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Lesson 4.1 of 10Module progress: 3 of 14

Supervisor Foundations · Lesson 4.1

CORRECTION IS NECESSARY; HUMILIATION IS NOT

Good supervisors correct problems.

They do not pretend poor performance is acceptable.

Correction may involve saying:

  • the standard was not met
  • a behavior must stop
  • work needs to be redone
  • a mistake needs to be corrected
  • repeated performance requires further action
  • a workplace procedure must be followed

Humiliation is different.

Humiliation may involve:

  • insulting someone
  • mocking them
  • shouting for an audience
  • exposing unnecessary personal information
  • making degrading comparisons
  • using correction to embarrass rather than improve performance

Poor

“You should be ashamed of yourself. Even a child could do this.”

Better

“This task was completed incorrectly. Let’s review what happened, what the correct standard is and what needs to change.”

WORKPLACE EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 1 — RETAIL

An employee repeatedly leaves the till without proper handover.

BETTER RESPONSE

The supervisor should address the behavior directly.

They do not need to call the employee “irresponsible” in front of the entire store.

EXAMPLE 2 — SCHOOL

A staff member sends a poorly worded message to a parent.

BETTER RESPONSE

The supervisor should correct the communication issue without reading the message aloud in the staff room to ridicule the employee.

EXAMPLE 3 — HOTEL

A room is released before a required check is complete.

BETTER RESPONSE

The supervisor should investigate the process and correct the responsible behavior.

Mocking the employee does not make the room safer.

EXAMPLE 4 — OFFICE

A report contains several preventable errors.

BETTER RESPONSE

The supervisor can require correction and discuss the repeated quality issue without attacking the employee’s intelligence.

Remember

The goal of correction is better behavior—not emotional punishment.

Workplace action

Before correcting someone, ask: What outcome am I trying to achieve?

Quick Check

Which statement best reflects professional correction?