A Supervisor's Challenge

Supervisors are easy targets. There are few things in life that are easier than poking holes in the actions of person in-charge. Whether it is the chief executive of a major corporation or a person who is responsible for the actions of a small unit within that corporation, those with the title of "boss" rarely get through a day without having their actions second-guessed or ridiculed. While I am not saying there are not times when their actions shouldn't be challenged, it is also important to note that supervisors have jobs to do, too, and deserve fair assessment as much as any of us. This is particularly true when it comes to communicating.

Perhaps the most fundamental aspect of any supervisor's job is to make sure those under them are meeting their responsibilities in accordance with the guidelines and wishes of their organization. Doing this, at times, requires the boss to correct the work of their subordinates or, more broadly, change the behavior of those they oversee. A big challenge of the supervisor here is to take these steps in a way that does not compromise the morale of the employee. This is particularly true in the context that most of us do not like being corrected even though we may recognize its periodic necessity.

Meeting such a challenge calls upon the supervisor to exhibit a consistent level of sensitivity to the feelings of those they are about to correct. "Thank you for putting together this report, Delores. It's a good draft, but there are a few spots in it that need fixing." Such a statement is one way a supervisor might want to begin a necessary conversation with one of their workers. While people still may not like being corrected, they are more likely to be receptive to their boss' assessment if their initial effort is acknowledged. To this degree, co-workers do not usually have to worry about the feelings of others. Good supervisors do. Does this mean people still won't criticize their boss? Of course not. But it does reinforce the reality that supervisors who communicate with a level of sensitivity are generally more effective and enjoy greater loyalty from their workers.