Roles and responsibilities for supervisors have increased with time. Staying on top of priorities and meeting performance targets through employees requires organization and effective time management practices. In this SoS episode, AEU LEAD Director Joe White highlights five steps that can be taken to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of dealing with daily challenges supervisors now face.
Transcript
The SoS podcast is a production of AEU LEAD, an organization redefining how mid and frontline managers are developed.
Hello, and thank you for joining us. I'm Joe White, and this is the Supervisor Skills: Secrets of Success podcast. Today's recording is our 49th overall and the seventh episode in 2024. For our returning listeners, thank you for your continued support. And for those new to the SoS podcast series, we're honored to have you and hope you'll find value in the information shared.
Our discussion today is one of great relevance to most, if not all, supervisors. We're highlighting steps that can be taken to improve your overall job performance. I'll be sharing tried and true techniques that help supervisors navigate daily challenges while maintaining focus on the things that matter most. More specifically, we're diving into ways you can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of dealing with everything you have responsibility for completing. For those interested in learning more, let's jump right into it.
Someone recently asked me a question that really made me think. They wanted to know what I thought was the absolute most important skill for supervisors needed to succeed at this point in time. After some thought and reflection, my response was something along these lines. More than at any point in the past, supervisors must have the ability to deal with the daily challenges without losing sight of the big picture. They must also be able to resolve issues that pop up, but must also meet operational objectives in terms of performance outcomes. Personnel matters or process upsets are all part of the game now. All said, you have to find a way to keep everything between the lines and moving forward.
One of the biggest challenges supervisors routinely face is finding the time to get everything done. Even the best made plans can get derailed in a moment's notice, requiring time and attention few can easily offer. Combined with a transitioning workforce and an ever evolving workplace, the skills required for frontline leaders today are considerably different than those needed even a decade ago. Among those most critical to success are the ones required for organization and orientation.
According to a recent study conducted by Gartner, supervisors now have 51% more responsibilities than they can effectively handle. For a variety of reasons, including some of those previously mentioned, this trend won't resolve itself anytime soon through natural means. The labor market will only get more challenging in the years ahead, and advancements in technology will increasingly reshape the workplace. The headwinds now faced represent a new reality. Moving forward requires a shift in tack and an adjustment in our approach. This begins with a close examination of those things we routinely do or don't do that impact our overall efficiency and effectiveness.
Doing more of the same only more frequently or better the next time around typically doesn't move the bar. If you're in need of a different outcome, you need a different approach. And for most, that requires more time, something you should do everything within your power to reclaim. For those relating to the outlined challenges or referenced needs, here are several recommendations for consideration.
1. Understand Priorities
Over the course of my career, I've probably seen more than 100 job descriptions for frontline supervisors. While the words vary, the message is always the same. Meet operational objectives through your employees without incident or injury. More than anything, you need to understand defined roles and responsibilities for your job. These are the parameters used to distinguish between success or failure. Reference them, prioritize them, and use them for guidance when critical decisions must be made.
2. Get Organized
While an organization won't guarantee success, success isn't possible without it. Reclaiming part of your day now is a fundamental need to better prepare for the challenges ahead. This starts with detailed planning, which for many requires coming in earlier or staying later. It also requires recognizing and eliminating unnecessary time drains. As an example, a recent study found that the average worker spends 11 hours or more each week on just emails. Get organized, plan your day, and avoid unnecessary time drains.
3. Delegate
I've long said delegation is a lost art. For those serious about becoming more efficient, it's a game piece that must be in play. Identify tasks you're now doing that align well with the knowledge, experience, or interest of those reporting to you. Pass along those that you can and provide any follow-up or support required for success in doing so. In practice, delegation lightens your load and helps develop high potential employees, a win-win situation for all involved.
4. Pushback
While the first three recommendations are conventional tactics to improve performance outcomes, the last two are not, especially for frontline supervisors. Learning to say no, not now, or to challenge request received is a skill of growing importance. There simply isn't enough time to get everything on your skid done. Adding more is a distraction and comes at a cost you don't need. Help others see the big picture, remain true to your priorities, and push back where you should.
5. Make Adjustments
An aircraft flying just one degree off course from New York City to Tampa will miss its destination by nearly 20 miles. Success requires course corrections along the way. Regardless of how well you plan or prepare, things will happen and adjustments will need to be made. The sooner you make needed modifications, the less impactful they'll be. Embrace change and recognize growth and improvement are impossible without it.
The roles and responsibilities assigned to supervisors have increased over the past few decades. The consequences of this shift have left many struggling to navigate the daily challenges, while maintaining needed focus on mission-critical objectives. Meeting operational targets through employees requires enhanced organization and pinpoint orientation. Understanding priorities, delegating task, and pushing back where you should are all steps that can improve efficiency. Making adjustments in your approach and modifying daily practices are keys to growth and improvement, which directly impacts overall effectiveness.
Thank you for joining us. It's my sincere hope you found benefit in our discussion today. We'll be back in August and look forward to you joining us then. If you know of someone that could benefit from our topics of discussion, please forward a link with an endorsement for their consideration. Should you have any questions or need additional information regarding today's topic, just let us know. Our contact information is provided in the show notes accompanying this episode. For those that may not have reviewed or rated your experience with our show, we would greatly appreciate you doing so.
That's it for now. Stay safe, and thanks for listening.
