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Key principles of supervision
Importance of supervision
The importance of effective supervision
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Challenges and Limitations of Supervisors in the Workplace Supervising challenges are inevitable in a fast-paced, evolving global business with technology advancements, organizational changes, workplace strategy development, and supervising employees with various motivations and cultural backgrounds. In this paper, the topic for discussion will reflect the challenges and limitation supervisors encounter in a modern workplace. In addition, a reflection on the challenges impacting society and how workplace supervision has changed over the last 50 years will express the significance of the evolving modern workplace. Challenges Impacting Society Challenges that leadership and management encounter can vary …show more content…
At some point, supervisors may encounter disagreements between employees, and the challenge is to resolve any issues without obstructing the work of the uninvolved employees and fostering a positive environment. Some issues may result in further action that involves negative implications and terminations. Terminating an employee can be a necessary task, especially if the employee has proven to be problematic overtime. When an employee is terminated, the challenge is to maintain homeostasis in the workplace by eliminating or decreasing stress and impeding the performance of other employees. In addition to supervising various employees, interruptions can be continual from employees who require advice or assistance, and can hinder the supervisor’s ability to complete his or her work. It is important to offer an open-door policy so employees are able to feel comfortable asking questions and getting the assistance required however, if the needs become overwhelming, it is acceptable to turn employees away until all work is completed. Assisting and training employees is a crucial part of supervising, but it is can also be demanding and
Another problem with supervision is power which comes affects the relationship between the supervisor and supervisee. Factors like social position, race, gender, social class and sexuality, Issues of subordinate positions of women affect the supervisory relationship. To solve this problem it has been advocated that someone with a similar background should do the supervisory job.(White, E. & Winstanley, J. 2010). APPLICATION OF THE CONCEPT TO CURRENT JOB (CLINICAL SUPERVISION):
Introduction What does it mean to be an effective supervisor? Before taking this class, I thought that if a supervisor is able get their employees to work effectively, and efficiently, then the person is an effective supervisor. I didn’t realize until taking this class that supervisors do so much more. After learning more about the other tasks supervisors do like planning, being effective listeners, and motivating employees, I have a better understanding of effective supervision. I am aware that I have had supervisory experiences.
How does having instant communication at one’s hip enable or inhibit a moder day leader? In the past, subordinates would have more autonomy in their work because they may not be able to get in touch with their superior, now this barrier has been broke. Are leaders more engaged or more micromanaging? These are all questions that would be fascinating to research after reading this book.
The last episode of conflict is conflict aftermath. At this stage if the issues listed in the latent conflict episode are dealt with in a satisfactory manner, the conflict will be resolved (Stojkovic et al, 2008). This is the type of resolution that managers and supervisors should seek in order to keep organizational conflict to a minimum. However, if the conflicts listed above are not addressed and only suppressed, then the conflict will resurface and the organization will enter the stage of conflict aftermath (Stojkovic et al, 2008). The problem with this episode is that it could become serious and weaken the relationship between two parties and will never be repaired fully. For example, in prisons, if the conditions listed in the latent conflict are never resolved the conflict will worsen until another disturbance occurs (Stojkovic et al, 2008)
It is imperative for supervisors to focus on what is required in order for his/her employees to accomplish their job. They must be supportive of their employees and provide continual feedback on their job performance .Supervisor need to include their employees when making changes that effect they way they perform their jobs or finding new way to do things that were problematic. Supervisors should give their employees more responsibly to make them feel more valued and powerful. There is also a major need for promotion, pay increase and compensation system (educational reimbursement, vacation incentives etc.
Poor communication skills among staff increase high level of stress and guilt. Conflict also leads to poor management skills and ineffective teamwork. “Such an environment decreases the likelihood of burnout and moral distress.” Savel, R. H., & Munro, C. L. (2013).
It has been estimated in a study by the American Management Association that managers spend between 20% to as much as 50% of their times dealing with conflict among their employees (American Sentinel, 2012). When workplace conflicts are left unresolved they can lead to dissatisfaction, depression and other problems such as aggression and violence (Whitworth 2008). The negative, sometimes hostile, environment created by unresolved conflict has been recognized to be a hazard not only to staff, but also to patient care (The Joint Commission 2008).
Leadership constantly presents challenges to the leader’s abilities. Changes occur in the organization environment, disrupting the equilibrium. The approach a leader uses to handle and manage challenges effectively, greatly determine the success of the organization (Hall and Hord, 2006). In the modern-day organizations, challenges come in the form of people and obstacles that prevent the organization from reaching its goals. Moreover, there are a lot of complexity and unpredictability. New set of skills is required for the organization to stay competitive and achieve the set goals. Hence, the life of a modern-day leader is more demanding than ever (Kouzes and Posner, 2006).
Over the past 50 years, employers have seen a vast shift in the demographic of their employee's. Where once specific jobs were held by a specific type and group of people, today, at that same job, anyone from any ethnic background or gender could be expected to perform the tasks assigned. This shift has caused a significant and beneficial change in the way managers are expected to handle themselves and their charges within today’s working environment. Recognizing the ever evolving social norms while maintaining a balance of unbiased professionalism has become the primary challenge faced by today’s supervisor. Where once we expected organization and task management to be top priorities, today’s workplace leaders must be held to an equally high expectation of social acceptance while maintaining an unbiased supposition of responsibility. A sharp juxtaposition between empathy (for the personal needs of the individual) and responsibility (for the business needs of the company). Finding individuals that can accomplish this is an integral part of the hiring process. Unfortunately this is a task less easily performed.
...ively with their peers and managers. Some guidelines for reducing employee stress within an organization are to ensure there is two-way communication with employees; be fair and honest, act as a safety valve to allow employees to vent, project positive attitude, lighten up, plan effectively, display organizational loyalty and maintain a personal counsel, and foster a healthy working environment (Sewell).
A negative work environment can make employees feel irritable, anxious and defensive. This can cause poor productivity, lack of motivation and poor communication in the workplace which in turn can cause problems for the company. An employer’s abuse of power can cause mental or emotional distress on employees and also disrupt the workplace. Examples of employers abusing their position include humiliation, undermining, disrespectful language, discriminatory comments, yelling and intimidation. When employees are surrounded by this on a daily basis it can affect their self-worth. Employers can resolve these issues by allowing open lines of communication and by not giving employees the impression that it is acceptable to act negatively and disrespect fellow employees.
With so many constant changes today with different generations, legal and political circumstances and ever-changing and improving technology sources, organizations have new and recurring issues arising every single day. The reasons for these issues vary widely and develop because of so many different situations. The outcome of the situation depends on many factors including the issue at hand, the management style and the ethics of the organization to simply name a few. These outcomes can certainly make or break an organization if not handled appropriately. The issue I have found to be the most significant is leadership. Within leadership, there is the opportunity for many issues in itself.
According to her, conflict and changes can be managed with flexible mindset. She encourages to have periodic one on one meeting with the employees. Also, she stresses on frequent communication sessions/webcast with the leadership team to avoid any last minute surprises. There is also an employee grievance program where employee can report their woes anonymously or to any senior management which promotes transparency between the employee and employer.
The potential ramifications for the employer can be costly when employees succumb to internal and external stressors. To effectively combat job stress and develop a comprehensive stress management program, organizations must be cognizant of several areas that may be contributing factors to an employee’s stress level. Internally, organizations should review the employee’s workload and ensure that they have the necessary skills to complete the tasks they are expected to complete (Ornelas & Kleiner, 2003). They must also work to “motivate, challenge and take full advantage of the employee’s skills and abilities” (Ornelas & Kleiner, 2003). Employee’s job stress can also be decreased by allowing them take an active part in decisions, creating an atmosphere that facilitates a support network, and offering flexibility in their schedules that allows them to address responsibilities outside the workplace (Ornelas & Kleiner, 2003).
Unnecessary conflict may be prevented through employee involvement and treating employees in a fair manner. Ethical employment practices, involving employees in decisions, and treating employees as valued organizational members all work towards a positive employer-employee relationship. Unfortunately, however, it sometimes becomes necessary for an outside party to help employers and employees resolve differences through processes such as mediation or arbitration. Taken together, positive engagement strategies and constructive resolution of differences help to develop relationships which support organizational performance and success.