--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | supervisor training description: supervisor training | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. --- Kevin Burns Blog | supervisor training [![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 (64)](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) - [safety communications (58)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/safety-communications) - [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 (28)](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) - [frontline supervisors (16)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/frontline-supervisors) - [hope promotion (16)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/hope-promotion) - [Employee Retention (15)](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) - [workforce stability (2)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/workforce-stability) - [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) - [ghosting (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/ghosting) - [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) - [new employee no-shows (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/new-employee-no-shows) - [onboarding (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/onboarding) - [operations leadership (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/operations-leadership) - [organizational silos (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/organizational-silos) - [people-leading skills (1)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/people-leading-skills) - [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) - [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 ## [Why New Employee No-Shows Are On The Rise (Ghosting)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-new-employee-no-shows-are-on-the-rise-ghosting) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on October 23, 2026 [![ghosting and no shows](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ghosts%20and%20no-shows.jpg?width=900&name=ghosts%20and%20no-shows.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-new-employee-no-shows-are-on-the-rise-ghosting) Ghosts are real. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-new-employee-no-shows-are-on-the-rise-ghosting) ## [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) ## [Have You Given Your Supervisors a Hope Promotion?](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/have-you-given-your-supervisors-a-hope-promotion) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on May 29, 2026 [![have you given your frontline supervisors a hope promotion](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hope%20Promotion%20Thumb.jpg?width=900&name=Hope%20Promotion%20Thumb.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/have-you-given-your-supervisors-a-hope-promotion) There's a mistake that almost every industrial operation makes when they promote someone to supervisor. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/have-you-given-your-supervisors-a-hope-promotion) ## [What Do Safety Numbers and Turnover Rates Have in Common?](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/what-do-safety-numbers-and-turnover-rates-have-in-common) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on April 24, 2026 [![what is it that drives safety, turnover, productivity, and a dozen other metrics](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020260424.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020260424.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/what-do-safety-numbers-and-turnover-rates-have-in-common) Your safety numbers are connected to your turnover numbers. Your engagement numbers are connected to your absenteeism numbers. Quality issues are connected to your succession planning. With apologies to Levitt and Dubner's Freakonomics, there is a single thread that connects them all. Find out why your individual initiatives are only getting modest results. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/what-do-safety-numbers-and-turnover-rates-have-in-common) ## [Your Supervisors Are Busy. But Are They Effective?](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-busy.-but-are-they-effective) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on April 10, 2026 [![effective supervisors build teams that can operate without them](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020260410.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020260410.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-busy.-but-are-they-effective) Your supervisors work hard. No one is questioning that. But hard work and effective leadership are two different things, and confusing them is costing your operation. This post breaks down the gap between a busy supervisor and an effective one, and what it takes to close it. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-busy.-but-are-they-effective) ## [Big News: You Don't Need 12 Supervisors to Get Started Anymore](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/big-news-you-dont-need-12-supervisors-to-get-started-anymore) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on March 4, 2026 [![the peoplework supervisor learning store is now open don't need 12 supervisors to get started](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/everything.jpg?width=900&name=everything.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/big-news-you-dont-need-12-supervisors-to-get-started-anymore) I've been sitting on this for months. Something that's been bugging me about who gets access to our programs — and who doesn't. Today I did something about it. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/big-news-you-dont-need-12-supervisors-to-get-started-anymore) [All posts](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-training/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](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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