Module 1: Learning Outcomes

Introduction to Supervision

Module 1: Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
Define supervision.
List the responsibilities of a supervisor.
Define leadership.
Describe the principles of leadership.
Explain how to delegate successfully.
Discuss the five key words of supervision.
Introduction to Supervision


Supervision is getting the job done through others.
Good supervision must include personal trust, respect, and confidence between employees and supervisors. This kind of good supervision will result in an increased desire to work.

Supervisors can deal with a lot of pressure: 

Pressure on the supervisor from one side: management wants the work done without problems.

Pressure on the supervisor from the other side: employees want clean, fair, and consistent leadership.


Delegation
Delegation is trusting another person to do a job for which you are responsible. 
To delegate successfully, the supervisor must do the following:

Make sure that the employee agrees to do the work.

Tell the employee how the work will be checked. Tell the employee how to report completion.
Make sure that everyone involved knows that the employees have the authority to carry out the work.
Review who does what.
To delegate successfully, the supervisor verifies the employees acceptance of responsibility, specifies a method of accountability, and establishes authority equal to accountability. On the subordinate's side: subordinates accept responsibility for work assignments and are then accountable for those assignments. It is the job of the subordinate to accept assignments and to report on progress in designated ways.

In all delegation situations for which you are accountable, make sure that you know the answer to this question:

WHO DOES WHAT?

You can’t do everything. And you should not try. Your people have competencies, ambition, and incentives. Furthermore, they all need to grow in a climate of success. Therefore, you need to delegate, including, at times, when you get a little nervous.

After all, people gave you a chance to grow because at one time, you were not a supervisor. There is a rule of thumb on delegation. It is, “if another person can do the job as well as, or better, than you under current circumstances, DELEGATE".

1. 
   Before delegating, ask yourself if the person understands what you are asking.
   
2. 
   Simultaneously, ask yourself if they have the skills to do the task.
   
3. 
   Next, determine if they will or won’t do what you are asking.
   
4. 
   Determine the likelihood of the results being done right or not.
   
5. 
   Establish a feedback mechanism so that you know what is going on during the task and what the results are.
   
6. 
   Finally, if you decide to delegate, do so and get out of the way.