--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | operations management description: operations management | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. --- Kevin Burns Blog | operations management [![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 Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [7 Reasons to Not Work With Us](https://www.kevburns.com/7-reasons-not-to-work-with-us) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [People](https://www.kevburns.com/people-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Escalations](https://www.kevburns.com/escalation-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 Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [7 Reasons to Not Work With Us](https://www.kevburns.com/7-reasons-not-to-work-with-us) - [52 Benefits of Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/52-benefits) - [Hope Calculator](https://www.kevburns.com/calculator) - [Issues](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [People](https://www.kevburns.com/people-issues) - [Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/safety-issues) - [Escalations](https://www.kevburns.com/escalation-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 (137)](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) - [PeopleWork Supervisor Academy (58)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/peoplework-supervisor-academy) - 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[hope promotion (15)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/hope-promotion) - [Employee Retention (14)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/employee-retention) - [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 (10)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/carefull-supervisor) - [Engaging frontline teams (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/engaging-frontline-teams) - [people skills (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/people-skills) - [positive supervisor (9)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/positive-supervisor) - [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) - [frontline supervisor training (3)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-supervisor-training) - [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) - [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) - [cost cutting (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/cost-cutting) - [crisis management (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/crisis-management) - [delegation (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/delegation) - [departmental budget cuts (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/departmental-budget-cuts) - [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) - [operations leadership (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operations-leadership) - [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) - [unplanned costs (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/unplanned-costs) - [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 ## [Do Your Supervisors Make Your Company Better?](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/do-your-supervisors-make-your-company-better) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 2, 2026 [![the peter principle](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Peter%20Principle.jpg?width=900&name=Peter%20Principle.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/do-your-supervisors-make-your-company-better) Most senior managers have accepted the Peter Principle as an organizational law. Promoted to the level of incompetence — it happens every time, and there's nothing to be done about it. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/do-your-supervisors-make-your-company-better) ## [How to Solve Employee Turnover in 7 Words](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-to-solve-employee-turnover-in-7-words) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on September 25, 2026 [![7 words stop turnover](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/7-words-stop-turnover.jpg?width=900&name=7-words-stop-turnover.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-to-solve-employee-turnover-in-7-words) How many times have you discussed employee turnover in your monthly management meetings? Likely, HR brings the exit interview data. Operations defends their processes. Safety flags the uptick in the incident rate. Finance shows the replacement costs of turnover. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-to-solve-employee-turnover-in-7-words) ## [Your Company Is Like A Sports Team - But You Skimp on Coaching](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-company-is-like-a-sports-team) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on September 18, 2026 [![you skimp on coaching](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/You%20Skimp%20On%20Coaching.jpg?width=900&name=You%20Skimp%20On%20Coaching.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-company-is-like-a-sports-team) You wouldn't run a sports team without a coach. So why do you think you can run your industrial operation that way? Every sports franchise spends big money on scouting, medical, equipment, and facilities. They want to find the best players, give them the best development, give them the best care, and let them play in the best facilities. And then they go out spend a huge amount on coaching — because that's the investment that makes everything else pay off. Your company has the equivalent of every one of those departments. HR is your scouting department. Safety is your medical sciences team. Maintenance looks after the gear. And your frontline supervisors ARE your coaching staff. So, why treat that budget like an afterthought? When you take your best player (employee), make them a supervisor overnight, and 'hope' they figure out the people part — that's a Hope Promotion. They're going to struggle. And you're going to lose while they do. Expect it. The best players want to play for the best teams. The best employees want to work for the best companies. The best companies in your industry have the best frontline supervisors. Let me show you what I mean. Watch the video. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-company-is-like-a-sports-team) ## [Managing 12 Industrial Problems When One Decision Fixes Them All?](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/managing-12-industrial-problems-when-one-decision-fixes-them-all) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on September 4, 2026 [![12 problems one supervisor](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/12-1-1.jpg?width=900&name=12-1-1.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/managing-12-industrial-problems-when-one-decision-fixes-them-all) Turnover. Absenteeism. Rework. Near misses. Grievances. Quality issues. Up to 12 important metrics that matter to your success. And there are problems with every one of them at some point. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/managing-12-industrial-problems-when-one-decision-fixes-them-all) ## [4 Ways Departmental Silos Are Costing You Every Metric](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/4-ways-departmental-silos-are-costing-you-every-metric) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 5, 2026 [![there are 4 ways silos are hurting your company](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/14%20thumb.jpg?width=900&name=14%20thumb.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/4-ways-departmental-silos-are-costing-you-every-metric) In nearly 30 years of working with industrial companies, almost every single one has admitted the same thing. They have a communications problem, a departmental silo problem, or heaven help them, both. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/4-ways-departmental-silos-are-costing-you-every-metric) [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](https://www.kevburns.com/about-kevin-burns) - [Supervisor Academy](https://www.kevburns.com/supervisors) - [Blog](https://www.kevburns.com/blog) #### © 2026 PeopleWork Align Inc. 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