22 Core Competencies for Supervisors

Selecting the most qualified job candidates for leadership positions is a crucial process that can impact everything from bottom-line profits to employee morale. An organization’s competitive position in the marketplace can also be directly affected by the job performance and communication skills of supervisory staff.

While hiring or promoting company managers can feel like a daunting task, the following list of 22 leadership core skills can help you make the best choice. The ideal candidate often possesses a combination of relevant experience, demonstrated supervisor competencies, and a strong interest in receiving ongoing management training.

Self-motivation is a big factor. As Ravinder Tulsiani, author of Your Leadership Edge, notes, “Not everyone is born a great leader, but anyone can foster core leadership competencies for themselves and become actionable, effective leaders.”

What Are the Core Competencies of a Supervisor?

Since supervisors need to have the ability to motivate team members and clearly communicate expectations, their overall demeanor, attitude, and personality are vital elements of their leadership potential. Decisiveness, problem solving skills, and planning abilities are valuable core competencies to look for when screening applicants and candidates for key supervisor positions.

Although every management job requires different strengths, employees who possess the following leadership qualities stand the best chance of succeeding in supervisory roles:

Good communication skills are one of the most important leadership core competencies managers must have to gain their team members’ cooperation and respect. Not only do supervisors need to effectively train and provide constructive feedback to employees, but they also need to recognize and accommodate learning preferences. Not everyone absorbs information or learns new skills in the same way. That’s where empathy and rapport-building come into play – all of which are core competencies of effective supervisors. Communication skills impact virtually everything managers do, including leading productive meetings, conducting performance reviews, and giving presentations.

Problem solving ability is also considered a fundamental supervisor competency. Managers who lack resourcefulness, resilience, and problem resolution skills may cause an organization to lose customers, employees, and growth opportunities. Although the ideal supervisor will “hit the ground running” when it comes to solving day-to-day problems, training can be provided to enhance and strengthen those core skills.

Decisiveness is rooted in experience, maturity, and confidence. From a human resources standpoint, the interviewing process can reveal a lot about a candidate’s ability to size up a situation and make sound decisions. Asking them behavioral interview questions can be especially effective in uncovering strengths and weaknesses in this crucial area.

Conflict management skills are related to problem solving but require a separate set of strategies and the ability to maintain a calm demeanor. Personality conflicts and differences of opinion do arise in all workplaces, so these skills are highly valuable.

Emotional Intelligence: Some supervisors are more inclined to be empathetic and open minded than others, but in today’s social climate, it’s more important than ever to maintain an inclusive working environment, understand and accommodate individual needs, and make sure team members are listened to and treated equitably.

Adaptability is a highly desirable attribute for supervisors. Conditions in the marketplace or within an organization can shift like the wind, so the ability to pivot in the face of change is one of several leadership core skills that managers need to cultivate.

Positivity: Since attitudes are contagious in an organization – especially when they originate at the managerial level – it’s important for supervisors to set the tone for requirements like complying with company policies, embracing new technology, getting on board with marketing strategies, or supporting diversity (DEI) initiatives.

Accountability is also a necessary quality for supervisors. It’s seen by many as a reflection of a supervisor’s level of dedication, professionalism, and leadership ability. As John Hall, senior contributor to Forbes magazine noted, “When everyone from the top to the bottom follows through on promises, doesn’t blame others for mistakes, and supports others in achieving goals, it creates a healthy and positive work culture. As a result, this breeds trust and enhances productivity.”

Responsiveness to stakeholder needs: Supervisors deal with a variety of different people in the course of doing their jobs – all of whom are important in keeping the organization running smoothly. Whether the interaction involves a customer, an employee, a vendor, or a company officer, managers need to be ready and willing to respond to problems, requests, and demands in a timely and diplomatic way.

People management skills: As is the case with other core competencies of a supervisor, employee management skills can be learned or expanded through training programs. The onboarding process for new supervisors can include either in-house training or online video courses that focus on:

Handling workplace situations
Identifying staffing needs
Providing constructive feedback
Budgeting
And helping team members reach their potential

Team building is an essential aspect of being an effective leader. Assembling the right people, inspiring them to give their best effort, and motivating them to work together as a cohesive unit are among the skills necessary for maximizing productivity and achieving company goals.

Technical competence: To gain employees’ respect, fix problems, and boost efficiency, supervisors need to have a working knowledge of relevant technologies, processes, and software. In some instances, an eagerness to learn and a sincere desire to gain new skills can compensate – at least temporarily – for a lack of expertise.

A sense of ownership: The mark of a dedicated supervisor is a clear commitment to their organization’s success. Those who strive to put their best foot forward, innovate, and take pride in their team are often instrumental in helping the company move forward.

Strategic thinking also belongs on a list of leadership core competencies – especially for supervisors who are on a progressive career path. Employees who have the ability to look at “the big picture” and develop strategies for organizational growth are often strong candidates for leadership positions.

Honesty and ethical conduct: When it comes to a supervisor’s core competencies, there’s no substitute for integrity. While many sought-after qualities are teachable or flexible, this one should be an intrinsic part of a candidate’s character. Supervisors have the dual responsibility of being exemplary role models for their subordinates and a positive reflection of the organization.

Time management: The ability to effectively manage time, meet deadlines, and delegate responsibility is an indispensable leadership skill. Hiring or promoting a supervisor who doesn’t have a firm grasp of priority management is setting them up for failure. The good news is that if they have most of the other qualities and management competencies you’re looking for, there are online courses that can help them master the intricacies of managing time, personnel, and resources.

Coaching and mentoring ability: Not every supervisor is a good trainer, but those who do possess that ability benefit the organization in a multitude of ways. In addition to encouraging staff, supervisors with these core competencies can help Human Resources implement succession plans and professional development strategies. As Ralph Nader once said, “The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”

Relationship-building skills: Collaboration and cooperation are two important core competencies of a supervisor. Creating a network of allies – both within and outside of the organization – helps attract innovative ideas, resources, and support.

Continuous improvement is a concept that has been around since the end of World War II, but its value to any organization is timeless. Supervisors who embrace the idea and are committed to quality assurance tend to be high performers and assets to their company.

Critical thinking skills: Ideally, supervisors should possess critical thinking skills to guide them through complex decisions. As we state in one of our course descriptions, “critical thinking is the process by which business leaders, managers, and business owners and their employees find answers to their biggest challenges.” Whether it’s acquired through direct experience or online video courses, critical thinking is one of the most valuable supervisor core competencies that can be brought to an organization.

Growth orientation: Supervisors interested in expanding their own knowledge and acquiring new skills not only increase their value to the organization, but also serve as a source of inspiration to subordinates and colleagues.

Negotiation skills: The art of negotiation is a supervisor competency that can be applied to a variety of pivotal situations ranging from salary negotiations to retaining clients or gaining pricing discounts from vendors. It’s a learned skill that can provide a lifetime of benefits – both professionally and personally.

How to Develop Leadership Competencies in Your Teams

There are several cost-effective training methods for developing management competencies, including in-house training and providing access to video training courses.

KnowledgeCity offers a wide range of leadership training courses covering the fundamentals of executive leadership, strategies for coaching managers, and how to become a motivating leader. If you’re looking for informative video tutorials on how to improve leadership competencies, we invite you to request a free demo of our learning management system.

KnowledgeCity’s video courses also address topics like building engagement and creativity in teams, adaptive thinking, and problem solving for leaders. If leadership communication is an area you’d like to devote more attention to in your organization, we offer an informative series of 20 video lessons on enhancing the communication skills of your supervisors. Our course on leadership skills to master is another of our training programs that can help you develop valuable skills in your management staff.

Focusing on how to improve leadership competencies will have a positive effect on your organization’s momentum, company culture, and employee development initiatives. For additional strategies on selecting and training your high-potential management candidates, check out our learning library of over 30,000 video tutorials.