As a frontline supervisor, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of your responsibilities. Overseeing teams, managing conflicts, mitigating risks - the daily realities of the role can often make it seem like a thankless job. Supervising is frequently the highest-hassle position with the least amount of reward. But it also comes with tremendous influence.
The supervisor role can be the highest-hassle position with the least amount of reward. It can involve overseeing large numbers of employees who may have conflicting personalities, controlling a great deal of activity, and having a great amount of risk to consider. Add limited training for the job and the possibility for everything to go catastrophically wrong at any given moment, and you might ask: Who in the hell would want a supervisor's job?
Yet what many frontline supervisors may not fully realize is the tremendous influence and impact they wield over their teams and the organization as a whole. Your words, actions, priorities, and leadership examples set the tone for everything. This is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
No one has more influence over the day-to-day behaviors of employees than frontline supervisors. What's important to the supervisor will eventually become what is most important to the team...Whatever it is you are judging your team on is what they will deliver.
The profound impact of frontline supervisors will manifest in three key ways
1. You are the model that teams follow
Just as students will prioritize learning materials they know will be "on the test," your team takes cues from what you deem most important through your actions and priorities. If safety is emphasized as critical, they will treat it as critical too. If you display a dismissive attitude toward safety policies, that lax mindset will be mirrored. Your team watches and emulates your example, whether intentionally or not.
2. You shape the workplace culture and environment
How frontline supervisors carry themselves, interact with employees, and communicate priorities and concerns - all contribute to crafting the overall workplace atmosphere. An unapproachable, negative supervisor breeds an insular, distrustful culture. A supportive, caring leader builds cohesive, positive team relationships. The culture you cultivate as a frontline leader has a ripple effect well beyond just your team.
3. You influence organizational perception and loyalty
For most employees, their immediate supervisor is the main conduit through which they perceive and understand the company itself. If a supervisor perpetually gripes about leadership or company policies, that negativity shapes how employees view the organization as a whole. Conversely, when supervisors take pride in and advocate for the company, it inspires loyalty and commitment from their teams.
Supervisors without the right skills are a liability
In many ways, frontline supervisors are the glue holding an organization together at its operational core. Unfortunately, there's a gap in a supervisor's leadership development that needs addressing.
The job market is changing. The young, impressionable employees from 20 years ago are the ones taking over the supervisory and leadership positions in their workplaces. They need the right skills—the skills that their team members want them to have: communication, active listening, empathy, time management, stress management, and decision-making. Without them, the supervisor could be considered a liability.
Embrace your influence
The most impactful frontline supervisors are those armed with well-rounded leadership capabilities. By developing expertise in areas like communication, empathy, and decision-making, you elevate your ability to positively influence teams. This allows you to be the grounding, guiding force that provides clarity, accountability, and an environment for teams to thrive.
Don't underestimate the significance of your role as a frontline supervisor. You are so much more than just an oversight manager. You set the standards, shape the culture, and exemplify the organization's values through your influence on your team. Embrace this influence and commit yourself to embodying the leadership skills that inspire and elevate your workforce.
To learn more about stepping up as an empowered, highly effective frontline supervisor, pick up a copy of The CareFull Supervisor by Kevin Burns. This insightful guide provides the tools and mindset you need to maximize your profound impact on the teams you lead.
