Supervision refers to the process by which managers oversee the activities and performance of their subordinates to ensure that tasks are completed correctly, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational goals. Effective supervision involves various responsibilities and practices, including Guidance and Support, Monitoring Performance, Feedback and Coaching, Problem Solving, Motivation, and Communication.
With this article, we will understand the meaning and importance of supervision along with some frequently asked questions.
What is Supervision?
The term 'Supervision' is made up of two words, Super and Vision. Super means over and above and Vision means seeing. Therefore, supervision means overseeing the work of subordinates to ensure that they are working according to the plans and policies of the organisation. It is instructing, guiding, and observing the subordinates at work to ensure that they are working as per the plans. Supervision aims to ensure that subordinates work efficiently and effectively to accomplish the organisational objectives.
We can understand supervision in two ways:
- Supervision as an element of Directing: Supervision means overseeing the subordinates at work and guiding and instructing them to achieve the goals of the organisation. As supervision is an element of directing, every manager supervises his subordinates.
- Supervision as a function performed by Supervisors: A supervisor is a vital link between workers and management. He is directly responsible for issuing orders and instructions. He guides, trains, and inspires workers to accomplish goals. He also coveys workers' suggestions and grievances to management.
Importance or Roles of Supervision
Supervision is a critical function in business management, playing a vital role in the success and growth of an organization. Here are the key reasons why supervision is important:
1. Interpersonal Contact with Workers: Day-to-day contact and friendly relations with the workers is maintained by the supervisor. He acts as a guide, friend and philosopher to the workers.
2. Link between Workers and Management: A supervisor acts as a link between workers and management. He communicates managerial policies and decisions to the workers and conveys workers' suggestions, ideas, complaints and grievances to the management. Supervisor helps to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts between the management and workers.
3. Maintains Discipline: He maintains discipline in the organisation by enforcing rules and regulations. He uses various techniques to maintain discipline among the subordinates.
4. Promotes Group Unity: A supervisor helps in maintaining group unity amongst the subordinates. He sorts internal differences among the workers and follows a people-oriented approach to build and maintain harmonious relations in the organisation.
5. Helps in Improving Performance: Supervision helps in inspiring and guiding workers to achieve organisational goals. As a supervisor is in direct contact with the workers, he is in better condition to improve the performance of the workers. He motivates them to work hard and improve their productivity by using both financial and non-financial incentives.
6. Provides Training to Employees: Supervisors provide on-the-job training to new and existing employees to make an efficient team of workers. They instruct, suggest, criticise, and guide the employees, which makes them efficient and reduces accidents and wastage of resources in the workplace.
7. Influences Workers: Supervisor influences the workers by inspiring them to cooperate and contribute to the best of their ability. A supervisor can build up higher morale of the employees through effective leadership.
8. Provides Feedback: A supervisor evaluates the performance of the workers as per the pre-determined standards. By measuring the actual performances, the weakness of the employees is identified. The supervisor provides feedback and corrective measures are taken by the supervisors and subordinates to improve the performance.
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