Free Principles Of Supervision Essay Example

The direction of people at work is supervision. There are three key elements in the supervision process. A supervisor must give clear and specific instructions, monitor workers in their course of efforts and hold them accountable for their results. A supervisor has the responsibility for ensuring that these processes are successfully done. It is imperative for supervisors to comprehend and recognize the role they play in the system. Just like employees, supervisors are accountable for the results, and they represent the organization. It is a supervisor’s role to support the worker and make their work more efficient (Peninsula Builders Exchange, 2002).
It is a supervisor’s role to manage processes and people. Process responsibilities include various activities like budgeting, scheduling, evaluating results, monitoring work unit progress, work implementation and problem-solving. People responsibilities include various activities like motivating employees, carrying out disciplinary activities, monitoring and providing feedback on day-to-day performance. It also includes conducting formal performance reviews and appraisals and developing teamwork tendency among employees, as well as cultivating employees’ skills and capabilities.
Supervisors are in charge of making certain that work unit objectives and goals are achieved. Motivating employees is critical to fulfilling these responsibilities. There are a number of motivation techniques that can be used by a supervisor. They include assigning interesting and challenging work, recognizing and rewarding performance and providing positive feedback on employee achievements. It also includes tailoring rewards, assignments and recognition to individual employees’ desires and needs. In order to successfully motivate employees, it requires a supervisor to discuss expectations with employees, align motivating techniques accordingly and to celebrate success. The delicate combination of people and process responsibilities necessitates supervisors to have people and process management competencies (Community Foundations of Canada, 2015).
Monitoring day-to-day performance does not mean micro-managing employees but focusing attention on the results achieved as well as the individual behaviors and the team dynamics that affect the work environment. Most organizations require supervisors to conduct a formal review of all employees. Supervisors are also required to carry out disciplinary actions when necessary to ensure that performance expectations get achieved and that the work atmosphere is maintained.
Process management functions are the activities that promote productivity during the supervision process. Work unit planning is the establishing of goals and objectives for the work unit being supervised. It is done at the operational level, but it should be developed on an understanding of the organization’s mission, goals and objectives and how the work unit contributes to the achievement of organization’s strategies. Supervisors should identify a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures for the organization and the work unit. Qualitative goals relate to the satisfaction of employees, clients, recognition in the community, reputation in the industry and service quality. Quantitative goals relate to meeting budget targets, clients served, and cost of administration versus service provision and employee turnover and retention.
Scheduling is the assignment of staff to particular work hours or shifts in an organization where services are provided. Scheduling can also refer to organizing a work unit’s tasks for the day, week, and the quarter in order to produce outputs and deliver services in a timely manner. Task assignment involves assigning specific responsibilities and tasks to employees in the work unit. A supervisor determines the skills and capabilities required to carry out a task, assess individual employees’ skills and capabilities and assigns work to the most appropriate individuals (Community Foundations of Canada, 2015).

References

Community Foundations of Canada. (2015). Supervision. Retrieved from http://hrcouncil.ca/hr-toolkit/keeping-people-supervision.cfm
Peninsula Builder Exchange. (2002). Supervision and Management. Retrieved from http://www.constructionplans.org/supervision_and_management.htm