitor the implementation of the change, including results and behaviors Accept and plan for the results of change

Managing Your Time What are some timewasters?

How to manage your time Prioritize your work To do lists Assess how you are currently spending your time To do lists Plan your tasks daily

Communication Skills Present one idea at a time Keep it simple Make it brief Personalize it to the other person Use the right tone of voice and body language Get acceptance of each idea Respond to the emotions of the person Appreciate your listener’s concerns Encourage listeners to express themselves

Steps to improve listening skills Ask questions Concentrate – stay focused Identify the main idea Listen for the rationale Listen for key words Organize in your mind Take notes

Criticism Do it as quickly as you can after discovering the problem Limit comments to the person’s actions in this situation Let them do some of the talking Be considerate Don’t mix criticism with praise Don’t play psychiatrist Make it private

Diversity Growing diversity in the work place means that supervisors may have a more difficult time determining where the employees are in regard to these characteristics. There is the additional danger that supervisors have preconceived ideas about how employees think and behave.

Effective Delegation Skills Improves productivity Can concentrate on supervisory responsibilities Develops skills in others More job satisfaction for employees Helps evaluate people

How to delegate better? Clearly define what you want your employees to do Encourage people to learn and make their own decisions Don’t take an assignment back after you’ve delegated it

Developing Good Relations A supervisor needs support from many people in the organization to be successful. They need the support of their employees. They also need the support of their boss and co-workers. Ways to get along with almost everyone include projecting a positive attitude, taking an interest in other people, and helping out. A supervisor who is liked and respected by employees will inspire them to work harder and better. Supervisors should be role models for employees by following the rules of the company. They should also be fair in the treatment of employees and ethical. Employees work most cooperatively with a supervisor they trust. Building trust takes time and effort, yet it can be lost with a single act that is unreasonable. Trust is built by fair and predictable behavior.

What does SFBC expect from supervisors? Stay aware of the big picture Create a productive environment for your employees Make decisions on your own Implement new programs and methods Inform your people about college policies and procedures Teach effectively

What does SFBC expect from supervisors? Genuine Relationships Not Demeaning, Uplifting Know Your Supervisees Job Improve their efficiency Jump in when needed Evaluate and grow them Evaluation form

Evaluation Questions Not just an evaluation of their performance How can we help you grow? How can you help yourself grow Go over Appraisal Form