What Makes A Good Supervisor?

A good supervisor will inspire, challenge, and motivate their employees. In addition, a supervisor has the ability to stay focused and is able see the big picture. However, one could possibly argue that the best quality that a good supervisor must possess is the skill to recognize the potential in others. Nevertheless, the most important skill a supervisor must possess is the ability to help those around realize their own potential.

But is that all there is to a good supervisor? Or is there more? In an interview with Mrs. Jill Wilcox, a recently retired Assistant Claims Manager for a prominent workmen’s compensation insurance company thinks that the emotional intelligence of an employee also has to do with the ability to lead their team. “Sometimes you see people moving up the career ladder and wonder why? I do not mean to imply that all who are promoted are not worthy, it is just that there have been occasions when worthy employees have not been selected. Which makes one question the why? Wilcox, stated.

Being a supervisor is more than having the right qualities and skills. It is about learning how to play the supervisor game. As much as one would hate to admit it, in the business world it is about who you know and how well one interacts with those around. When an employee moves into the supervisory role the added bonus is when that employee knows how the rules of the game and has the necessary quality to inspire, challenge and motivate their employees. “Usually when an employee gets promoted from within its own company it really does motivate and empower the rest of the employees to aspire to become leaders. So, when the new supervisor has the supervisory skills and qualities it is really the company that wins.” Wilcox comme...

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...ce, pushover supervisor where there is always chaos and crisis. In an office with several Assistant Claims Managers, proving the latter is not a difficult task. This does not imply that an excellent supervisor has to be a dictator, but merely that they must learn to direct their employees by learning to comprise and reach and understanding with their employees. “Not that I am criticizing my fellow managers but if they would just listen to their employees and try to establish a comprised work relationship their units would function better.” Wilcox commented.

In an effort to empower and coach, their employees a supervisor must be able to continually raise the standards and push the limits of the employees. Employees are always capable of more than what they think, but they will never achieve what they are capable of unless they are pushed, inspired, or challenged.