--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | Business ROI description: Business ROI | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. --- Kevin Burns Blog | Business ROI [![KevBurns Learning: We teach industrial supervisors how to be really great leaders.](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png?width=240&height=118&name=Kev-Burns-Learning-white.png "KevBurns Learning: We teach industrial supervisors how to be really great leaders.")](https://www.kevburns.com/) - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Training](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [Try First 6 Days Free](https://www.kevburns.com/6days) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Operational](https://www.kevburns.com/operational-issues) - [Growth](https://www.kevburns.com/growth-issues) - [Resources](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Books](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Newsletter](https://www.kevburns.com/newsletter) - [Downloads](https://www.kevburns.com/downloads) - [Case Study NBU](https://www.kevburns.com/nbu-case-study) - [Case Study WCC](https://www.kevburns.com/wcc-case-study-2026) - [ROI Videos](https://www.kevburns.com/videos) - [Speaking](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking) - [Media/Podcast](https://www.kevburns.com/media) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.kevburns.com/contact-us) - [About](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Training](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [Try First 6 Days Free](https://www.kevburns.com/6days) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Operational](https://www.kevburns.com/operational-issues) - [Growth](https://www.kevburns.com/growth-issues) - [Resources](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Books](https://www.kevburns.com/books) - [Newsletter](https://www.kevburns.com/newsletter) - [Downloads](https://www.kevburns.com/downloads) - [Case Study NBU](https://www.kevburns.com/nbu-case-study) - [Case Study WCC](https://www.kevburns.com/wcc-case-study-2026) - [ROI Videos](https://www.kevburns.com/videos) - [Speaking](https://www.kevburns.com/speaking) - [Media/Podcast](https://www.kevburns.com/media) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.kevburns.com/contact-us) # Kevin Burns Blog #### Leadership for frontline industrial supervisors. [Current Articles](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) [RSS](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/rss.xml) [Why Work With Kevin?](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [safety leadership (247)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-leadership) - [safety culture (166)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-culture) - [kevin burns (136)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/kevin-burns) - [safety buy-in (125)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-buy-in) - [peoplework (96)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework) - [the carefull supervisor (90)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/the-carefull-supervisor) - [safety meeting (74)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting) - [supervisor training (63)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-training) - [safety speaker (60)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-speaker) - [safety marketing (59)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-marketing) - [safety communications (58)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-communications) - [PeopleWork Supervisor Academy (57)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework-supervisor-academy) - [supervisor leadership (57)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-leadership) - [safety complacency (52)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-complacency) - [safety (51)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety) - [selling safety (33)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/selling-safety) - [Leadership Development (32)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/leadership-development) - [Supervisor leadership skills (32)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-leadership-skills) - [supervisor development (26)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-development) - [supervisor safety coaching (23)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-safety-coaching) - [Developing effective frontline leaders (18)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/developing-effective-frontline-leaders) - [employee engagement (18)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-engagement) - [hope promotion (15)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/hope-promotion) - [Employee Retention (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-retention) - [frontline supervisors (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-supervisors) - [workplace safety culture (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-safety-culture) - [Industrial Supervision (13)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-supervision) - [workplace culture (12)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-culture) - [Workplace Safety (11)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-safety) - [Business ROI (10)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/business-roi) - [CareFull Supervisor (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/carefull-supervisor) - [Engaging frontline teams (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/engaging-frontline-teams) - [positive supervisor (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/positive-supervisor) - [people skills (8)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/people-skills) - [supervisor communications (6)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-communications) - [frontline leadership (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-leadership) - [industrial leadership (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-leadership) - [industrial safety (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-safety) - [operations management (5)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operations-management) - [operational performance (3)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operational-performance) - [team development (3)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/team-development) - [12 metrics (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/12-metrics) - [Employee Motivation (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-motivation) - [Succession Planning (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/succession-planning) - [absenteeism and safety (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism-and-safety) - [disengagement (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/disengagement) - [employee turnover (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-turnover) - [frontline management (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-management) - [frontline supervisor training (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-supervisor-training) - [industrial management (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/industrial-management) - [plant manager (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/plant-manager) - [psychological safety (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/psychological-safety) - [safety manager (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-manager) - [safety training for supervisors (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-training-for-supervisors) - [supervisor adaptability (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-adaptability) - [supervisor people-skills (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-people-skills) - [supervisor safety leadership (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-safety-leadership) - [supervisor trust (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-trust) - [team culture (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/team-culture) - [52 benefits of safety (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/52-benefits-of-safety) - [Absenteeism Reduction (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism-reduction) - [absenteeism (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/absenteeism) - [care in the workplace (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/care-in-the-workplace) - [coaching supervisors (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/coaching-supervisors) - [confidence at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/confidence-at-work) - [core essentials (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/core-essentials) - [crisis management (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/crisis-management) - [delegation (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/delegation) - [departmental silos (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/departmental-silos) - [ehs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/ehs) - [employee burnout (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-burnout) - [employee wellbeing (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-wellbeing) - [employee wellness program (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-wellness-program) - [employees interrupt safety meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employees-interrupt-safety-meetings) - [escalations (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/escalations) - [exit interview (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/exit-interview) - [family safety culture (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/family-safety-culture) - [how to improve safety culture (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-improve-safety-culture) - [how to reduce workplace stress (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-reduce-workplace-stress) - [how to run a safety meeting (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/how-to-run-a-safety-meeting) - [hse (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/hse) - [leadership standardization (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/leadership-standardization) - [management meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/management-meetings) - [manufacturing leadership (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/manufacturing-leadership) - [mental health at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/mental-health-at-work) - [organizational silos (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/organizational-silos) - [performance metrics (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/performance-metrics) - [peter principle (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peter-principle) - [productivity (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/productivity) - [relationship management (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/relationship-management) - [safety meeting problems (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting-problems) - [safety meeting script (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-meeting-script) - [safety performance (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-performance) - [safety posters (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-posters) - [safety program conditions (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-program-conditions) - [silo thinking (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/silo-thinking) - [staff retention (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/staff-retention) - [stress at work (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/stress-at-work) - [supervisor coaching (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-coaching) - [supervisor confidence (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-confidence) - [supervisor loneliness (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-loneliness) - [supervisor warning signs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-warning-signs) - [taking control of safety meetings (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/taking-control-of-safety-meetings) - [truly human leadership (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/truly-human-leadership) - [turnover and safety (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/turnover-and-safety) - [workforce stability (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workforce-stability) - [workplace stress (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-stress) - [workplace wellness (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workplace-wellness) - [world-class safety program (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/world-class-safety-program) See all ## [How Industrial Operations Managers Sabotage Their Leadership Pipeline](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-industrial-operations-managers-sabotage-their-leadership-pipeline) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 19, 2026 [![when you feel there is no one to promote, you shortcut your leadership pipeline](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/No%20One%20To%20Promote%20thumb.png?width=900&name=No%20One%20To%20Promote%20thumb.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-industrial-operations-managers-sabotage-their-leadership-pipeline) If you ask most operations managers why they can't find anyone ready to promote, they'll tell you it's a people problem. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-industrial-operations-managers-sabotage-their-leadership-pipeline) ## [Why Employees Don't Trust Their Supervisors (3 Directions of Trust)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-employees-dont-trust-their-supervisors-3-directions-of-trust) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 12, 2026 [![trust me why employees don't trust their supervisors](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/trust%20me%20-%20kevin%20burns%20facing%20camera%20for%20a%20video%20about%20company%20trust%20at%20an%20all%20time%20low.png?width=900&name=trust%20me%20-%20kevin%20burns%20facing%20camera%20for%20a%20video%20about%20company%20trust%20at%20an%20all%20time%20low.png)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-employees-dont-trust-their-supervisors-3-directions-of-trust) Ask most senior managers whether their employees trust their supervisors, and you'll get one of two answers. Either a confident yes or a long pause. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-employees-dont-trust-their-supervisors-3-directions-of-trust) ## [Why Senior Management Can't Build the Safety Culture They Talk About](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-senior-management-cant-build-the-safety-culture-they-talk-about) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on March 13, 2026 [![Why Senior Management Can't Build the Safety Culture They Talk About](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020260313.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020260313.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-senior-management-cant-build-the-safety-culture-they-talk-about) Most companies treat safety culture like it is its own separate problem. It is not. It rises and falls with every metric on your dashboard. And every one of those metrics has the same root cause. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-senior-management-cant-build-the-safety-culture-they-talk-about) ## [When Your Team Doesn't Trust Management](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/when-your-team-doesnt-trust-management) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on September 11, 2025 [![trained supervisors can still build trust when employees don't trust the company](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250829.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250829.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/when-your-team-doesnt-trust-management) Your supervisors are stuck between past company decisions and team members who distrust management. This distrust is showing up in your safety numbers, productivity metrics, and turnover rates. But trained supervisors know how to build individual trust even when company trust has been damaged. They use specific relationship skills to separate their leadership from past leadership and prove through actions that they're different. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/when-your-team-doesnt-trust-management) ## [Operational Problems Aren't System Failures, They're Relationship Failures!](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/operational-safety-retention-problems-arent-system-failures) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on September 11, 2025 [![every operational, safety, and retention metric flows through one relationship the one between employee and their supervisor](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250718.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250718.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/operational-safety-retention-problems-arent-system-failures) When your safety numbers are bad, you blame the safety system. When productivity drops, you blame the equipment. When good people quit, you blame the job market. But you're looking in the wrong place. Here's the truth: your operational, safety, and retention problems aren't systems problems. They're relationship problems. And the person who creates or destroys those relationships is your supervisor. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/operational-safety-retention-problems-arent-system-failures) ## [Your Supervisors Are Costing You Millions (And You Don't Even Know It)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-costing-you-millions-and-you-dont-even-know-it) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 20, 2025 [![companies bleed millions yearly from an expense they don't even track](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250620.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250620.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-costing-you-millions-and-you-dont-even-know-it) Most industrial companies think their biggest expenses are equipment, materials, and labor costs. They're wrong. There's a hidden expense bleeding millions from their operations every single year—one that never appears on financial statements and rarely gets discussed in board meetings. This silent profit killer is operating right under management's nose, creating chaos in productivity, safety, and morale. The companies that have identified and eliminated this hidden cost are dominating their markets while their competitors struggle to understand why they can't keep up. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-costing-you-millions-and-you-dont-even-know-it) ## [Why Your Company Standardizes Everything Except What Matters Most](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-your-company-standardizes-everything-except-what-matters-most) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on May 23, 2025 [![Why Your Company Standardizes Everything Except What Matters Most](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250523.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250523.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-your-company-standardizes-everything-except-what-matters-most) Most companies standardize everything except the leadership skills of supervisors who actually run operations, creating costly performance variations. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-your-company-standardizes-everything-except-what-matters-most) ## [Why Supervisor Development Is Your Best Crisis Prevention Strategy](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-is-your-best-crisis-prevention-strategy) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on May 9, 2025 [![Why Supervisor Development Is Your Best Crisis Prevention Strategy](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250509.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250509.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-is-your-best-crisis-prevention-strategy) When emergencies strike, are your frontline supervisors prepared to lead? Learn why developing supervisor leadership skills is your most effective crisis prevention strategy and how safety professionals can champion this critical effort. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-is-your-best-crisis-prevention-strategy) ## [Supervisors Who Do Nothing Are the Most Successful](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/supervisors-who-do-nothing-are-the-most-successful) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on April 11, 2025 [![Supervisors Who Do Nothing Are the Most Successful](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250411.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250411.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/supervisors-who-do-nothing-are-the-most-successful) The most successful supervisors often appear to do the least. By mastering the art of delegation, they build self-sufficient teams that run smoothly without constant intervention. Learn how the "Lonely Maytag Repairman" mindset can transform your leadership approach and deliver exceptional results through strategic delegation. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/supervisors-who-do-nothing-are-the-most-successful) ## [The Supervisor Effect: Turning Leadership into Profit](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/the-supervisor-effect-turning-leadership-into-profit) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on December 6, 2024 [![supervisors create a chain reaction that transforms team performance](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020241206.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020241206.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/the-supervisor-effect-turning-leadership-into-profit) What's the real cost of underdeveloped supervisors? In today's competitive business environment, frontline supervisors can either multiply or diminish your organization's success. Through a powerful chain reaction, their leadership skills—or lack thereof—ripple through your entire operation, affecting everything from employee retention to bottom-line profits. Discover how developing your supervisors' leadership capabilities creates measurable business value. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/the-supervisor-effect-turning-leadership-into-profit) [All posts](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/all) ### Subscribe to Kevin's Blog Get insights and strategies to build the leadership skills employees want their supervisors to have! Subscribe now. --- Kevin Burns' newest book, **The CareFull Supervisor**. This is the book that every frontline supervisor should read.   ![carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1.png?width=253&height=253&name=carefull-supervisor-3d-covers-400-1.png)   **BUY NOW:** [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/CareFull-Supervisor-Tools-Succeed-Employees/dp/1039197256)| [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-carefull-supervisor-kevin-burns/1144577942) | [Indigo](https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-carefull-supervisor-the-tools-to-succeed-and-be-the-supervisor-employees-want-to-have/9781039197268.html)| [FreisenPress](https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000383321344)| [Kobo](https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-carefull-supervisor)| Audible --- ### Recent Posts - About - [Supervisor Training](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors-old) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) #### © 2026 PeopleWork Align Inc. 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