Introduction
Supervision remains a critical factor for the success of any organization in the contemporary business world. However, most people fail to utilize effective supervision skills for lack of training in the field. In every organization, supervisors play a crucial role of linking the top management to the lower management levels and ordinary employees. As such, the distinct roles are played by supervisors in ensuring the success of the organization. Supervisors usually impact the behavior of employees, endeavors, motivation, as well as performance by utilizing effective supervisory skills. Supervisors are usually charged with the responsibility of positively influencing the process of growth and development of an organization while bettering the end result.
According to Mosley and Pietri (2011), leadership is embedded in manipulating human behaviors with a sole purpose of attaining the given goal. Since the modern business environment is faced with myriad threatening challenges, it is essential for any manger, supervisor, or leader to understand the uncertainty and risks associated with their jobs. They hold the mantle of an organization and its stakeholders. In this sense, it is required that a leader or manager is equally ready for the tasks at all odds. Pearce (2003) maintains that a real manager or leader is tested at the points of uncertainty when activities and outcome are below the expectations. Since nobody is an island, effective leadership involves a certain level of motivation and skills, and technologies embraced. A good leader or manager would always be a strong team player who recognizes the ability of others. Therefore, a leader must ensure help employees realize their full potentials. This paper explores supervisory and leadership issues and how to assist employees to achieve their potential.
How to help staff to achieve their potential
In the contemporary business world characterized by a high degree of uncertainty, organizations strive to effect changes that can allow them to perform better and keep abreast of intense competition in the market. Many organizations focus on achieving this by developing their workforce. Amidst all these attempts are many challenges of escalating operational costs and accountability among others. Increasing demand for quality products and services has piled pressure on organizations to have effective and skilled leaders at every level of the organization. Leadership is an important determinant of supervision quality in every organization (Pearce, 2003).
Leadership can be referred to as the process of manipulating human behavior aimed at attaining specific objectives (Mosley & Pietri, 2011). A leader is expected to have great control and influence over his followers and get things done with minimal effort. Leadership roles in every organization tend to vary with the position that a supervisor holds in the management structure of the firm. For instance, top managers lead their organization through assorted activities so as to implement policies crafted by the board of directors (B.O.D). They can set organizational principles and develop strategies aimed at ensuring the survival of the organization in the market (Pearce, 2003).
Supervisory leadership at every level of organizational management is charged with the duty of positively impacting the routine performance of employees under their dockets. Business organizations usually emphasize on supervisory management with a lot of focus on technology and innovation. In the present competitive world where consumers focus mostly on product quality, there are calls by many organizations for effective supervisory leadership to enable the organizations to operate effectively and meet the needs of their clients while keeping focus on organizational objectives (Pearce, 2003).
In most organizations, human resources form the backbone of an organization by giving it an opportunity to face off with other players in the market. The output of the organization depends on the effort of human resources. As such, helping workers to reach their full potential is crucial for every organization as it will help them to develop effective workforce, which in turn will positively impact organizational performance. The following are some of the ways in which an organization can help its employees to reach their full potential.
I. Establishing effective skills for team management
Effective supervisors must work for trust and reverence from employees working under them. In order to achieve this, they must portray desirable skills for leading effective teamwork. For effective supervisory work, one must possess good leadership skills, have proper knowledge about work delegation, and he or she must possess good problem-solving skills (Wright, 2009). An effective supervisor must also portray good decision-making ability, enthusiasm about developing employees under him, have good communication skills, and be in a position to influence employees towards achieving organizational goals (Pearce, 2003).
II. Effective leadership
Leadership is a concept that reflects special skills that are very important for effective running of any position in an organization. Leadership goes beyond encouraging and boosting the morale of employees (Mosley & Pietri, 2011). It involves practical demonstration of what others are supposed to do and using the power vested in him or her to empower his followers. A good leader must possess effective communication skills and must convey information needed by employees at the right time and place. He must have the desire to help those who work under him to grow and develop professionally and must demonstrate high organizational values and beliefs (Austin & Hopkins, 2004). An effective supervisor is one who is capable of delegating work effectively (Mosley & Pietri, 2011). He can facilitate employee involvement by establishing effective recognition and reward system. The desire to coach and improve employee performance forms one of the main concerns for an effective supervisor (Mosley & Pietri, 2011).
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