Kevin Burns Blog

How Strong Supervisor-Employee Relationships Drive Business Results

Posted by Kevin Burns on March 28, 2025

supervisors must create meaningful relationships with employees

Want to know how top companies get better work from their teams? Supervisors who build real connections with team members create safer workplaces, higher productivity, and employees who stay longer. Learn simple ways to help supervisors move beyond just giving orders to building relationships that help the whole business succeed. (Bonus: download a free resource, Supervisors & Safety Culture ebook)

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.

The Supervisor Effect: Unlocking Safety Culture Through Leadership

Posted by Kevin Burns on January 17, 2025

supervisor development can improve your safety culture

Ever feel like your safety program is stuck in a loop? Most companies pour resources into training everyone, hoping to create a safety-minded workforce. But despite the endless meetings, constant reminders, and substantial investment, genuine buy-in remains elusive. What if the solution isn't about reaching more people, but focusing on the right ones? Research reveals a surprising truth about how change really happens in organizations, and it starts with your supervisors.

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.

Safety Stuck? Your Supervisors Hold the Key

Posted by Kevin Burns on November 22, 2024

supervisor leadership skills are key to building a sustainable safety culture

Every industrial organization strives to achieve safety excellence. However, many companies find themselves stuck at a performance plateau despite having solid safety programs in place. This article explores why developing frontline supervisor leadership skills is crucial for breaking through these plateaus and creating a sustainable safety culture that protects every worker.

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.

How Supervisors Make or Break Team Motivation

Posted by Kevin Burns on October 25, 2024

Want to know the real secret to employee motivation? It's not money, fancy perks, or even recognition programs. The greatest motivator is success - and frontline supervisors hold the key to creating an environment where employees can experience wins both big and small.

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.

Leadership for frontline industrial supervisors.