The best supervisors utilize the proper methods of disciplining subordinates along with ways of properly motivating workers. Useful tips for supervisors often include methods for interacting with workers in a professional manner and understanding the limits of supervisor interaction with subordinates in and out of the workplace setting. Other tips for supervisors focus on time management of employees, performing employee evaluations and responding to worker morale issues.
For many supervisors, the task of disciplining an employee is an often-difficult duty to perform. The relationship between the supervisor and his or her workers is often a delicate balance of friendship and authority. It is best for supervisors in charge of administering discipline to maintain a professional separation from workers when it comes to private matters. By excluding the workers from intimate areas of the supervisor's life, there is less chance of being seen as a friend instead of an authority figure in the workplace. These tips include never loaning money, never pretending to overlook a behavioral problem at work and never asking a worker for any type of personal favor.
Other tips for supervisors include becoming knowledgeable regarding company policies and procedures, and becoming skilled and well-versed regarding work stations and tasks of employees being supervised. The supervisor must never be less informed on company policies than those working under him or her. This can be seen as a weakness or ineptness by workers and undermine the supervisor's control of the work crew. The supervisor should also be able to properly perform all jobs under his or her control to properly instruct and supervise others on the station. In order to properly motivate some workers, the supervisor should appear to be as good or better of a worker than those who are being supervised.
One of the most important tips for supervisors is to avoid becoming one of the group in any type of work situation. By separating from the group, the supervisor eliminates the possibility of not being taken seriously by subordinates. It can be detrimental for a supervisor to be seen as anything other than being superior to those under his or her supervision. Tips for supervisors to follow to reduce the risk of this happening are to eat at different tables than the work crew, take breaks in different areas at different times, and never become engaged in anti-company talk with workers. Some other tips for supervisors include requiring employees to document production efforts, enforcing all company rules equally among workers and never appearing to have a favorite employee on any work shift.