Tips To Becoming A Successful Supervisor

The front line supervisor is one of the most important functions within any custodial operation.  He or she must bring not only energy and focus but knowledge and communication skills to the table, and judiciously use them each day.  Mistakes can be nature’s way of reminding us that we are all human; yes even supervisors.  

When we make a mistake we can either react negatively to it, blame someone else and fail or learn, or we can turn it into a positive experience.  The mature way is for the supervisor to recognize the error, admit it and learn from it so that at least that poor action or decision will not happen again.  

Following are some common mistakes that supervisors make:

Not making the transition from front line worker to supervisor.  When you are a front liner worker you have a job to do and you do it.  You may be part of a team or group but ultimately you are responsible for yourself.  The questions you ask are 1) did I get to work on time? 2) did I perform my job correctly? 3) did I achieve my goals for the day or week?  

When you become a supervisor, everything changes.  Suddenly you are responsible for the results of not only yourself but also one or more individuals who may or may not always be in sync with the master plan of the day.  Did your workers finish their jobs in a timely manner and correctly?  How is morale?  Are you on target with budgeted hours?  Is all equipment functioning correctly?  Is the tenant or other point of contact satisfied?  Is upper management satisfied?  What else needs to be done?

Becoming a successful supervisor requires the development of a whole new set of skill sets that you did not necessarily need as a front line worker.  More in future articles on this important subject.  

Your comments and questions are always welcome. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean…

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678.314.2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.