Kevin Burns Blog

You Need An Enemy

Posted by Kevin Burns on June 6, 2025

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.

Why Your Company Standardizes Everything Except What Matters Most

Posted by Kevin Burns on May 23, 2025

Most companies standardize everything except the leadership skills of supervisors who actually run operations, creating costly performance variations.

Why Supervisor Development Is Your Best Crisis Prevention Strategy

Posted by Kevin Burns on May 9, 2025

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.

Why Supervisor Development Must Matter to Safety

Posted by Kevin Burns on April 25, 2025

investing in frontline supervisor development transforms safety culture

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.

Supervisors Who Do Nothing Are the Most Successful

Posted by Kevin Burns on April 11, 2025

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.

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)

Stop the Revolving Door and Slash Frontline Employee Turnover

Posted by Kevin Burns on March 14, 2025

better frontline supervisors create teams where employees want to stay

Think your frontline turnover problem requires bigger paychecks? Think again. The real reason your best employees keep walking out the door is less to do with compensation and more with who's leading them daily. Discover how focusing on supervisor skills—not just pay scales—can dramatically reduce turnover costs.

The Power of Confident Supervisors in Safety Management

Posted by Kevin Burns on February 28, 2025

Confident supervisors drive better safety outcomes.

Supervisor confidence can transform safety performance in industrial settings. Learn why confident frontline leaders are your most powerful asset in creating a strong safety culture. Learn practical strategies for developing the leadership skills your supervisors need to drive safety.

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.

Safety Managers: Your Secret Weapon is Supervisor Development

Posted by Kevin Burns on January 31, 2025

developing supervisors drives breakthrough safety performance

If you're like most safety managers, you've tried everything to improve your safety metrics. New programs. Better PPE. Enhanced training. Stricter policies. Yet somehow, the results never quite meet your expectations. What if the most powerful tool for transforming safety performance isn't another program or policy, but something far more fundamental? What if the key to breakthrough safety performance is already on your payroll just waiting to be developed?

Leadership for frontline industrial supervisors.