Depending on the type of business or industry in which a person works, supervisory responsibilities can vary greatly. They may also differ from job to job, as each company may define its own set of supervisory characteristics. However, the majority of supervisory positions will require interaction with employees as well as work for upper management. This can aid in the definition of responsibilities, such as employee supervision, training, scheduling, and motivation, as well as carrying out or attempting to meet manager goals for a specific work area.
Supervisory responsibilities will almost certainly involve a lot of employee interaction, and the supervisor is usually the one who has the most direct contact with the employees. Employee supervision or oversight is an important part of the job because it ensures that employee work meets management goals for what needs to be done. Part of this will entail ensuring that employees receive the training they require to perform their jobs effectively.
A wise supervisor delegated some of his or her responsibilities, and training could be one of them. In many different industrial settings, the supervisor may lack technical knowledge, so training may be delegated to other employees or a strong technical group, such as engineers. If the supervisor has risen through the ranks of the company, he or she may prefer to train employees instead, and in either case, he or she will most likely train employees on basic topics like work ethics and responsibility. Training should, in theory, never end, and providing a continuous work/learning environment, though less intensive, may be beneficial.
This also leads to the concept of employee motivation. Offering incentives or kicking off special projects are just a few of the supervisory responsibilities. However, motivation should not come solely from the prospect of a reward; it should also be reflected in how employees are treated their bosses. Workers are typically most motivated when they feel valued and appreciated, and when they see their bosses working as hard as they do.
Scheduling is one of the supervisory responsibilities that can benefit both employees and management. Many people will decide how much and when each employee will work each week. This could be adaptable, as it is in many retail environments, or it could be fixed.
Supervisory responsibilities can be much more extensive when serving management. Supervisors may also be responsible for disciplining employees who break the rules, implementing new rules, and acting as a go-between if an employee wishes to approach management. Some supervisors also hire and fire employees, and they may have additional responsibilities such as payroll management.
Those interested in a career in supervision can choose from a variety of options. Many people are hired directly from the lower employee pool to work as supervisors in a variety of settings. Others are promoted to supervisory positions on the spot. Being able to please people, having strong people skills, being precise in work, demonstrating responsibility, and having strong people skills are all important in this line of work.