It may not be as much of a mystery as “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” but debating the differences between the definition of “supervisor” and the definition of “manager” can generate as much, if not more, discussion! Here we take a look at the similarities—and very important differences—between the two roles to… Read more »
Chances are you’ve heard the term “emotional intelligence.” As the name suggests, it’s a term referring to individuals’—generally employees’—ability to monitor and manage their emotions in a professional way when interacting with others. Clearly, it’s also a competency that employers tend to value in their employees. Emotional intelligence in leadership is critical. Emotional intelligence (also… Read more »
Of all of the skills and competencies that supervisors and managers must have to be effective, communication skills are arguably the most critical. Communication skills apply to a broad range of managers’ responsibilities—from providing direction, to offering feedback, to coaching, counseling, disciplining, resolving conflicts, and more. In today’s hybrid work environment where many managers are… Read more »
Supervisors and managers are often promoted based on their technical skills and job performance, not their leadership capabilities or potential. If they’re not trained properly in both the hard and soft skills of effective leadership, they are likely to fail, bringing team member performance down with them and negatively impacting the company’s bottom line. Poor… Read more »
We live in a world that is continually, and rapidly, changing, fueled by expanding global competition, new technology, emerging customer demands, and, most recently, a global pandemic. Especially in the uncertain environment that has existed since the pandemic emerged, there are a wide range of leadership training topics that can help boost the effectiveness of… Read more »
For many years, organizations were run with a strict top-down form of control. Leaders were in charge and gave orders. Employees were followers and did what they were told. That style of leadership has, fortunately, fallen out of favor over the years. Today we recognize that the polar opposite of that traditional relationship is a… Read more »
Managers and supervisors are leaders who play an important role in organizations of all kinds and sizes. They are the individuals responsible for providing direction, support, feedback, and encouragement to get the work of a department or division, successfully and productively accomplished. To do this, leaders need to have a variety of leadership skills to… Read more »
At its most basic level, leadership is all about getting people (followers) to move in the direction you indicate in pursuit of shared goals and objectives. That seems pretty straightforward but it is anything but! At its most advanced level, leadership is all about being transformational. Transformational leadership is designed to motivate and inspire employees… Read more »
Leading a team of firefighters to battle an out-of-control forest fire is far different from leading a team of medical transcriptionists whose job involves transcribing physicians’ notes and patient instructions. Even the most capable leader from one of these settings would not be able to successfully lead in the other setting. The skills required would… Read more »
First-line managers have a critical role in helping companies effectively meet organizational goals and objectives. They are the individuals on the ground who have the strongest relationship with employees. They’re also the ones responsible for overseeing employees who get the work done. Their role is a critical one. If they are not effective, they… Read more »