You're a mid-career professional. How can you become a better supervisor?

1 Assess your strengths and weaknesses

The first step to becoming a better supervisor is to know yourself and your current performance. What are your core competencies, your unique value proposition, and your areas of improvement? You can use tools such as self-assessments, feedback surveys, 360-degree reviews, or coaching sessions to get a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses as a supervisor. Be honest and open to constructive criticism, and use the feedback to set realistic and specific goals for your development.

2 Learn from others

The second step to becoming a better supervisor is to learn from others who have more experience or different perspectives than you. You can find mentors, role models, peers, or experts who can offer you guidance, advice, support, or inspiration. You can also join networks, communities, or groups where you can exchange ideas, best practices, or challenges with other supervisors. You can also attend training courses, workshops, webinars, or conferences where you can acquire new knowledge, skills, or tools for supervisory excellence.

3 Adapt to change

The third step to becoming a better supervisor is to adapt to change and embrace innovation. The world of work is constantly evolving, and so are the expectations and needs of your employees, customers, and stakeholders. You need to be flexible, agile, and curious, and willing to try new things, experiment, and learn from failures. You also need to foster a culture of change and innovation among your team, and encourage them to be creative, collaborative, and proactive.

4 Communicate effectively

The fourth step to becoming a better supervisor is to communicate effectively with your team and others. Communication is the key to building trust, rapport, and engagement, as well as to aligning goals, expectations, and feedback. You need to communicate clearly, consistently, and respectfully, and use different channels and methods depending on the situation and the audience. You also need to listen actively, empathetically, and attentively, and ask open-ended questions, paraphrase, or summarize to ensure understanding and acknowledgment.

5 Empower your team

The fifth step to becoming a better supervisor is to empower your team and help them grow. You need to delegate tasks, responsibilities, and authority to your team members, and give them autonomy, flexibility, and support. You also need to coach, mentor, and motivate your team, and provide them with regular and constructive feedback, recognition, and rewards. You also need to create a positive and inclusive work environment, where your team feels valued, respected, and appreciated.

6 Reflect and improve

The sixth and final step to becoming a better supervisor is to reflect and improve on your own performance and progress. You need to monitor and measure your results, outcomes, and impacts, and compare them with your goals and standards. You also need to solicit and accept feedback from your team, your manager, your customers, and your stakeholders, and use it to identify gaps, issues, or opportunities for improvement. You also need to celebrate your achievements, acknowledge your challenges, and plan your next steps for continuous learning and growth.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?