Kevin Burns Blog

Poor Supervisor Communication Is Costing Your Industrial Teams

Posted by Kevin Burns on February 14, 2025

good supervisor communication skills improve engagement, productivity and safety

The gap between good technical skills and effective leadership can cost industrial companies millions in lost productivity, safety incidents, and employee turnover in manufacturing and industrial environments. When your best machinist, welder, or electrician becomes a supervisor, they need more than just technical expertise to succeed. Recent data shows that only 30% of workers feel engaged in their jobs - a problem that often starts with supervisors struggling to communicate team goals effectively.

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?

Can You Afford 2 Years of Supervisor Trial-and-Error?

Posted by Kevin Burns on December 20, 2024

you can't wait 2 years for supervisors to find their rhythm

What if I told you that right now, your company is losing thousands of dollars waiting for new supervisors to learn their jobs? It's true. Every time you promote a great worker to supervisor, you start a two-year countdown of costly mistakes, confused teams, and missed opportunities. The worst part? Most companies think this is normal. But it doesn't have to be this way. Let me show you why this happens and how to fix it before it costs your company another dollar.

The Supervisor Effect: Turning Leadership into Profit

Posted by Kevin Burns on December 6, 2024

supervisors create a chain reaction that transforms team performance

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.

Your Supervisors Aren't Bad Leaders - You Just Never Taught Them How

Posted by Kevin Burns on November 8, 2024

If your supervisors are struggling with high turnover, spotty attendance, and productivity issues, you might think you made the wrong choice in promoting them. But before you blame their leadership abilities, ask yourself: Did you ever teach them how to lead? The problem with most supervisor promotions isn't the person you chose – it's what happens (or doesn't happen) after you choose them.

Empowering Frontline Supervisors to Build Strong Teams

Posted by Kevin Burns on September 13, 2024

don't let supervisors struggle to connect with their teams

Industrial companies face an invisible challenge: frontline supervisors lacking essential leadership skills. This gap affects productivity, safety, and employee satisfaction. Untrained supervisors thrown into their positions struggle with decision-making, communication, and building personal connections with their team. This can cause production delays, safety concerns, and low team morale. But the true costs of not addressing these issues are the personal challenges supervisors face.

Tackling Safety Complacency: The Supervisor's Essential Role

Posted by Kevin Burns on September 6, 2024

Is your workplace falling into the safety complacency trap? Discover how empowering your frontline supervisors can transform your safety culture, boost productivity, and protect your bottom line. Learn the strategies that turn supervisors into safety champions and keep complacency at bay.

Empowering Frontline Leadership: How Supporting Supervisors Drives Industrial Success

Posted by Kevin Burns on August 2, 2024

supporting supervisors drives productivity, safety, and innovation peoplework supervisor academy

In the intricate machinery of trades-based and industrial companies, frontline supervisors serve as the essential gears that keep operations running smoothly. These key players, positioned at the intersection of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, have the power to dramatically influence productivity, safety, and overall company success—yet their pivotal role is often under-appreciated and under-supported.

Cultivating Leadership from Within: The Power of Developing Supervisors

Posted by Kevin Burns on July 19, 2024

Unlock the hidden potential within your organization by investing in your frontline supervisors' leadership skills. Discover how developing a strong internal leadership pipeline can save costs, preserve crucial institutional knowledge, and create a motivated workforce for future success.

Stop Trying to Get Whole Staff Safety Buy-In: Start with Supervisors

Posted by Kevin Burns on July 12, 2024

boost workplace safety by focusing on your frontline supervisors

In the world of workplace safety, there's a common misconception that to create a safety culture, you need buy-in from every single employee. This approach, while well-intentioned, often leads to frustration and slow progress. What if I told you that you're overthinking it?

Leadership for frontline industrial supervisors.