If you want to become a better supervisor, then you need to find the right balance of oversight for your employees. While you may be tempted to watch their every move, that level of supervision can hurt your performance and lead to burnout.
Let’s take some inspiration from a washing machine and give you some easily actionable tips in this episode of our
Performance Improvement for Leaders series.
What Performance Questions Does This Video Answer?
- How can you become a better supervisor?
- What can you do to avoid supervisor burnout?
- How much should you oversee your employees?
- How can I find more time to do my job?
Video Transcript for How to Become a Better Supervisor
Here’s a tip, designed to prevent supervisor burnout. If you’re a supervisor, you need to be aware of when you’re getting close to burnout. You’re having to manage a lot of things and sometimes you may struggle with how much should you be overseeing your employees.
Should you be looking over their shoulders or just letting them do whatever? You got to find the right mix.
For a lot of people, I use an analogy. It takes place in a laundry room. In laundry, you pick good detergent. You put it in your washing machine. You start the washing machine and you let the detergent do its job.
You’re not watching the detergent in action. You let it do its job.
Same thing can apply for your employees. Make sure that you have set expectations, that you have provided appropriate training for people to meet those expectations, and then judge the results. Make adjustments as necessary.
This way, you empower your employees, and you give yourself some time to focus on some of your big picture goals, instead of having to watch your employees, constantly, to make sure they’re doing the job right.
Don’t watch the suds. Focus on your success. I’m Ken Okel. Take care.
About Ken Okel
As a motivational keynote speaker, Ken Okel works with leaders and organizations to boost productivity, performance, and profits. At conferences, conventions, and company meetings, he engages audiences with new ways to maximize their time at work. To see a sample of his corporate and association keynote and breakout presentations, visit his video page.
