Course Description

The successful supervisor needs a solid knowledge base, a wide range of specialized skills and the capacity to keep current. The various roles you are called upon to play require clear understanding of the organization and clear thinking about the tasks. You must communicate effectively, handle customer relations, measure and report work appropriately and ensure compliance with complex government legislation. This course will help you develop these skills and give you an awareness of the multi-faceted approach to leadership demanded in the modern business environment.

Module #1 - Roles of the Supervisor within Management

• define the roles I do in my work and compare them with others
• explore the relationships I maintain with my supervisor and with the people who work for me
• list those areas of supervision where you want to develop better knowledge and stronger skills

Module #2 - The Design of your Organization

• explore what businesses and markets your company is in and how they are positioned
• understand who the various stakeholders are and the ways that your organization relates and communicates with each group
• understand the levels in a well structured organization and the difference between the type of work done at each level
• understand the flow of information (decisions, actions, results and feedback) that create communication loops in any system
• explore the nature of the terms authority, responsibility and accountability

Module #3 - Continuous Tasks of the Supervisor

• explore what tasks form the routine of your work and what skills and personal characteristics are necessary for you to be most effective
• understand the nature of ‘internal’ and ‘external’ customers
• examine the flow of products and/or services horizontally through your department in order to identify who are your internal customers and who sees you as their internal customer
• understand the supervisor’s role in maintaining records and reporting results on different process variables in your department
understand the supervisor’s role in the development of budgets, effecting cost controls and the reporting of results

Module #4 - Recruitment and Retention

• understand the importance of successful Recruitment and Retention programs to your organization
• understand the elements of a valid recruitment program and the potential roles that supervisors may play in the program
• understand the key elements of employee job satisfaction /dissatisfaction and explore the influences that a supervisor can have on these elements
• explore areas of supervision where you want to develop better knowledge and stronger skills to support retention of valuable employees

Module #5 - Problem Solving

• understand the value and need for a structured problem solving approach when you are thinking through a complex problem or considering a complex opportunity
• understand, and be able to use, the steps in a problem solving methodology that employs divergent and convergent thinking and that progress through a series of steps in a systematic manner
• enhance your skills for problem solving and opportunity finding

Module #6 - Working as a Productive Unit

• understand the components that make up a sustainable system
• consider how productivity is related to the system model and how to monitor and measure productivity
• understand the key concepts, and the terms used, when doing an analysis of a process flow
• consider the different types and levels of Planning as well as the role and function of Production Control

Module #7 - The Lines of Communication #1 - Verbal

• explore the nature of the flow of communications in my organization
• understand the nature of active listening and practice the basic skills
• learn and practice good presentation skills

Module #8 - The Lines of Communication #2 - Written

• learn and practice the skill of writing a well crafted, sample message
• explore the requirements and expectations in my organization for appropriate e-mail behaviour and management

Module #9 - Critical Legislation for the Supervisor

• Provincial and Federal legislation that impacts your business
• develop a high-level understanding of key Federal and Provincial legislation that directly impacts your responsibilities as a supervisor
• know where to access useful reference material with respect to key legislation

Module #10 - Finding the Facts

• understand the interrelationships between legislative requirements, collective agreements and company policies
• know how to access useful reference material and resources with respect to key legislation and company-specific policy that directly affects your job

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