Kevin Burns Blog | Engaging frontline teams

Kevin Burns Blog

Leadership for frontline industrial supervisors.

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How the Best Supervisors Read Their Teams and Build Individual Connections
Posted by Kevin Burns on August 13, 2025
adapt your leadership style to build strong team connections
Generic supervision creates generic results. The supervisors who build the strongest teams understand that each person is motivated differently and adapt their approach accordingly. This isn't about playing favorites - it's about being smart enough to speak each person's language and connect with what drives them to perform at their best.
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Operational Problems Aren't System Failures, They're Relationship Failures!
Posted by Kevin Burns on August 1, 2025
every operational, safety, and retention metric flows through one relationship the one between employee and their supervisor
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.
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Safety Managers: Your Secret Weapon is Supervisor Development
Posted by Kevin Burns on January 31, 2025
developing supervisors drives breakthrough safety performance
If you're like most safety managers, you've tried everything to improve your safety metrics. New programs. Better PPE. Enhanced training. Stricter policies. Yet somehow, the results never quite meet your expectations. What if the most powerful tool for transforming safety performance isn't another program or policy, but something far more fundamental? What if the key to breakthrough safety performance is already on your payroll just waiting to be developed?
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Supervisors Can Combat Absenteeism by Building Better Relationships
Posted by Kevin Burns on August 30, 2024
employees with positive supervisor relationships look forward to coming to work
Is your company grappling with rising absenteeism rates? Before you blame it on generational differences or a declining work ethic, consider this: the key to tackling absenteeism might lie in the relationships between supervisors and employees. In this post, we debunk common myths about younger workers, reveal what they truly seek in their careers, and explore how fostering caring, supportive relationships can transform your workplace.
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The Three Pillars of Employee Satisfaction: How Supervisors Can Create a Thriving Workplace
Posted by Kevin Burns on July 5, 2024
boost employee satisfaction and retention by focusing on health, wealth, and relationships
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The Vital Role of Training Frontline Supervisors in Leadership
Posted by Kevin Burns on June 7, 2024
supervisor development is vital for engagement, culture and safety
Frontline supervisors are the linchpins connecting company strategy to execution. Let's explore why leadership development for supervisors is vital for driving team engagement, reinforcing culture, ensuring safety, and unleashing organizational potential.
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