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 »
Posts Categorized: Supervisory
Span of Control: How Many Direct Reports Should a Manager Have and Why?
Managers and supervisors are responsible for overseeing employees. The employees they oversee are their direct reports. The greater the number of direct reports they have the broader their span of control becomes. Having more direct reports is not necessarily better. When it comes to span of control there is a “sweet spot” that represents the… Read more »
Supervisor vs. Manager: What is the Key Difference?
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 »
Characteristics of a Bad Leader That Can Harm Your Organization and What to Do About Them
Bad leaders can damage even the best organization. But what makes a leader “bad”? In many cases, it’s simply a factor of great employees being promoted into leadership positions without the background or experience required to help them excel in those positions. That’s a common situation facing many organizations. Unfortunately, while it’s good to promote… Read more »
11 Signs of Ineffective Leadership in Your Organization and How to Fix Them
Most organizations have leaders. Unfortunately, many don’t have effective leaders. The vast majority of leaders aren’t trained to be leaders! Even those who may have pursued a business degree were likely overwhelmed by theory, not practical advice and opportunities for application. Unfortunately, in many job settings, skilled individual contributors tend to be promoted into leadership… Read more »
The Top 5 Fundamental Qualities of a Good Supervisor
It’s long been said that the greatest impact on an employee’s decision to stay with or leave, an organization is dependent on who they report to. Good supervisor qualities are a “must-have” for any organization. Unfortunately, all too often organizations promote employees who have been strong individual contributors without thoroughly assessing whether they have good… Read more »
5 Emotional Intelligence Skills that Great Leaders Possess and How to Help Them Develop these Skills
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 »
Leadership Training 101 for Supervisors and Managers – Getting Started
The task to begin finding and implementing leadership training for your supervisors and managers may not be as daunting as some would have you believe — unless the initiative came from
Are You Hurting Your Company When You Promote Employees to First Line Managers?
Are Your First Line Managers Promoted for the Wrong Reasons? First line managers are promoted based on their hard skills, not soft skills. Hard skills make them
Common Problems Caused by Poor Leadership Skills and How to Fix Them
How do Leadership Problems Creep into Organizations? Leaders are often promoted based their job and technical skills; not on their leadership potential. Supervisors and managers often