Chapter 1 Roles of a Supervisor

Question 1

The role of today’s supervisor involves much more than getting the work of your unit done with and through your immediate team. As a supervisor, you are: (Page 2)

Answer 1

1. A “vital link” b/t the organization vision and day-to-day activities that contribute to making that vision reality
2. The “connection” b/t the leaders who established strategic goals for the organization and the “boots on the ground” who implement those goals
3. The “glue” that hold your team and projects together, so that the work keeps moving regardless of political change, tight budgets, changing priorities, staff reduction, and new demands from citizens.

Question 2

Being a supervisor is a tough and demanding job that requires a blend of _____, _____, and _____ to achieve agreed-upon outcomes. (Page 3)

Answer 2

1. technical
2. management
3. people skils

Question 3

Whether you are a veteran supervisor or fairly new to the job, you must ____ the expertise that helped you get the promotion in the first place while developing and refining new skills to get work done with and trough a high performing team. (Page 3)

Answer 3

leverage

Question 4

What are four challenges that today’s public sector supervisors face? (Page 3)

Answer 4

1. A growing workload with shrinking resources.
2. Frequently changing priorities and needs
3. A diverse and multicultural workforce that creates new dynamics and leadership responsibilities
4. High expectations from citizens seeking the best return on their tax dollars.

Question 5

Your roles and task as a supervisor will vary greatly depending on these four things: (Page 4)

Answer 5

1. The culture and climate of the organization
2. The function for which you are responsible
3. The degree of autonomy you are granted
4. Your awareness of your strengths and areas needing development.

Question 6

_____ focuses on establishing direction, aligning employees based on the direction, motivating and inspiring employees to succeed. It produces change, with an emphasis on achieving long-term outcomes.

Answer 6

Leading

Question 7

_____ focuses on short term results. It involves planning and budgeting, organizing and staffing, and control and problem-solving function.

Answer 7

Managing

Question 8

_____ keeps things running- that is, the day-to-day operations of an organization.

Answer 8

Management

Question 9

_____looks towards the future. (page 5)

Answer 9

Leadership

Question 10

Effective Supervisors use both _____ and ______.

Page 5

Answer 10

leadership/ management skills

Question 11

In many organizations, the management responsibilities of supervisors are communicated by _____ or through established processes. (Page 5)

Answer 11

Senior Managers

Question 12

What is a key distinction for supervisors of high-performing teams. (Page 5)

Answer 12

To develop your leadership skills along with your management skills: thus becoming a leader and not a boss.

Question 13

One of the toughest professional challenges you’ll face if you are a new supervisor is _____ (page 6)

Answer 13

becoming a boss to your former co-workers and friends.

Question 14

Becoming a successful supervisor requires making changes in your operating style to adapt to your new role and responsibilities. That includes: (Page 6)

Answer 14

1. Rethinking your relationships with work friends who are now subordinates.
2. Letting go of task you used to do and trusting your
   team to get those task done.
3. Keeping an eye on the big picture and longer-term
   goal.

Question 15

A team that reaches a high level of functioning is a group of people who _____ and _____ each other and know they can rely on each other. (Page 7)

Answer 15

Respect and Trust

Question 16

When it comes to getting the job done, team members share the same goals, attitudes, and values. ______grows out of a sense of pride and belonging. (Page 7)

Answer 16

Team Spirit

Question 17

Accomplishing work with and through other people requires _____ those people in decisions that contribute to team effectiveness. (Page 7)

Answer 17

Engaging

Question 18

Successful Team Leaders discuss what _____ and _____ mean and then guide their teams through the work with a clear understanding of expectations and results. (Page 7)

Answer 18

Accountability and Empowerment

Question 19

You should rely on your _____ for their expertise and their ideas on how to get the job done effectively and efficiently. (Page 7)

Answer 19

Employees

Question 20

_________ encourage team members to participate in many decisions, including planning, goal setting, scheduling, and allocating resources. (Page 7)

Answer 20

Effective Supervisors

Question 21

A supervisor who delegates authority and accepts employees’ decisions about how best to do their job is the _____, rather than the boss of a work group. (Page 8)

Answer 21

Leader of a team

Question 22

Delegating is essential to your supervisory success because it _____, _____, _____, _____, and _____.
(Page 8)

Answer 22

1. Helps employees feel valued,
   2.Encourages creative and innovative problem solving
   3.Motivates employees to take full responsibility for their
   work.
   4.Increases productivity and ensures that the work gets
   done.
   5.Helps you manage your supervisory work load

Question 23

______ can improve performance by requiring the mastery of new skills by your employees.

Answer 23

Delegating

Question 24

Some supervisors are reluctant to delegate. Why? (Page 8)

Answer 24

1. Because they are afraid that the person might make a
   mistake.
   2.Because they are afraid to let go of work they see as
   their own.

Question 25

To be an _____, you must focus on helping employees to
reach their full potential-even if that means encouraging team members to become more skilled in some areas than you are. (page 9)

Answer 25

Effective supervisor

Question 26

There are four parts to successful delegation . What are they?

Answer 26

1. Responsibility
2. Authority
3. Instruction
4. Accountability

Question 27

When delegating responsibility for a task, who remains responsible for the task being completed? (Page 9)

Answer 27

The supervisor.

Question 28

Giving responsibility without ______ undermines the effective completion of work.

Answer 28

authority

Question 29

As part of the instruction process when delegating authority, what should you do as a supervisor, _____? (Page 9)

Answer 29

Welcome suggestions on new or more efficient ways of completing the task that might be different from how you would have done it.

Question 30

Although a the supervisor is ultimately responsible for the completion of a task, the team member should still be held ____ for the completion of the task. (Page 9)

Answer 30

Accountable

Question 31

What are four things that will help increase the effectiveness of your delegation? (Page 10).

Answer 31

1. Be clear about what you want done.
   2.Chose the right person for the task.
   3.Give the team member time and space to complete
   the assignment.
   4.Maintain open communication and check on the
   process.
   5.Hold team members accountable for assigned task
   6.Recognize the person’s accomplishments

Question 32

Successful delegation requires you to be _____ and _____ and to trust your employees. (Page 10)

Answer 32

creative and clear

Question 33

Your success as a problem solver requires that you be ____, ____, ____, ____, and ____. (Page 10)

Answer 33

1. Approachable
2. Connected
3. Alert
4. Open
5. Aware

Question 34

Effective supervisors are willing to ______ jobs to make them more interesting and challenging. (Page 10)

Answer 34

Redesigned

Question 35

Although it is often assumed that what workers want most from their jobs is more money, studies have shown that employees also want __________ (page 10, 11)

Answer 35

More control over their work.

Question 36

Putting time and effort into enriching or redesigning employees’ jobs and helping employees balance life goals with job expectations is likely to be rewarded with ___, ____, ____, ____, and _____. (Page 11)

Answer 36

1. higher morale
2. increased productivity
3. better work quality
4. lower turnover
5. less absenteeism

Question 37

Building a broad base of support among key stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes and working collaboratively within and across organizational boundaries enables you to better support your employees and achieve _______. (page 11)

Answer 37

Division goals

Question 38

How do you build strong productive relationships? (Page12)

Answer 38

1. Listen closely to informal comments from supervisors from other departments
2. Keep and open door policy
3. Follow-up with people you meet in other settings
4. Get to know supervisors in surrounding jurisdictions

Question 39

Today’s supervisor often function as a _____who must balance competing interest to achieve broad goals.

Answer 39

Broker

Question 40

Staying in touch with the needs and views of your work unit, maintaining a steady focus on defined goals, being familiar with important external resources, who may influence outcomes, and modeling working across dept. lines and with outside organizations to achieve team success are part of being an ________ (Page 13)

Answer 40

Effective broker.

Question 41

Effective supervision requires you to be clear about work expectations and to have a strong understanding of what it takes to be successful in managing a divers work team. However, it also depends on _____, _____, and _______ with your employees. (Page 14)

Answer 41

1. Constructive
2. Positive
3. Continuous Interaction

Question 42

_______ makes it easier for you to identify roadblocks that may interfere with achieving the work units objectives, provides opportunity for coaching, makes better use of resources, quickly mediates conflict and allows for changes in course direction if necessary.(Page 14)

Answer 42

Continuous, Two-way

Question 43

Helping employees grow and develop professionally by taking the time to ____, ____ and ____ is key to shared success. (Page 14)

Answer 43

1. Listen
2. Observe
3. Coach