Readers Respond: What Do You Expect From a Supervisor?

Responses: 26

By Alison Doyle, About.com Guide

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What do you expect from a supervisor? Read answers and share your answer to this typical interview question. Share Your Answer

Punctuality: As a supervisor he/she must set a good example 2.integrity 3. accountability.
—Guest Victoria Daniel

Any supervisor should be honest with his subordinates. He should be trusted, he should be fair to all his subordinate, he must stand in for them, he should make his subordinates have confidence in him. Above all, he should give attention to his followers.
—Lionjunior

A supervisor should be a leader who values and acknowledges the contributions of the best assets of the company, the employees. Effective and constructive open-door communication fosters collaboration and ingenuity between staff encouraging productivity. Mutual respect is a must and personnel issues should be conducted in private. Supervisors should not micromanage rather entrust tasks to employees based on their expertise. I expect supervisors to be goal driven and motivated to encourage overall company success.
—Guest Kathy

I expect professionalism, dedication and accept responsibility for its workers. Able to discipline in cases that require it but also to be human. She needs to be very organized and proctive. Do to those that you would have wanted done to you.. treat them how you would want to be treated. Be firm, fair and consistent in all you do.
—Guest cmm

A supervisor should be supportive to their employers. They should listen when someone has a concern and fix the problem. They should not always be in meetings and not be available for employees to meet with them when needed. And they should praise employers when they work hard and do a good job.
—JBROWN56

Keeping everyone in the know and making the work easier on everyone by doing so.
—Guest edna

It possess a good leadership and being responsible to handle and motivate people.
—Guest norgabs

I expect a supervisor to treat employees with dignity and respect, to communicate clearly what is expected from the employees as well as any feedback, positive or negative, and to be competent in their position. I think a great supervisor always tries to support the well-being of everyone --- customers, employees, superiors and the general public as well.
—Guest Corey

Feedback from my Supervisor from time to time on how well or otherwise I am performing my tasks which will help me to work on areas that need improvement.
—Guest Jackee

A Supervisor must be honest to his duty and be willing to face all types of work pressures and will be peaceful with his co workers instead of shouty.
—Guest Mansoor Qazi

A Supervisor must be honest to his duty and be willing to face all types of work pressures and will be peaceful with his co workers instead of shouty.
—Guest Mansoor Qazi

I expect to be treated with respect & acknowledge when I've done a good job... Positive not always negative and know what our job details...
—Guest unknown

A supervisor should be knowledgable in his/her field, approachable, willing to assist a subordinate without being demeaning in any way. i don't expect him/her to have all the answers to every situation/problem but be willing to work humbly to achieve a solution as efficiently as may be possible.
—Guest Shiraz

A supervisor is the leader of the team, so he/she should be responsibile for the team. I don't expected thate the supervisor could teach me how to do the tasks. A supervisor should know his/her employee's strengths and find out the way to coordinate thse strengths. Also, I do expect my supervisor to communicate with his/her staff.
—Guest Mike

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Alison Doyle
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