What is good supervision?

sjoe · Nov 24, 2003

Some thoughts paraphrased from Selling the Sea by Bob Dickinson and Andy Vladimir:

"Supervisors have the responsibility to encourage open communication by creating in their employees:

Self confidence

Empathy

Respect

And here is an outline of the "management style" Seabourn Cruise Line expects of its supervisors:

I will support frontline employees, not try to control them.

I believe that EVERY employee wants to do the best job he or she can.

I fully realize that my employees' attitudes and feelings affect their performance, and that my supervision can affect those attitudes and feelings.

I will give positive feedback to my colleagues as often as sensible.

When I need to give negative feedback I will only refer to fact, NOT people. I will say, "The ashtray needs cleaning." I will not say, "You don't take proper care of the ashtrays," or worse, "You are a sloppy person."

I will listen to the ideas of my employees and give them full credit when they contribute to a success.

I will give each of my colleagues all the respect that is their right as a human being. This means treating them as they want to be treated.

---from the Seabourn Hotel Operations Manual

Treat your employees with the same kind of respect you expect to receive. It goes without saying that managers need to understand what respect means.

Involve your employees in shaping your product and empower them to deliver it, so that they share in the pride and rewards that come with accomplishment. Give them constant feedback so they can see how they are doing. People want to work in an organization because they want to accomplish more than they can alone. Companies that can mesh the personal goals of employees with an organization's overall goals will succeed and prosper."