Factors affecting supervision

Any five factors affecting supervision are as follows:

• Knowledge of inputs:

For effective supervision, a supervisor must have the knowledge of rules and regulations, installations, equipment, minor machines, production process, and procedures. He should be familiar with rules, regulation, and policies of the organization and labour laws. He must be well known to his authorities and responsibilities.

• Leadership skill:

Effective supervision requires effective leadership. A supervisor should possess leadership qualities in order to inspire confidence, respect, and voluntary discipline from the subordinates. As a leader, he should be able to guide his subordinates and promote harmonious relationships among them. 

• Communication skill:

Another factor for effective supervision is effective communication. One of the important function of a supervisor is to issue an order with sufficient instructions to the subordinates. This requires communication skill. Without effective communication skill, a supervisor cannot carry his job successfully.

• Skill in human relations:

Supervisor gets the things done by others, for which he must establish and command effective human relations. To make supervision effective, a supervisor should adopt employee-centered approach but not work-centered approach. He should treat the subordinates and employees as human beings and deal with them to achieve good relations. As far as possible, he should adopt a helping attitude towards his subordinates. He should encourage them positively.

• Impartiality:

A supervisor should be impartial, open minded and fair in dealing with the day to day problems of his work group. If he is impartial and fair, his decisions will not involve resentment for long even in the minds of those against whom the decisions go. He should not have prejudices and his likes and dislikes should not influence his action.