Effective supervisors are essential to the productivity and profitability of any company. Supervisors translate company goals and objectives into everyday, real-world action. The job, however, is extremely difficult. Supervisors have to communicate effectively, both upward in the organization to other managers, and downward to their workers. Effective supervisors also need a thorough working knowledge of how to motivate their employees.

This highly pragmatic, intensive, ten session program helps supervisors gain a much better perspective on the impact and potential of their work. This training series emphasizes practical skills and methods that supervisors will be able use immediately to improve their effectiveness in communication, in working with people, and in applying basic management tools. Each session is designed to be approximately three hours in length.

— Program Outline —

Session One: Understanding the Crucial Role of Supervisors
The importance of being a supervisor and/or manager. Identifying the functions of a supervisor and the skills needed to be effective. Developing an awareness of your style of management. Typical supervisory attitudes and behavior. Understanding your role as a supervisor and the corporate culture you work in. Learn the difference between a manager and a leader.

Session Two: Planning, Organizing & Time Management
This program will be developed using actual work plans and duties of the participants. Topics of discussion will be: The basics of organizing and planning to meet goals and priorities, Recognizing time wasters, Conquering procrastination, Handling interruptions, and Accomplishing more with fewer meetings. As time permits, this program will be supplemented by the video entitled How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life.

Session Three: Delegating and Decision Making
Learn the four basic steps for appropriate delegation. What are the hidden traps which can upset even the most carefully planned effort? Identifying tasks and the appropriate personnel for delegation. Tracking delegated tasks and follow-up. The art of good decision making. A video tape on delegation will be shown during this session.

Session Four: Effective Communication
This program is designed using actual communication situations that occur in the workplace. Participants will discuss these situations in detail and analyze the pros and cons of each. Other topics included in this program will be: The importance of non-verbal communication, How to cope with communication obstacles, How to use communication as an information exchange (instead of a win-lose battle), and How to replace the tendency to be judgmental with strong listening and understanding skills.

Session Five: The Secrets of Motivation
The question most often asked of business consultants is: “How can we motivate employees?” The answer is, “You can’t!” The problem is with the question—it implies that somewhere there are gimmicks, strategies or techniques that once discovered and implemented will double or even triple employee motivation and resulting productivity. Motivation that lasts is not something management does but rather a process that management fosters and allows to happen. This program will address the concept of motivation and how managers can unlock employee potential.

Session Six: Performance Planning & Appraisal
This program is designed to help managers increase their effectiveness in managing the performance appraisal process, specifically in the areas of data collection; preparing for and conducting the meeting; dealing with unexpected or hostile reactions; improving communication skills; coaching, counseling and developing subordinates; and tying performance appraisals to compensation and promotions.

Session Seven: Dealing with Performance Problems
At one time or another in your career as a manager, you will have to deal with an employee whose performance is not satisfactory. Unfortunately, most managers find it difficult to cope with the situation in an effective manner. They are at a loss as to where to begin in order to correct the problem. Rather than establishing a specific plan of action, they often allow the problem to continue—making it worse in the long run. This program will provide participants with a step-by-step procedure on how to approach the complex problem of dealing with marginal performers.

Session Eight: Building a Cohesive Team
Characteristics of an effective team. What is the key to a winning team and what are the building blocks for high performance? Getting results through participative management. Converting differences to assets. How to evaluate and improve overall team effectiveness. A video on team work will be shown during this session.

Session Nine: Selecting the Right Person for the Job (Interviewing Skills)
No matter how experienced we are as managers, there will come a day when we’re faced with several resumes, all of which look quite good; or with a group of job applicants, many of which seem right. How do we recognize the people who will turn out “okay” from the ones who will really deliver for us? This program will teach just that—participants will learn how to effectively interview the job applicants.

Session Ten: How to Successfully Manage Change
Understand the requirements of change and how to manage it at work. How to effectively implement change, whether it is imposed on you, you initiate it, or it comes from the outside. How to communicate the change with persuasion and power. Learn the steps to winning support for the change. How to manage the effects of change on people.

At the end of each session, we will discuss how to transfer the skills learned today back into the workplace tomorrow. Participants learn how to put their job into perspective and start managing differently. Action plans will be written for immediate implementation on the job.