Leadership is closely related to supervision but focuses more on creating an environment where employees are motivated, inspired and aligned with the organization’s vision. Effective leadership fosters a sense of shared responsibility and long-term commitment among employees. Some key aspects of leadership:
Setting vision. Leaders create a compelling vision for the organization or team. This vision gives direction and inspires employees to work toward common objectives. Effective leaders should empower their team members by encouraging autonomy and personal growth. They provide opportunities for personal development and allow employees to take pride and ownership of their work.
Inspiring change and building trust. Leaders can encourage innovation and positive change. They are proactive in identifying new opportunities, identifying and addressing challenges and driving continuous improvement. Leaders encourage teamwork and open communication. By building trust and promoting collaboration, they create a culture where everyone’s contribution is valued.
While supervision and leadership are seen as distinct different functions, the most effective managers are those who combine the two approaches effortlessly. In fact, the best supervisors are also great leaders and vice versa. Supervisors and leaders ensure employees understand what is expected of them and provide the framework to meet those expectations. They also provide flexibility for employees to take initiative and contribute creatively to the team’s success.
First, leadership and supervisors need to have a true belief that employees make an organization great. Based on industry research and my experience, motivation for employees is feeling a part of and contributing to an organization and trusting their supervisor and leadership to have their back. Some people argue that money is a motivator, but money is only a stimulator — a short-term gain that creates no lasting results.
One of the most influential people in my career was a gentleman who started a company in his garage and built it into a business with 400-plus employees. Every Thursday, he walked around and personally handed out each paycheck so he could get face time with every employee.
He had a way of making people feel good about working, and he made sure you felt valued as an employee. He also sent each employee a birthday card with a handwritten message wishing a happy birthday and saying how much he appreciated the employee's efforts.
Those two small things made more than 400 people feel incredibly special. They would do anything for this man. This was a true leader, and that focus on each employee had rubbed off on each department supervisor.
Supervisors and managers can benefit from a concentrated effort towards continuous improvement. I liken this issue to a professional sports team. Every year, the team looks to the draft or free agency to find the best available people to meet their needs.
Businesses are no different. Managers and supervisors need to constantly identify areas that need improvement and find people with skill sets to help produce the desired goals and objectives for both department and organization.
Leadership and supervisors ensure that employees stay on task and follow the policies and procedures while inspiring employees to go beyond the minimum and reach for excellence.
To foster effective supervision and leadership, organizations must invest in developing managers. Strategies for developing supervisory and leadership skills include:
Several years ago, I wrote about supervision and discussed ways managers and supervisors can motivate staff to become a highly functional, organized and high-performing group. In my research visiting clients and facilitating training sessions around the world, one theme is consistent: A manager or supervisor spends only 5-10 percent of a typical day supervising or managing their personnel.
W. Edwards Deming once said, "A bad system will defeat a good person every time." This insight is proven time after time. I have found that changing or being able to change the system to allow people to succeed works far better than trying to replace all the players working in a broken one.
Supervisors and leaders are essential to the success of any organization. While they represent different functions in the organizational hierarchy, both are necessary for creating a productive, motivated and innovative workforce — keeping in mind that some team members are excellent leaders even without the job title.
Andrew Gager will host the General Session at NFMT Baltimore on March 25 in Baltimore titled, “General Session: Leadership at the Intersection of Facilities and Cleaning Management.” Gager will discuss the way effective leadership, training and culture can drive exceptional performance across diverse teams.
Strategies and Tactics for Becoming a Facilities Leader
Leadership vs. Supervision: Key Differences & Strategies
