Front line supervisors, managers and team leaders can have a positive impact on their success if they use a simple pocket sized notebook as part of their daily management routine. The most obvious use of the notebook will be to document issues that support progressive discipline but that’s only the beginning. Can the simple notebook also be the key to unlock employee motivation, improve shift changeover and support continuous improvement? You bet it can.
1. The Obvious Benefit – Supporting Progressive Discipline
HR has a primary interest in having supervisors do a better job at documenting performance and behavior issues because, in order for progressive discipline to stick, there needs to be evidence that a series of conversations and corrective actions has taken place. And certainly the notebook can serve an invaluable tool for that purpose.
Supervisors who complain that they don’t get backed up by management when they write up employees should remember that without good documentation, HR has little ammunition to counter employee accusations or excuses. A supervisor who regularly documents observations is less likely to be accused of harassment or unfair targeting because the supervisor will demonstrate a fair and consistent approach to employee relations.
2. Don’t be a Traffic Cop – Use the Notebook for More Than Documenting Infractions
In the same way that a police officer carries a notebook to take down observations in order to complete an incident report, supervisors should do likewise but the notebook should be used to document all kinds of observations including positive ones. That way employees won’t see the notebook as a punishment log – they will see it more positively.
3. Taking Notes Helps You Remember And It Increases Employee Confidence in the Supervisor
Picture yourself in a restaurant with five family members or friends. The waiter comes to your table and listens attentively as each person tells him their drink, appetizer, entree and side dish order but the waiter doesn’t take any notes. Impressive? Most of us would admit to feeling a bit anxious that something was going to be missed. “Will he remember I wanted my dressing on the side?” Or that I asked for no peppers on my entree?
Even a great server would ease the customer’s anxiety by writing down notes. In the same way a supervisor who takes notes will increase the confidence level in the employee that he is likely to follow up on the employee’s question, concern or suggestion.
Great supervisors know that their notebook is a great visual indicator that shows employees that the supervisor takes their input seriously and follows up on questions, issues and concerns. It helps counteract the dreaded “Leave it with me.” Or “I’ll get back to you,” only to have the employee get frustrated when the supervisor completely forgets to close the loop and get the employee an answer to their question.
4. Helping to Smooth Out Shift Change
Shift change is another challenge for high volume operations and trying to remember to pass along key information is difficult without noting observations throughout the shift. Making ongoing notes about equipment, materials and quality issues would make it much easier to provide a better snapshot to the supervisor on the following shift.
5. Documenting Continuous Improvement Opportunities
Taking notes supports continuous improvement because ideas present themselves in real time. Employee suggestions can be noted and passed along. The supervisor’s own thoughts and observations can be captured.
Some tips for effectively using a notebook as part of effective supervision:
Notebook entries should be dated and in the case of a significant incident, the time should also be noted.
Write down observations so that if someone else were to read it, it will be seen as factual and fair. A supervisor who expresses his frustration by writing down inflammatory words like stupid, dumb, lazy, etc. will only see their documentation thrown out in court or arbitration.
In the case of a performance or behavior problem, the supervisor should describe the situation, summarize what was said to the employee and any response given by the employee. Any supporting actions, commitments and follow ups will be noted.
Some supervisors are self conscious about spelling and grammar but that isn’t a big deal. Instead focus on capturing the info. Bad spelling won’t be a determining factor in the enforcement of consequences.
Supervisors should keep notebooks indefinitely or at least for 18 to 24 months. We’ve seen examples where notes might be needed months and years later with a particularly challenging employee performance situation.
Why Using a Computer in Place of the Notebook is Less Effective
Some supervisors ask if a computer can be used in place of a notebook? The challenge is that unless the supervisor works in an office environment, he or she is likely to be (or should be) roaming the floor and the notebook is the most portable documentation device. Plus a computer won’t provide the employee with the sense that his or her concerns will be followed up with.
Summary
Insisting on the use of a notebook can increase the effectiveness of your supervisors, improve employee satisfaction, and support disciplinary action. Developing the skill set of effective notebook use and the conversations that should accompany those observations will increase the confidence and competence level of your front line leaders.
Training Can Help
We can help your front line leaders with the half-day workshop Daily Documentation for Effective Supervision focused exclusively on improving documentation as part of effective supervision and daily management. This includes helping supervisors to contrast the difference between good and bad notebook entries. An optional add-on half-day is the Correcting Unacceptable Behaviors and Performance session to help supervisors have better conversations about performance issues. These sessions can be delivered onsite or by webinar. Notebook use is also included in the two-day Front Line Leadership course.
What’s New in the Year Ahead
We’ve got a number of Front Line Leadership Training workshops kicking off in January, along with onsite sessions, webinars and the extensive online video library.
Attend the Decoding the Mysteries of Managing Millennials workshop in Mississauga on January 28th.
The Canada-Ontario Job Grant will receive new funding in April 2016 so now is a great time to plan training so your grant request can go in early.
Contact Us Today
Upcoming Front Line Leadership Public Workshops Start in January
You can enrol your front line supervisors, team leaders and managers in our two-day Front Line Leadership program being held in Toronto, Canada, London, Canada, Windsor, Canada, Kitchener/Waterloo, Canada, Detroit, USA and Chicago, USA.
2 Comments
As a quality controller it is essential that I track all workshop productivity. I find a notebook essential for collecting evidence of any non- compliance and this leads to toolbox talks. Most behavioural problems are dealt with and the notebook gives me the confidence and guidance to assist in any corrective action.
I saw some video training and find it helpful.However, i just gotten a hand out of an opportunity in a Security director i have some years of experience in this industry and i couldn’t let this opportunity go by if i don’t at least try, but i haven’t played that leadership roll.I’m excited and nervous at the sametime.I think if i have that training how to deal with situations under pressure i will fill confidence with myself.