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Social leaders often ask me “How do I supervise people without coming off as a ‘boss’?”.  They wish to remain true to themselves while overseeing employee/volunteer progress.  Below are the last of my top 10 tips for constructive supervision.  To see the first 5 tips, click here.

Recognize your team’s humanity

“It’s business, not personal” – nonsense, right?!  When there are humans involved, everything is personal.  An organization is a group of people – not robots- pursuing a common goal.  The people who work with you have their own needs, dreams, strengths and problems.  Keep this in mind in all that you do.

Don’t sweat the insignificant stuff

If it’s not important in the big scheme of things, let it go!  A manager’s first instinct is to focus on what’s “wrong”, big or small.  So, letting go of the insignificant requires lots of practice.   The first step is to determine which items truly require your attention.  My favorite tool for this is the classic Eisenhower Matrix.  This matrix shows you what to do, plan, or delegate, according to its importance and urgency.

Be consistent

Have you ever had a supervisor who said something today and something completely different tomorrow?  You probably felt confused and unsure in your role.  Consistency equals clarity and stability.  Consistent managers inspire confidence and bolster organizational culture.  They are also a great leadership example for employees, volunteers and participants.

Be a mentor most of the time, a “boss” only when necessary

As a supervisor, your goal is to have happy and skilled employees who produce the necessary results.  Achieve this in a sustainable manner by mentoring those who work with you.  A mentor-manager teaches and advises, investing in employee growth. Employees and volunteers learn much more through discussion and practice than by following blindly.  Be a directive disciplinarian only in crises, when you need rapid change or when you have tried everything else.

Take care of yourself first, to be able to take care of others

I heard Oprah once say: “Life is like an airplane.  Make sure to put your oxygen mask on first, so you can help those next to you”.  Very wise!  Social leaders tend to run themselves ragged doing things for others.   That’s a recipe for burn out.  Take care of yourself so you can give your team the best of you for years to come.

I hope these tips help you become a more constructive supervisor to a healthy and effective team.  Please share your comments below.  Also, please subscribe to receive the “10 Tips for Constructive Supervision” infographic.

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