How Can I Tell Whether an Employee Is Ready to Be a Supervisor?

Becoming a supervisor within a company is a very big achievement. There are many qualities that upper management needs to see in an employee in order to make this leap. Because these kinds of roles are important, it isn’t a decision that is taken lightly. A lot of thought should go into the process of choosing a supervisor before that position is offered to somebody. When you decide whether an employee is ready to be a supervisor, there are a number of different qualities and questions you need to think about. Here are some things you should look at in order to tell if an employee is ready to step up into a supervising role.

Attendance History

In order to function well as a supervisor, an employee needs to have a good attendance record. A good supervisory candidate will be able to take an unexpected day off while still being able to manage their employees. Emergencies happen, but keep track of how often days are being taken off. Make sure that the potential candidate is following the attendance and vacation policies outlined in your employee handbook. It’s important to have your attendance policies listed in an accessible place and keep track of absences so that you can make these expectations clear.

Conflict Resolution

Your supervisors are able to manage difficult situations in a way that benefits the company. Knowing how to formulate a beneficial compromise is very important. This will keep everyone who is involved happy. It’s inevitable that conflicts will arise among people who are working together each day. Being able to handle these situations with ease is an important quality a person needs to have if they are going to be a good supervisor.

Loyalty

When you hire or promote someone as a supervisor, you’ll want to know that they’re going to fill that position for some time. There’s no real benefit in training someone for a supervisory position only to have them leave after six months. Many people might use this position as a stepping stone for other opportunities in their area of expertise. Try to pick someone that you know is loyal to the company.

Choosing an employee to become a supervisor is a big deal. It’s not a decision that should be made lightly. Take the time to look closely at the different candidates available. Don’t immediately discount some of the newer employees. You could have really great talent right in front of you.

Here’s another article you might like: How to Develop Better Talent at Your Company