This is so true. Utilizing a positive attitude is essential in order to inspire your team or students and to achieve the goals that you have set forth for your company or your classroom. Clear decisive plan of action in setting the tone for the class and being able to listen to not only staff members without interrupting them lets them know that you value their thoughts and ideas. Maintaining eye contact while you are actively listening to what they say is important, it makes them feel important and valued. Making sure your team has the same vision and is aware of what it takes to maintain or achieve that vision. Helping your staff or students know that they can come to you any time to discuss things with you is also important. They have to trust you and know that you have their best interest at heart. It is definitely at times a balancing ac. But a good manager or a good leader is able to work through the kinks and get everyone on track.
Jason ,
this is a great point. While I shouldn't always have to do the work of my employees, I should be willing to do anything to help.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
For me personally, I believe the single most important thing you can do as a leader is to not ask someone to do something that you would not be willing to do yourself. I also believe that you must be willing and able to jump in and help any time you see that someone is falling behind or is struggling with the task at hand.
Time Management. The supervisor must have the ability to manage time, find the time to attend his employees, plan and avoid any distraction and to work proactively wirh a long term agenda, but at the same time, able to respond and resolve urgent unplanned situations.
As a supervisor, you are responsible for productivity and performance of your employees. I believe in Educating yourself to become a great communicator would be a great benefit. The better you communicate with your staff, the better they will communicate with you.
I believe the most important qualities of a manager/leader is the ability to establish rapport amongst the staff by displaying that you have experience and knowledge in the necessary fields and a willingness to use your skills to help accomplish the company's vision and help employees to achieve their goals and objectives.
Jeannie,
you are right, this is a great list. There are many skills out there that are listed, but what you have here is a strong list.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree with many of the insights shared in this post. Indeed, they are quite valuable and convey various perspectives.Some express leaders attributes while others focus on managers attributes. I must conquer with Kathryn that, titles such as supervisor "sounds so authoritative and unapproachable. Also, I find the Beavers management style analogy is quite intriguing. I think the beavers in that way act like leaders. I would like to add that, an established or new manager must be able to plan, staff, assign, schedule, delegate, bring order, control and solve, rework the plan, and deliver outcomes.
A very important skill for leaders is to possess excellent listening skills. Your employees and customers truly appreciate this because you are showing them respect and empathy. You are communicating to them how important their ideas and concerns are to you. You are building trust with them and in return this will help you achieve your future goals.
In my successes, trials, and tribulations as leader, I have found the following to be key: confidence, humility, passion, active listening, topical experience and knowledge, and persistence. Obviously, there are many other skills, qualities, and competencies needed, but I find that I do not go a day without applying each of the items listed above.
Maintaining a positive attitude while leading the team is essential. Effective leaders are knowledgeable, hold themselves accountable and consider themselves a part of a productive team.
Shelly,
good communication really is key to effective leadership.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I believe that if you are a good effective communicator that respect, compassion, and knowledge of the job will show through. I think employees feel comfortable with a manager that they feel has their back.
Kathryn,
yes, unfortunately the term has fallen in with bad company (as has manager for many) but your assessment of the need for adaptability & flexibility on the part of the leader is key.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
As I read this question I think of the word supervisor and cringe. Manager and Leader are such open words. "Super"visor sounds so authoritative and unapproachable. As a manager or leader you are part of a team. Beavers work together in a managerial style while building dams. Each one is just as important as the other. There is a leader, but he/she is in the trenches with his team. Geese have a leader, who guides them to their destination. Sometimes that leader may need to manage and delegates their roll, but returns when he/she has completed their task. I think the most benefical tool a manager/leader can have is adaptation. Adapting to which roll is needed when. Sometimes, people think of supervisors as someone who is "watching" them, like a lion waiting to pounce.
Michael,
these are all key skills for any supervisor/administrator to have.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The ability to show competency - lead by example
The ability to individually motivate your team members.
The ability to use various management styles to accomplish your goal.
I agree with this advice. I always lead up example. secondly, i always follow through with what is asked of me. Last, if i dont know the answer to a question, i find the answer.
Patrick,
and I would say the key idea here is making sure that you do back off & let them take the lead as too often they can come to rely too heavily on the supervisor.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
