The word supervision is the combination of two words, i.e., supervision where super means over and above and vision means seeing. So, supervision means seeing the activities of employees from over and above.
Role of Supervisor
Supervisor plays two important roles:
- Role of Mediator or Linking Pin
Supervisor plays the role of linking pin as he communicates the plans, policies, decisions and strategies of management to subordinates and complaints, grievances and suggestions of subordinates to management.
- Role of a guide
Whenever subordinates are in doubt and need help the supervisor guides them to come out from their problematic situations.
Importance of Supervision/Functions of Supervisor:
- Ensures Issuing of Instructions
The supervisor makes sure that all the instructions are communicated to each and every employee. The top level and middle level, plan out all the instructions but the instructions are issued only by supervisory level management.
- Facilitates Control
Control means match between actual and planned output. Whenever the workers are under constant supervision or monitoring then step by step check is kept and if they are deviating from plan then immediate instructions are issued by the supervisor. By this constant monitoring, the supervision function ensures strict control over the activities of subordinates.
- Optimum Utilization of Resources
When the workers are constantly monitored or observed then they always use the resources in the best possible manner which leads to minimum wastage. But if there is no supervision or check on workers they may result in wastage of resources.
- Discipline
The strict supervision and guidance of supervisor encourages the employees and workers to be more disciplined in their activities. Under the guidance of supervisor the workers follow a fixed or strict time-table and execute the plans in right directions.
- Feedback
The supervisors are directly dealing with the subordinates. So they are the best persons to give feedbacks of subordinates. They give the report regarding the working of every worker which becomes the base for the performance appraisal for the employees. The supervisor gives the feedback regarding complaints, grievances and problems of subordinates to superiors.
- Improves Communication
Supervisors issue instructions and orders to all the subordinates and make sure that these instructions and orders are clear to all the members.
While playing the role of the linking pin or mediator the supervisor tries to remove the communication gap between the superiors and subordinates as he passes on the complaints and problems of subordinates to superiors and instructions of superiors to subordinates.
- Improves Motivation
The relationship with the supervisor is a very good incentive to improve the motivation level of the employees. While guiding the employees the supervisors encourage the subordinates to perform to their best capacity.
- Maintain group unity
Supervisor plays a key role in maintaining group unity among workers working under him he maintains harmony among workers by solving their disputes.
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