Are you considering a role as a supervisor for a new company, or have you been offered a promotion to become a supervisor at your existing company? Whatever the case, you should fully understand what the role of a supervisor is — and what will be expected of you as a supervisor — before you accept a job as a supervisor. After all, a supervisor position is a big responsibility.
Here's everything you need to know about the job responsibilities of a supervisor — and the skills and experiences you'll need in order to do the new job well.
First things first, you should know exactly what a supervisor is. A supervisor is someone who looks after another person or an activity, program, department, etc. This person is directly in charge of the subordinate who they supervise, and they are the go-to person in charge of that activity, program or department.
You might be wondering: Is a supervisor a manager? In many cases, yes, a supervisor is indeed a manager. In fact, there are other names that are the equivalent of supervisor in some cases, including manager, boss, overseer, monitor, foreman, facilitator, area coordinator, etc. Of course, a supervisor's official title will be dependent upon the company based on the needs of that company.
A supervisor's specific job responsibilities will vary by company and even activity, program, department, etc. That said, typically, a supervisor is in charge of the following duties across the board. A great supervisor:
Ultimately, a supervisor wears many hats, but a supervisor's duties can all boil down to five clear roles. What are the 5 roles of a supervisor?
In short, they should be able to educate those around them (equally their subordinates and their colleagues) to make sure that everyone is on the same page and moving forward together.
They should be a sponsor to employees who deserve sponsorship. (Learn more about sponsorship here!) Likewise, they should be a coach to their subordinates, as well as a counselor, so that those who work for them can further develop their skills and grow as professionals.
And they should be a director, in charge of overseeing their specific area of expertise — whether that's an activity, program, department or something else.
A good supervisor comes in all shapes and sizes. But all supervisors are, first and foremost, strong leaders. Every supervisor should:
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AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about women’s empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram @her_report, Twitter @herreportand Facebook.