A supervisor within an organization must often issue directives to persons he or she is supervising (subordinates). There are both good ways and bad ways to issue directives. In order for the tasks assigned to be achieved effectively and efficiently by those working beneath the supervisor, it is important for the supervisor to issue good, clear, understandable, and concise directives. The steps in this article will help you as a supervisor understand what constitutes good directives so that you may incorporate these strategies when you issue directives to employees you are supervising.
Be reasonable - As the supervisor, you should not issue a directive if the employee receiving the directive does not have the experience, ability, and/or willingness to comply.
Be understandable - As the supervisor, you should make certain that employees understand your directives by speaking words that are familiar to the employees and by using feedback to ensure that your employees understand your directives.
Be specific - As the supervisor, you should state clearly what it is that you expect from your employees in terms of quality and quantity of work performance.
Set time limits - As the supervisor, you should specify time limits within which work tasks should be accomplished.
Be congruent - As the supervisor, your supervisory directives must be compatible with the mission, vision, core values, philosophy, regulations, policies, and ethical standards of your organization.
Be reasonable - As the supervisor, you should not issue a directive if the employee receiving the directive does not have the experience, ability, and/or willingness to comply.
Be understandable - As the supervisor, you should make certain that employees understand your directives by speaking words that are familiar to the employees and by using feedback to ensure that your employees understand your directives.
Be specific - As the supervisor, you should state clearly what it is that you expect from your employees in terms of quality and quantity of work performance.
Set time limits - As the supervisor, you should specify time limits within which work tasks should be accomplished.
Be congruent - As the supervisor, your supervisory directives must be compatible with the mission, vision, core values, philosophy, regulations, policies, and ethical standards of your organization.
Use appropriate tone, wording and phrasing - As the supervisor, you should state a directive as a request using a considerate and polite tone.
