Establishing Command: Building Strong Supervisory Skills for Better Team Management
As a supervisor, your role is crucial in ensuring that the team you are leading performs at its best. You have to be a coach, a mentor, and a role model all rolled into one. However, establishing command is not just about barking orders and demanding respect; it’s about building strong supervisory skills that will help you manage your team better.
The Key skills for establishing command are:
Communicating Effectively
Communication is key to establishing command. As a supervisor, it’s your responsibility to communicate effectively with your team, clearly outlining goals, expectations, and individual tasks that will ultimately lead to achieving objectives. Additionally, encouraging open communication between team members fosters collaboration and builds trust within the team.
Leading by Example
Being a role model is essential to establishing command. When you set an example for your team, they perceive you as trustworthy, reliable, and committed to achieving the company’s goals. Lead by example, and your team will follow suit.
Respecting and Building Trust with Your Team
Respect and trust are earned, not given. As a supervisor, you owe it to your team to respect their opinions, trust them with tasks, and foster an environment of transparency and collaboration. In turn, your team will respect you, trust your decisions, and feel valued by the organization.
Encouraging and Recognizing Performance
Encouraging and recognizing your team’s performance is critical to establishing command. Praising your team’s efforts and recognizing their achievements creates a positive work environment that fosters the team’s morale and motivates team members to perform even better.
Examples of Establishing Command In Practice:
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s COO, is an example of establishing command in practice. She achieved this by leading by example, setting expectations, and communicating with her team effectively.
Another example is General Martin Dempsey, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who established command by respecting and building trust with his team. He fostered an environment of transparency and collaboration that led to the successful implementation of strategic objectives.
Conclusion:
Establishing command is about building strong supervisory skills and fostering an environment of effective communication, respect, trust, and performance recognition. By adopting these critical skills, you can effectively manage your team, motivate them, and achieve your organization’s goals.
