Supervisor Foundations · Lesson 9.5
HANDOVERS BETWEEN SUPERVISORS
A shift may end.
Responsibility should not disappear with it.
Supervisor handovers may need to include:
- unresolved customer issues
- staffing problems
- absent employees
- pending approvals
- equipment problems
- safety issues
- important deadlines
- expected deliveries
- incidents
- promises made
- follow-up required
Poor
“Nothing much happened.”
Better
“Two items need follow-up: Room 214 is waiting for maintenance, and the supplier has not confirmed tomorrow’s delivery. The details are in the handover note.”
WORKPLACE EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 1 — RESTAURANT
Customer complaint remains unresolved at shift change.
Next supervisor needs to know what was promised.
EXAMPLE 2 — SCHOOL
Parent is waiting for a response from administration.
The issue should not restart because another supervisor takes over.
EXAMPLE 3 — RETAIL
Cash register problem is still being investigated.
The incoming supervisor needs accurate information.
EXAMPLE 4 — LOGISTICS
A delayed delivery has already received one customer update.
The next shift should know when the next update is due.
Remember
Handover is not:
“Here is everything that happened today.”
It is:
“Here is what the next person needs to know.”
Workplace action
End handover with: Open items. Next action. Owner. Deadline.
Quick Check
What is the main purpose of a supervisory handover?