The Role of the Supervisor, Essay Example

Managing an organization requires great skills, and managing a successful organization requires exceptional skills. When executives seek to hire supervisors they must look for individuals that have the required skills that help manage and run an organization effectively and efficiently. In order to be a successful supervisor, individuals must possess the ability to have fine balance of requiring high work performance and meeting the needs of the diverse workforce. In uncertain times within an organization there are several challenges and rewards that help to balance the roles of the supervisor. The challenges include working with diverse people, and getting them to all work tougher. Supervisor that seek to climb the management hierarchy acquire the responsibility of having an unpredictable job facing organizational conflicts and pressures from their job. Just like the employees they manage, supervisors report to their own managers in the higher positions, and must learn to cooperate with supervisors in other departments. In order to be a successful supervisor, the role requires many skills that help to manage a diverse workforce, relationships with other employees, and streamline operations for the organization.

The eight major classification of management skills are that supervisors must possess technical skills which gives them the ability to do their jobs; human relations skills that are required to work well with others; communication skills which enables them to give and get information; administrative skills that is required when organizing, planning, and coordinating activities. Supervisors must also possess conceptual skills that is pertinent in obtaining, interpreting, and applying information within the job; leadership skills that allows for engagement with employees in all aspects of the organization; political skills that allows supervisors to connect with various channels; emotional intelligence that is essential in being able to use emotions intelligently especially in unpredictable situations. These skills are coupled with other essential skills that make the right individual a successful supervisor.

The skills I feel that I possess and are strong in is administrative skills because I have the ability to plan, organize, and coordinate activities. Fayol writes that the five functions of management are to plan which sets a course of action; organize that that aids in designing the structure that clearly defines authority and tasks; commanding that gives directions to subordinates; coordinating which organizes different elements for a common objective; controlling that makes sure that plans are carried out. (Fayol 2013) Other strong skills include, communication skills in accordance skills that allow for me to be able to access various channels and effectively give and get information from subordinates and other employees. Technical skills that enable me to get the job done the right way, and human relations skills that managers are able strive to improve productivity and working conditions. (Leonard 2013)

There are areas where not weak, some skills can be improved on which include leadership skills that are essential in being able to leader and engage others in all aspects of the organization. Leaders are not born but are taught and conditioned to be great, in order to be a great supervisor I have to improve on leadership skills. Leonard implies that managerial skills can be learnable and with continued practiced in the role, managers can improve and sharpen their skills. (Leonard 2013). Conceptual skills are skills that gives me the ability to interpret and apply information throughout the organization. In order to improve these skills they must be applied every day in order to provide the right information. Another skill to improve is emotional intelligence that enables me to control and use my emotions in way that influences others. Supervisors carry great responsibility, and the role of superiors requires much skill and practice, but when the right individuals possesses these skill the organization will succeed.

References

Fayol, Henri. (2013). What are Henri Fayol’s 5 functions of management? Business Mate Retrieved from http://www.businessmate.org/Article.php?ArtikelId=228

Leonard, Edwin C. (2013) Supervision: Concepts and Practices of Management. Cengage Learning