Supervisor Skills: Secrets of Success

While supervisors seldom develop DE&I strategy, they do shape workplace culture through daily management practices.  In this episode, AEU LEAD Director Joe White offers suggestions for ways supervisors can demonstrate their support for diversity, equity, and inclusion through their actions and behaviors. View this episode on the AEU website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses...

Given that a majority of the incoming generation struggles with mental health, companies have an unprecedented need to prepare for the inevitable challenges they will face. In this episode, host Joe White discusses the signs and symptoms of workplace stress and anxiety and offers suggestions for responding to it. View this episode on the AEU LEAD website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe Whi...

Employee engagement is a byproduct of the employee’s experience.  Supervisors are primary contributors to experiences direct reports have and are in the best possible position to affect levels of engagement.  In this episode, host Joe White shares ideas for what matters most to today’s workforce. View this episode on the AEU LEAD website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on hel...

Supervisors in labor-dependent industries typically rely on authoritative management practices in the performance of their job.  This leadership style is among the least preferred by Gen Z.  In this podcast episode, host Joe White provides an overview of five styles of leadership and shares some thoughts regarding the application of each. View this episode on the AEU LEAD website. About Joe As Dir...

Gen Z's integration into the workforce has not been easy for many organizations; especially those in labor-intensive industries.  In this episode, host Joe White highlights job traits valued by the incoming generation and discusses characteristics they expect to see in supervisors. View this episode on the AEU LEAD website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on helping membe...

On average, organizational change efforts achieve desired objectives less than 30% of the time. When frontline resources aren’t engaged or involved, the rate of success drops to less than 10%. In this episode, we discuss the supervisor’s role in getting needed buy-in, support, and commitment from employees and other stakeholders that must ultimately adopt change initiatives to practice. View this...

The term "quiet quitting" has gone viral.  In the third quarter of 2022, its global online search frequency increased by more than 9,000%!  In this episode, we describe what it means, discuss its impact on employers, and share some ideas for ways supervisors can have an impact on it. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on helping members...

One of the most important things a supervisor can do to show employees respect is to actively listen to them in conversation.  In this episode, we take on the topic of active listening and highlight 5 ways mid and frontline managers can demonstrate this important skill. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on helping members transform operational g...

Across a number of industries, serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) have been trending upwards since the onset of the pandemic.  In this episode, we provide listeners with five suggestions to more effectively manage high-risk tasks where SIF potential exists. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on helping members transform operational goals into...

Not all supervisors lead investigations.  For those who do, gathering facts and developing a list of recommendations that prevent reoccurrence is essential.  To that end, we’ve highlighted several recommendations in this episode to help supervisors achieve a successful incident investigation outcome.    View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on helpi...

Supervisors have an impressive list of responsibilities. None, however, are more important than those related to direct reports' safety, health, and well-being. This episode discusses the importance of felt leadership in safety and highlights ways to demonstrate it. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on helping members transform operational...

Success in the 21st century will require continuous learning. The rate of change occurring in the workplace is expected to increase, and the skills needed by supervisors will undoubtedly expand. In this episode, we outline five steps supervisors can take to respond to the shifts already underway and better plan for the challenges they will face in the near term. View this episode on our website. A...

A significant source of frustration for many employees is a supervisor who lacks responsiveness and doesn't follow up. This episode discusses why employee follow-up is essential and provides a strategy for those who want to change and improve. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on helping members transform operational goals into actionable p...

Employees today want to be coached and led, not controlled and managed. For many supervisors, this means developing an entirely new set of skills. That is especially true in industries where command and control management practices exist. In this episode, we highlight five ways supervisors can effectively coach employees to improve performance. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Direct...

A supervisor’s ability to influence employees is more critical today than in the past. A product of credibility and respect, influence is an invaluable commodity gained through demonstrated actions and behaviors. In this episode, we highlight five things supervisors should avoid doing to prevent the loss of credibility with employees. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU...

At a point in time when companies are looking for meaningful ways to distinguish themselves from others, Virginia Associated Builders and Contractors - Virginia Chapter (ABC – VA) President Patrick Dean has a lot to offer. In this episode, Patrick shares insights and perspectives from his nearly 40 years in construction on ways supervisors can affect employee experience and help shape jobsite perf...

The ability to effectively communicate is a requisite requirement for supervisors.  Unfortunately, it’s an area where many people struggle, and most could benefit from learning and development opportunities.  In this SoS short episode, we distinguish the differences between communication and effective communication.  More importantly, we provide five recommendations for ways supervisors can commun...

Delegation benefits both supervisors and employees. Unfortunately, it’s a management practice not used nearly as often as it could or should be. In this episode, SOS Host Joe White discusses the value associated with effective delegation and offer suggestions for how to begin delegating tasks successfully. View this episode on our website. About Joe As Director of AEU LEAD, Joe White focuses on he...

While we can’t get more time from a day, we can likely make better use of the time we have. In this episode, we interview Dr. Breck England, Vice President of Product Architecture with FranklinCovey, and explore ways supervisors can be more organized, efficient, and effective through simple time management strategies anyone can implement. View this episode on our website. About Dr. Breck England D...

Employee experience is a top-five priority for HR professionals.  Directly attributed to levels of engagement and trends involving turnover, employee experience is of growing importance for organizations across a wide range of industries.  For those serious about making needed improvements, solution strategies must involve the development of direct supervisors – the primary source of frustration f...

By 2025, one-quarter of all employees will be from Gen Z. Throughout the remainder of this decade, their numbers will steadily increase as a growing percentage of the workforce. With this transition, companies must reexamine communication practices and cultural attributes to better align with the values and preferences of this emerging generation. Among the list of priorities, supervisors and mana...

Providing employees feedback is important to their ongoing growth and development. Unfortunately, only 30% routinely receive it and among those – most feel the information provided by their manager is either negative or too vague to be valuable. The process of engaging with employees for targeted development is neither complex nor difficult. In this episode, our host Joe White discusses what matte...

According to a National Safety Council report, only one out of every of two employers prepare their managers to recognize and appropriately respond to mental health needs. At a time when stress, anxiety, and workplace burnout are at an all-time high, the need for resources has never been greater. In this episode, Dr. Dustin Keller, CEO of Camelot Care Centers and Vice President of products for Pat...

Workers' compensation is widely regarded as a non-discretionary expense. For some, it’s an unfortunate cost of doing business that adversely impacts the bottom line. For others, however, it’s a means of differentiating yourself from industry peers. In this episode, we spoke with Crystal Jones , a senior underwriter with The American Equity Underwriters, to explore practical ways mid and front...

An unintentional byproduct of organizational “rightsizing” is fewer promotional opportunities for those within. Companies across a wide range of industries have removed layers of management limiting career progression and advancement paths that previously existed. The criteria used for selection when positions do become available has changed, as well. In this episode, Dave Clement , managing direc...