API - 63
API GUIDE TO BETTER SUPERVISION - FINDING A BETTER WAY
| Organization: | API |
| Publication Date: | 1 January 1975 |
| Status: | inactive |
| Page Count: | 17 |
scope:
INTRODUCTION: Good Enough Is Not Enough Today*
Man is like a lump of coal. Coal appears to be a black rock-like lump. In terms of its potential, however, it is heat, light, power, dyes, oils, insulation, medicine, fertilizers, etc. Over 200,000 products come from coal. We might look at Man in a similar way with respect to his potentialities.
Every man probably knows more about "something" than you do. If you, as a supervisor, are willing to accept this idea, then you are on the way to "Finding a Better Way." Remember, you work through people.
"Finding a better way requires a new state of mind." Starting with yourself, you must spark employees' urge to outsmart the way the job has been done in the past with the thought "There must be a better way." In this way you are beginning to see and use the potential you have in employees under your supervision.
Employees are expected to do a job "effectively". Are they doing this if they are not constantly looking for a better way? This requires a questioning attitude on their part about every detail: Why was it done in the first place? Why is it done now? Why is it done in that manner? Give the employee a chance to feel he is participating in the operation by "finding a better way," and you increase his job satisfaction as well as his ability and desire to produce.
*E. K. Dugdale
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