Supervisor Foundations · Lesson 1.2
AUTHORITY IS NOT PERMISSION TO DISRESPECT PEOPLE
Supervisors have authority because the workplace has assigned them responsibility.
Authority may include the ability to:
- assign work
- monitor performance
- approve certain decisions
- give feedback
- enforce established rules
- escalate problems
But authority does not give a supervisor permission to:
- insult employees
- humiliate people
- threaten unnecessarily
- shout to prove power
- embarrass employees in front of customers
- use personal information against them
- demand personal loyalty instead of professional performance
Poor
“You people never think. Must I explain everything to you?”
Better
“Let’s go through what went wrong and what needs to happen differently next time.”
The second response can still be firm.
Professional supervision is not weakness.
Respect and accountability can exist at the same time.
WORKPLACE EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 1
An employee ignores an important procedure.
The supervisor should address the behavior directly.
The supervisor does not need to insult the employee’s intelligence.
EXAMPLE 2
A cleaner repeatedly leaves an assigned area unfinished.
BETTER RESPONSE
EXAMPLE 3
A team member challenges an instruction.
BETTER RESPONSE
EXAMPLE 4
An employee makes a serious mistake.
The seriousness of the mistake may require immediate intervention.
It does not automatically require humiliation.
Remember
Being firm is not the same as being abusive.
Workplace action
Before correcting someone, ask: Am I trying to solve the problem—or prove that I am powerful?
Quick Check
Which statement is most accurate?