What do you do when all of the supervisors working under you don't get along?

Question

I am actually going in on their shifts to baby-sit.

Answer 1

Hold team meetings and discover ways to make people have to work together and show them the benefits/rewards of working as a team opposed to working individually.

In other words, create team obstacles and challenges and challenge each of them to work towards a common, specific goal while working together.

Answer 2

How old are these people? Sorry ~ that wasn't very helpful!

Supervising staff can be the pits in this situation, but a ew things I've found helpful over the years are:

~ Developing protocols and written procedures to address contentious issues, and stick to them. Rules really help in a workplace situation.

~ Have regular team meetings where issues can be aired, without resorting to personalities, with strict procedures to ensure equal time and space, eg people can only speak for three minutes, not go on and on. And everyone has to make some sort of report about their area, even if it's just to say "No new incidents this week'.

~ Institute an 'open door' policy where staff can come and vent openly, without fear of reprisal or that their comments will be circulated.

~ Treat them like grown-ups who know how to manage their lives, and ask them to find their own solutions (not necessarily let them use their own solutions, but make them think about it).

A friend of mine walked into a walkplace as manager where there'd been ongoing fractures for a long period.

One thing she did was institute a 'team building' exercise for staff meetings. Everyone HAD to state one thing they disliked (in a work context) about one other person there. The catch was, for every dislike, they had to say TWO things they admired about the person's work performance. They could only speak about each person once, next week it had to be someone else. It was a real eye opener for some of the folk, who had to realise their colleagues were actually people with good AND bad qualities.

She got the support of the management, who said that staff had to attend the meetings and follow her instructions, that's very important to have the management back-up, or staff will just say "I'm not doing it", and if there's no penalty, you're worse off.

She also introduced a once a month lunch at a local eatery, which work paid for. It went for a full TWO hours (no alcoholic drinks allowed), and the staff felt like it was a HUGE treat. They met socially and felt the company really cared about them. The company got a discount on the bulk meal and the staff never complained about a lot of the other little gripes they'd previously moaned about.

You might not want to do either of these things, but they are examples of innovative management which did work in that situation.

There are some great books and courses about this kind of thing ... I would also seriously suggest asking your boss to get you enrolled in one to upgrade your skills (it will be for their benefit, after all).

But the most important thing is, sometimes you CANNOT be the friend of everyone. You have to be firm, fair and unbiased. If someone isn't doing the right thing, you have to call them on it, and tell them to grow up and act like an employee. It's tough and it can make you feel disliked (you won't really be if you are fair), but unfortunately, that is the job, and you will get respect for not taking anyone's crap.

Best wishes and good luck! :-)

Answer 3

if your their supervisor, call a meeting, tell them in terms they will understand, that you will not tolerate their current attitudes or actions and if it continues you will take severe corrective measures.

Have each of them sign and date a written statement that you counseled them on this matter, give each of them a copy, keep the master "original" copy for your files.

See where this go's and if needed fire or relocate ones that can not or will not comply.

Good luck

Answer 4

Maybe some team building exercises. Something like going out and doing a ropes course where they have to work together.