“What Do You Do?”
3 Words to Describe a Supervisor
July 2019 marked 3 years in a formal leadership role as an IT supervisor within health care.
Along the way, people have asked me many questions about my role. By far, one question stands out the most…
“What do you do as a supervisor?”
Normally, I’ve responded with the basic tasks of the job, such as performance management, resource management, recruiting and keeping employees.
All true and good descriptors, but honestly it’s also kind of boring.
So, I got different words to describe what I do. I know it’s not everything, but they are the main elements of a Supervisor I exude daily.
Here are three C’s I use to describe a Supervisor:
Catalyst
A catalyst is a unique word to describe my work efforts. Yet, it gives some excitement in how I engage daily. There are many problems I hear about and see within the workday.
Large, small, complex, annoying.
Regardless of the nuance, I seek to bring them to light so we can fix them than ignore them. One of my philosophies as a leader is to serve, meaning that I will look to fulfill the needs around me that are meaningful and have an impact.
As a catalyst, my responsibility is to rally the team in a way that evokes action. Whether that means we pull together a small team to complete a problem, or I ask the tough questions that highlights blind spots in our thinking. Stirring up the pot, healthily, encourages action and engagement with the teams.
Collaborator
Collaboration is key to help draw connections between tasks and teams.
On the surface, teams are working together to find problems, creating solutions and increase work velocity. Beneath all that, collaboration creates relationships, builds trust, and increases community.
That’s where the excitement happens!
I’ve had a hand in gathering people, who may not work closely often, work together towards a common goal. As a supervisor, I model what collaboration looks like first and encourage that within the teams who are experiencing conflict or looking to carry out a large initiative.
Culture Shaper
Being a culture shaper is one of my favorite aspects of the job because I get to foster three areas of growth: Personal, Professional, Team.
The team culture is a delicate entity that requires everyone to contribute for its success. If neglected, we see communication breakdowns and toxic environments where nobody wants to work.
Humans are our greatest assets in the workplace and should be handled with care and consideration. Acting as a collaborator and a catalyst greatly contributes to the thriving culture of the team.
Whatever role you are in, no matter what level you sit within your organization, you are a leader!
Don’t just talk about what you do at work… Talk about how you show up at work! Keep your perspective on the ways you influence the people around you to be the best that they can be!
Take a moment to practice this exercise: I want you to re-imagine your role in a way that increases efficacy.
Find clear descriptors that explain your leadership and use them as staples to your actions. Generate conversations with your staff around your descriptors by asking them feedback questions on how well you are living up to the words.
This will encourage accountability to keep you, and the culture you are creating, flourishing!
Reflective Question:
What are your words to describe your role at work?
Share your words in the comments!
