Recently I came across (and posted on social media) a Business Insider article ‘12 traits all great bosses have’. One of the things I pride myself on is being an effective supervisor. I don’t use the word boss because I’m not the boss of anyone – I supervise the work that my staff undertakes. I understand that an effective supervisor requires me to be a leader and a manager.
I believe that a good leader understands the work to be completed and is willing to jump in with the team to get the job done. I believe that a good manager cares as much about creating a healthy work environment as they do about quality and completion of the product or program.
I hire well – which greatly influences my ability to effectively lead and manage. I have never regretted a hiring decision that I was solely responsible for. I carefully consider the position description but I don’t only search for a candidate who has the technical skills to perform the duties, I also strongly evaluate attitude, work ethic, and organizational fit. Another evaluation tool I frequently use is requiring a writing sample. Of course I review the writing sample for content, punctuation, and grammar, but this also gives me the opportunity to eliminate candidates who do not follow application instructions. After all, a team is only as strong as its weakest member.
Ineffective supervisors micro-manage, make unrealistic demands, and devalue their employees. I have learned to delegate and always strive to allow for freedom and flexibility in how work is completed. I have to give credit where credit is due – a strong team is made up of strong team members. Strong team members are passionate about and committed to their work and also who are confident in their ability to make a contribution. I have been told by my staff that they feel appreciated and supported.
How can I provide organizational consulting for your business or nonprofit organization?
I am accepting consulting projects in the following arenas:
• Recruitment and hiring
• Staff retention and development
• Volunteer engagement and management
• Partnership development and community outreach
• Needs assessments, strategic planning and smart growth
• Launching and improving non-traditional student programs for nonprofits and colleges
• Developing and strengthening mentor and internship programs
• Ethical marketing
• Strengthening positive youth development programs
Nicki Sanders is an experienced trainer, group facilitator, and program manager. She has packaged her Masters of Social Work degree and over 15 years of work experience into Packaged For Success, a training and professional development company. Packaged For Success provides career coaching to college students, entry-level job hunters, and experienced employees seeking a promotion. Packaged For Success also offers communication and productivity improvement training for employees and supervisors and provides consultation on building sustainable, impactful, socially responsible community programs.
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