Roles of Supervisors

At times, we've all felt like Dorothy did in the Wizard of Oz – in a strange place, surrounded by people from a different culture, wearing shoes that we would never wear at home. Take heart: Dorothy soon found her way home, making friends and learning something about herself along the way.

Dorothy’s journey through Oz was guided by a well-defined path and kind people playing critical roles along the way. Some of them merely pointed the way (think of the Lollipop Gang) and some were vested in her success (the Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man). Without each of these types stepping in and playing out their roles during Dorothy’s struggle, she may never have made it home to Kansas.

Today's supervisors are expected to provide the same kind of guidance and support for their employees. At different times during their career, the employee needs different types of support. While we’ve all had days where we just wish we were home, as supervisors, it’s up to us to give our employees the right kind of guidance at the right time. Below are four roles that supervisors can play – not just for their employees, but for others too.

Coach

A good supervisor places a high priority on coaching employees. Good coaching involves working with employees to establish suitable goals, action plans and timelines. The supervisor delegates and also provides ongoing guidance and support to the employee as they complete their action plans. Rarely can job goals be established without considering other aspects of an employee’s life, e.g., time available for training, career preferences, personal strengths and weaknesses, etc.

Mentor

Usually the supervisor understands the organization and the employee’s profession better than the employee. Consequently, the supervisor is in a unique position to give ongoing advice to the employee about job and career. The employee can look to the supervisor as a model for direction and development. A good supervisor can be a priceless addition to the career of an employee.

Advocate for the Company

The supervisor is often the first person to tell employees about new policies and programs from management. It’s not uncommon for employees to be confused or frustrated by these new actions, and need further clarification and support from supervisors. In the rapidly changing world of today’s organizations, it can be a major challenge to present new programs to employees. The supervisor must be authentic, yet tactful.

Advocate for the Employee

The supervisor is often responsible for representing the employee’s requests to management, along with making a case for a deserving reward. If the employee has a rather unique personal situation that warrants special consideration by the rest of management, the supervisor must tactfully explain that situation and how it can be handled. It’s not unusual for employees to sometimes see the supervisor as part of “management” while at other times seeing the supervisor as a friend.

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