--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | supervisor development description: supervisor development | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. --- Kevin Burns Blog | supervisor development [![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) - [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 Training](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 (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 ## [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) ## [Why a $50K CEO Coach Is 'Worth It,' But $50K for 100 Supervisors Isn't?](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-a-50k-ceo-coach-is-worth-it) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on August 21, 2026 [![is spending $50K on a CEO coach worth more than $50K on frontline supervisors](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/worth-it-thumb.jpg?width=900&name=worth-it-thumb.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-a-50k-ceo-coach-is-worth-it) You'll approve $50,000 for a CEO executive coach without blinking. The same $50,000 could develop 100 frontline supervisors with the people and leadership skills they need to be successful. So why doesn't it? [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-a-50k-ceo-coach-is-worth-it) ## [One Thing Senior Managers Should Be Talking About But Are Afraid To](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/the-one-thing-senior-managers-wont-talk-about) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on August 14, 2026 [![the ](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20C-word.jpg?width=900&name=The%20C-word.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/the-one-thing-senior-managers-wont-talk-about) Seven out of eight people don't believe their employers care about them. That's not a soft number. That's the statistic that convinced the CEO of a $3.3 billion company to write a book about it. And the same problem is sitting inside your operation right now. Here's the part nobody in your industry talks about: the word "care" makes senior managers nervous. Say it in a safety meeting and watch the room tighten up. Suddenly everyone's worried they're going to have to look each other in the eyes and talk about their feelings. But you already feel it instantly when someone doesn't care. About you, about the work, about anything. It makes you bristle. So why are we pretending care has no place on the floor? In this week's video, I get into what care actually is. And it's not soft, it's not touchy-feely, and it's not optional. I also get into the three kinds of care every CareFull Supervisor brings to the job. And why the one kind that gets left out of every training program is the one that moves every metric you measure. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/the-one-thing-senior-managers-wont-talk-about) ## [Your New Supervisor Is the Loneliest Person in Your Operation](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-new-supervisor-is-the-loneliest-person-in-your-operation) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on August 7, 2026 [![your lonely supervisor](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YourLonelySupervisor.jpg?width=900&name=YourLonelySupervisor.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-new-supervisor-is-the-loneliest-person-in-your-operation) There's a high cost of personal relationships you're asking a newly promoted supervisor to give up, but you're not compensating them for it. And it may be the one thing that costs you the most in productivity, safety, and engagement. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-new-supervisor-is-the-loneliest-person-in-your-operation) ## ["We're a Family Here" — And Nobody Believes You](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/were-a-family-here-and-nobody-believes-you) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on July 31, 2026 [![](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/were%20family.jpg?width=900&name=were%20family.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/were-a-family-here-and-nobody-believes-you) Almost every operation has said it at some point. It's probably on a poster in the break room. It gets implied in the Monday meeting, in the safety huddle, in the onboarding package. We're like a family here. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/were-a-family-here-and-nobody-believes-you) ## [Your Supervisors Lost the Safety Meeting — Here's How to Get It Back](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-lost-the-safety-meeting-heres-how-to-get-it-back) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on July 24, 2026 [![safety meeting script supervisor hope promotion](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Safety%20Meeting%20Script.jpg?width=900&name=Safety%20Meeting%20Script.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-lost-the-safety-meeting-heres-how-to-get-it-back) If your safety meetings are falling apart - employees interrupting, side conversations, someone hijacking the agenda - you've probably already tried the obvious fix. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-lost-the-safety-meeting-heres-how-to-get-it-back) ## [Why Safety and Wellness Programs Are Solving the Wrong Problem](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-safety-and-wellness-programs-are-solving-the-wrong-problem) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on July 17, 2026 [![safety and wellness are not working](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/safety_and_wellness.jpg?width=900&name=safety_and_wellness.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-safety-and-wellness-programs-are-solving-the-wrong-problem) Your company has wellness programs. EAPs, stress reduction platforms, mental health resources, maybe even resilience training. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-safety-and-wellness-programs-are-solving-the-wrong-problem) [All posts](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-development/page/2) ### 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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