Manager vs.

Supervisor
Managers and supervisors have an integral effect on a company's operations. They
make certain employees have the tools to succeed in their roles and develop their
skills. The amount of commitment managers and supervisors give to their company
can foster an environment that encourages growth for employees.

Manager
A manager is an individual who makes essential decisions that affect all areas of
industrial operations. They outline the purpose of their decision, along with
identifying employees and the duties they need to perform to ensure the completion
of tasks. They choose the amount they need to spend on resources and allocate
them to each department so they can reach their goals.
Here is a list of job duties for managers:

 Organize the company's management structure to streamline workflow,

communication and performance
 Collaborate with the human resources department to identify, interview and
hire employees
 Instruct employees while following company guidelines in the employee
handbook
 Organize training and professional development opportunities for all
employees to participate in
 Evaluate employee performance by using a performance management system
and set goals for employees during each quarter
 Delegate tasks to employees and give feedback regularly on their performance
 Provide work schedules to employees and make adjustments regarding
vacation, paid time off and emergencies
 Communicate department information to employees via one-on-one and team
meetings

Essential skills for managers

Managers must be responsible, professional and able to motivate others to work
together towards a common goal. Here are several essential management skills:
1. Leadership
Leadership is one of the most critical skills for success as a manager. People
in management positions must be capable of helping drive employees to meet
goals, motivate them through challenges and ensure they have all the support
they need to excel in their jobs.
2. Communication
A leader cannot be successful without well-developed communication skills.
Managers must be able to clearly communicate tasks, goals, expectations and
company objectives. Managers must also master the skill of constructive
criticism to encourage employees to address areas of opportunity.
3. Time management
Managers must be able to effectively manage their time as well as their team’s
 time. Because they are often tasked with handling many responsibilities at
once, they should be highly organized. Those in management must assess all
the tasks on their agenda, prioritize them appropriately and come up with an
efficient strategy for completing them. Understanding how to make the most of
the time that’s available to you will help you excel in any management position.
4. Reliability
Employees need to know they can turn to their managers for help. Managers
should make themselves available to employees and provide the support they
need. When managers are reliable and easy to reach, their team members feel
more confident and secure. It’s also essential that managers remain level-
headed and professional, even in the face of stressful challenges.
5. Decisiveness
Managers are responsible for making many decisions, both small and
significant. As a manager, you may have to make major choices on short
notice, and it’s your responsibility to determine the best course of action for
your team and the organization as a whole. It’s important for you to act with
confidence during the decision-making process. Decisiveness in critical
moments is key to effective leadership.
6. Expertise
Successful managers are industry experts who have the knowledge and skills
to assist their employees however necessary. For example, a retail manager
should be able to confidently manage the cash register, stock the floor and
take on custodial duties when a store is understaffed.
Being able to step in and assist your employees will also help earn their
respect. Taking the time to learn others’ jobs will also equip you with empathy
for your employees so you can effectively respond to their struggles and help
them reach solutions.

Supervisor
A supervisor is an individual who makes decisions approved by the manager. They
work alongside employees to ensure if they perform tasks that align with the goals
managers set. These individuals are the first point of contact if a problem occurs with
employees or customers. They can report it to the manager if they believe the
problem deserves their attention. Supervisors decide if conflicts deserve the
manager's attention if they believe their actions affect the completion of their goals.
Here is a list of job duties for supervisors:

 Create performance goals and set deadlines that match with the company's
plans
 Oversee workflow to assist employees in knowing their job responsibilities and
delegated duties
 Coach employees by giving them constructive feedback to help perform
certain tasks
 Address inquiries and complaints from customers
 Keep track of employee's schedules and maintain personnel records
 Gather and submit performance reports to the department manager
 Choose employees who are eligible for promotions and bonuses
 Assist with training new employees while adhering to company policies
How can I be a good supervisor?
Educating yourself on how to succeed in a new position is an important process.
Here are a few tips that can help you become a more successful supervisor:
1. Always support your team. Ensure you’re available to your team members
and strive to provide the best working environment possible. Arrange team-
building activities to support employee bonding and team cooperation.
2. Assist employees with career advancement. Encourage your team to seek
training in the field by suggesting online classes or seminars that could help
their professional development.
3. Take responsibility for your team. If the team makes a mistake, hold
yourself accountable. One of the supervisor’s primary responsibilities is to
oversee workflow and monitor performance, so you should be able to spot
issues and resolve them before they affect results.
4. Create a positive team culture. Set a good example by avoiding workplace
gossip and staying in control of your emotions. Offer an open door policy for
employees to express themselves, and actively address disputes.
5. Provide consistent feedback. Positive feedback is essential for team
performance and employee job satisfaction. Practice delivering helpful,
constructive reviews that benefit employees and the company as a whole.

What are the differences between managers and

supervisors?
Level of authority
A manager is a higher-ranking employee within a company. A supervisor reports to
the manager about developments related to products, services and employees
working under their direction. A company might have several supervisors reporting to
a manager depending on its size, and they can promote an employee to become a
supervisor if they excel in their current role.
A manager reports to a department's director, vice president or a board of directors.
For example, the director of a department within a grocery store might speak with the
manager to get an update on the status of operations during a snowstorm.

Type of work
Supervisors work on the day-to-day tasks to advance the production of their
employees and position the department for success. Supervisors understand the
duties of the employees they work with, the amount of work they've completed and
the impact their performance has on the organization. Managers might instruct
supervisors to give performance reviews to each employee once they have given
feedback on their performance.
Managers meet with supervisors to discuss the general performance of the
department and its employees. They conduct the performance review of supervisors
that work for them. They expect supervisors to highlight the department's status by
meeting their goals and note problems that may alter the department's performance.
Managers attend meetings for their company's senior leadership team and oversee
the budget.

Objectives
Managers and supervisors have different goals they need to meet. A supervisor's
goals have an internal focus, meaning they coordinate with employees within their
department to make sure they're finishing their present tasks.
The supervisor facilitates the training of employees, so they know how to perform
their job correctly and decrease the amount of time spent on tasks. For example, a
supervisor working in an IT department can work with an employee on an issue with
their computer. Once the supervisor fixes their computer, they ask them what tasks
they're working and note shortcuts to help them complete their projects quickly.
A manager's goals have an external focus because they're accountable for the
company's performance outside of one department. An external focus allows them to
understand the progress of their department without getting involved with the
completion of individual tasks. They allot time to design a strategy to achieve long-
term profits and sustainability for the company. Managers overview the benefits and
risks of the strategy before sending it to their senior management team for approval.
Here are some example goals for supervisors to meet:

 Enhance employee productivity by 10% next month

 Increase employee retention rate by 15% over the next year
 Train three employees and submit a three-month performance review for each
employee

Here are some example goals for managers to achieve:

 Finish next year's four-quarter strategy by the end of next month

  Assign three special projects to supervisors by the end of the week
 Adjust the company's budget and resubmit it to senior management for
approval

Salary
Employees with a managerial job title have a higher salary than the supervisor at a
company. Managers have more responsibilities than supervisor, so they earn higher
wages by companies for their work. Supervisors have a more specialized role with
an organization since they work exclusively with employees within their department,
but they still earn higher salaries than front-line employees because of their
enhanced responsibilities.