--- title: Kevin Burns Blog | supervisor training (3) description: supervisor training | Tools and strategies to build supervisor leadership, clarify the safety message, and get employee buy-in. (3) --- Kevin Burns Blog | supervisor training (3) [![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) - 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[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 ## [Operational Problems Aren't System Failures, They're Relationship Failures!](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/operational-safety-retention-problems-arent-system-failures) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on September 11, 2025 [![every operational, safety, and retention metric flows through one relationship the one between employee and their supervisor](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250718.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250718.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/operational-safety-retention-problems-arent-system-failures) When your safety numbers are bad, you blame the safety system. When productivity drops, you blame the equipment. When good people quit, you blame the job market. But you're looking in the wrong place. Here's the truth: your operational, safety, and retention problems aren't systems problems. They're relationship problems. And the person who creates or destroys those relationships is your supervisor. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/operational-safety-retention-problems-arent-system-failures) ## [Your Safety Department Is Wasting Money Training the Wrong People](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-safety-department-is-wasting-money-training-the-wrong-people) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on July 4, 2025 [![Your Safety Department Is Wasting Money Training the Wrong People](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250704.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250704.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-safety-department-is-wasting-money-training-the-wrong-people) Your safety programs are well-designed, but they're missing crucial advocates. While most training budgets focus on safety professionals and managers, the real leverage point is developing the one person who either champions or undermines every initiative you launch. It's time to create safety allies where culture is actually made. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-safety-department-is-wasting-money-training-the-wrong-people) ## [Your Supervisors Are Costing You Millions (And You Don't Even Know It)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-costing-you-millions-and-you-dont-even-know-it) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 20, 2025 [![companies bleed millions yearly from an expense they don't even track](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250620.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250620.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-costing-you-millions-and-you-dont-even-know-it) Most industrial companies think their biggest expenses are equipment, materials, and labor costs. They're wrong. There's a hidden expense bleeding millions from their operations every single year—one that never appears on financial statements and rarely gets discussed in board meetings. This silent profit killer is operating right under management's nose, creating chaos in productivity, safety, and morale. The companies that have identified and eliminated this hidden cost are dominating their markets while their competitors struggle to understand why they can't keep up. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/your-supervisors-are-costing-you-millions-and-you-dont-even-know-it) ## [You Need An Enemy](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/you-need-an-enemy) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on June 6, 2025 [![You Need An Enemy](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250606.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250606.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/you-need-an-enemy) Every senior manager knows the pain: you promote your best technical worker to supervisor, then watch helplessly as good employees underperform, then eventually quit, because your new supervisor doesn't know how to lead. The trial-and-error approach to supervisor development isn't just inefficient—it's destroying your teams and killing your safety culture. It's time to identify your real enemy and fight back with proven leadership development that works from day one. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/you-need-an-enemy) ## [Why Your Company Standardizes Everything Except What Matters Most](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-your-company-standardizes-everything-except-what-matters-most) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on May 23, 2025 [![Why Your Company Standardizes Everything Except What Matters Most](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250523.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250523.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-your-company-standardizes-everything-except-what-matters-most) Most companies standardize everything except the leadership skills of supervisors who actually run operations, creating costly performance variations. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-your-company-standardizes-everything-except-what-matters-most) ## [Why Supervisor Development Is Your Best Crisis Prevention Strategy](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-is-your-best-crisis-prevention-strategy) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on May 9, 2025 [![Why Supervisor Development Is Your Best Crisis Prevention Strategy](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250509.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250509.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-is-your-best-crisis-prevention-strategy) When emergencies strike, are your frontline supervisors prepared to lead? Learn why developing supervisor leadership skills is your most effective crisis prevention strategy and how safety professionals can champion this critical effort. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-is-your-best-crisis-prevention-strategy) ## [Why Supervisor Development Must Matter to Safety](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-must-matter-to-safety) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on April 25, 2025 [![investing in frontline supervisor development transforms safety culture](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250425.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250425.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-must-matter-to-safety) Even the best safety programs can fall short of their potential when frontline supervisors lack proper development. Discover how strategic investment in supervisor leadership skills creates a foundation for exceptional safety performance, increased employee engagement, and a thriving safety culture that extends beyond compliance. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-supervisor-development-must-matter-to-safety) ## [Supervisors Who Do Nothing Are the Most Successful](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/supervisors-who-do-nothing-are-the-most-successful) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on April 11, 2025 [![Supervisors Who Do Nothing Are the Most Successful](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250411.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250411.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/supervisors-who-do-nothing-are-the-most-successful) The most successful supervisors often appear to do the least. By mastering the art of delegation, they build self-sufficient teams that run smoothly without constant intervention. Learn how the "Lonely Maytag Repairman" mindset can transform your leadership approach and deliver exceptional results through strategic delegation. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/supervisors-who-do-nothing-are-the-most-successful) ## [How Strong Supervisor-Employee Relationships Drive Business Results](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-strong-supervisor-employee-relationships-drive-business-results) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on March 28, 2025 [![supervisors must create meaningful relationships with employees](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250328.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250328.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-strong-supervisor-employee-relationships-drive-business-results) 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) [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/how-strong-supervisor-employee-relationships-drive-business-results) ## [Poor Supervisor Communication Is Costing Your Industrial Teams](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-good-leadership-communication-matters-for-team-success) Posted by [Kevin Burns](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/author/kevin-burns) on February 14, 2025 [![good supervisor communication skills improve engagement, productivity and safety](https://www.kevburns.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%2020250214.jpg?width=900&name=Blog%2020250214.jpg)](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-good-leadership-communication-matters-for-team-success) 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. [Read More](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/why-good-leadership-communication-matters-for-team-success) [Previous](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-training/page/2) [All posts](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.kevburns.com/blog/topic/supervisor-training/page/4) ### 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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