Strategic Supervision
Leader vs Manager – A False Dichotomy *
Below are some general thoughts regarding the important function of leadership – managing the work of others.
- Managing the work of others = supervision of their work
- Leading people in mission and supervision of their work are essential – “two wings on same plane” – we may have strengths in one or the other; good leaders must be able to manage some level of detail/operations; good managers must be able to lead people to accomplish agreed upon outcomes
- Managing the work of others (not managing the people) includes:
- Organizational competency, legal aspects, safe and healthy workers, awareness of implications of being an employee – i.e. policies are for individual and organizational protection
- Emphasize that workers are a part of something larger than themselves, “going rogue” is not wise or helpful when resources are available to inform, help, and protect workers
Strategic Supervision is for Ensuring Execution
Below are some very practical aspects of how to supervise others:
- Be proactive, not just reactive in your supervision!
- Thinking ahead – scenario planning / What will we do if….?
- Hope for the best and plan for the worst!
- Be both Macro- and Micro-focused
- Big picture, systems thinking, but also attentive to an appropriate level of detail
- Provide oversight of the person and the task
- Attention to the ‘leadership wake’ of people and task
- Success is thriving people and mission accomplished
- Ensure the execution and the completion of a task – stewardship and ownership of the task
- What are we doing; Why are we doing it?
- Bring accountability for completion of a task
- No 3-foot holes, when we intend to dig 10-foot holes!
- Create a healthy, safe working environment where people can flourish
- Give feedback (correction, improvement/affirmation) related to responsibilities and desired outcomes – i.e. annual progress reviews, personal improvement plans, personal goals, annual plans and budgets
- Ensure alignment of people, resources, and task (doing the right things) to our mission statement
- Aligning up, down, and laterally within the organization
- Help create collaboration (working partnerships) with other people or functions in the organization
- Empower people to accomplish their responsibilities and make their contribution (giving authority, providing the needed resources) – having clearly defined, agreed upon outcomes
- Enable people to accomplish their responsibilities and make their contribution (removing obstacles, solving problems that people are not able to do themselves)
- Not micro-managing, meddling or doing someone’s job for them
- Provide excellent stewardship of God’s resources
- Optimization of process, budgeting, positioning people to succeed, time management
- Accountability for how and when decisions are made and how resources are used
- Create healthy team dynamics
- Ensure that team members are working well together as a team
- Helping team members contribute in their strengths and protect each other’s weaknesses
- Bring clarity when needed regarding purpose, process, or outcomes
- Secure commitment to a common (shared) goal and purpose
- Create a succession mentality – raise up your replacement from within your team, if possible
You must be doing both – leading people and managing their work!
* These thoughts were compiled with the helpful input of Ken Hendren
Developing Kingdom Leaders - Tom Yeakley 