Supervision - a dream or a nightmare

Well you wake up and you're now A SUPERVISOR!

Well, firstly Congratulations are in order. What a great feeling. Some extra income, and you now are leading a team......that used to be your work colleagues. MMM, it's not quite the same is it. You feel you know your job and believe you are supervising the staff well. Yet, sometimes the job seems to get on top of you. lately you've been waking up worrying about things that you need to do. You think "If only I could pick someone's brains". Maybe I'm not doing this or that" and the self-talk goes on and on.

The good thing is - here's the chance to be an outstanding success - with a little change or two or three. You've been caught in what is often the way things go. You've been exceptionally good at your last job as one of the team so you've been promoted to show everyone how it should be done.

So, how does this turn out to be a success?

There are some simple steps to success.

1. Establish the priorities and the goals.

Getting clear on the job purpose rather than the job tasks works best as the first step. Think of this from a management point of view. What are the benefits for the company expected from this position. Set KRA's (Key Result areas) for these goals and priorities, such as a set measure of improvement.

2. Schedule the work and organise, organise, organise.

This is about keeping focused, and on target, and getting rid of clutter that can distract or block progress. It's about planning up front, weekly, daily lists and planning ahead for issues that could happen and the best way to handle the no longer unexpected. Lack of planning is a recipe for becoming a harried manager. A reality check can show the current state by checking in to "Where am I going to, what have I done and where am I now", leading to "What I must now do". This is the time to:

• Make decisions
• Clear the area
• Set a time and limit for emails
• Get rid of distractions

3. Manage your career.

It's up to employees to manage their own career. Treating this like a business plan, planning for results and looking at the resources (people/positions/information/opportunities) that can help career goals happen. If a priority is a workplace close to home then convenience has a value to consider and other priorities might not have the same weight.

Think about the different meanings of career, vocation, and job. Career is about a future vision. One of our younger clients has a career vision until their retirement. It's all written down. A vocation is a calling to work in a certain area to make a difference. A job is simply about that set of tasks. Understand yourself and your reasons for work and work on your strengths.

So, how can I be a successful supervisor?

Here's some ideas.

• Get a coach or mentor
• Ask lots of questions
• Take up some extra formal or informal learning
• Join a professional association
• Get more projects delegated to you for experience
• Learn from others - what works and is good practice
• Sign up for related online newsletters
• Notice others habits in managing successful careers
• Be involved - in committees, and visible extra roles
• Get extra work experience
• Do your own self-paced learning

Above all - be involved!

Lets hear and share what works for you. Love to hear about how you pushed out your horizons.

Jenny H 29/3/2010