PeopleWork Supervisor Academy

Leadership skills development for anyone who guides, directs, or leads others in your industrial operation.

The ultimate system to set frontline supervisors up for success and prepare your industrial company’s future leaders.

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What is PeopleWork Supervisor Academy?

PeopleWork Supervisor Academy is the gold-standard online training experience for frontline supervisors who want to build trusting, loyal, and effective teams of employees dedicated to doing the work safely and efficiently. Combining leadership, safety, and supervisory skills, we prepare your supervisors to succeed.


‍Whether you are new to supervisory, experienced, or even if you have your eye on being a team leader one day, our step-by-step supervisory training gives you the tools and support you need to fast-track your growth — saving you years of frustrating trial and error.

We have helped hundreds of new, experienced, and one-day-future supervisors across multiple industries gain the very skills that employees say they want their supervisors to have. Best of all, supervisors don’t have to leave the field to attend training. No more boring classrooms. We bring the learning directly onto the floor where supervisors are. We would be honored to help your supervisors too. 

People Work Supervisor

Just imagine supervisors with more…

Respect.

The ability to rally their teams and build connection and trusting relationships.

Confidence.

Beyond technical skills, creating and having certainty in your frontline supervisors.

Leadership.

The skills to lead their teams today and develop the people to lead the company tomorrow.

Teamwork.

Understanding what employees want and creating plans for individual team member development.

Empowerment.

Encouraging employees to become leaders without overwhelming them or burning them out.

Motivation.

Increase team motivation with positive reinforcement and celebrating small wins regularly.

Caring.

A leader who is empathetic and can communicate the work through the eyes of the employee.

Trust.

Specifically, a two-way trust that is shared and given in the relationship between supervisor and employee.

Safety.

More than just physical safety, but also mental and emotional safety where people feel comfortable.

It’s everything we cover in PeopleWork Supervisor Academy.

How does PeopleWork Supervisor Academy work?

Daily micro-module video training videos (approx. 5-minutes daily) are released inside a private Academy member-only site. You will get:

  • The core seven modules of PeopleWork Supervisor Academy video training
  • 44 weeks of Monday Mentor weekly videos to keep the learning going
  • The 52 Benefits of Safety video series as weekly safety topics for team meetings
  • Done-for-you downloadable resources and templates
  • Access to the privately-hosted online community of supervisors from around the world

PLUS…

  • Live weekly group coaching with Kevin Burns
  • Bonus masterclasses and advanced training
  • PLUS: Lifetime membership – When you join the PeopleWork Supervisor Academy, you’re a member for life. Complete the live program, then revisit and review the material as much as you want. The training Modules, bonus resources, weekly live coaching, and the online supervisor community, are yours forever.
people work supervisor program

The 5 Parts of PeopleWork Supervisor Academy

  1. The CareFull Supervisor 8-week daily learning program
  2. Monday Mentor weekly video learning series
  3. 52 Benefits of Safety weekly video series
  4. Online Supervisor Community
  5. Live Zoom Coaching calls each week

The CareFull Supervisor

8-week microlearning program of one new idea every weekday for 2 months.

Module 1
Know Your Role

  • Recall your best boss and the important question: are being that example for someone else?
  • Technical skills are the skills employees think are dead last in importance. There are seven other skills that employees want you to have.
  • Being a supervisor is like being a baseball manager, but the baseball manager has a technique they use that can help supervisors build better teams.
  • The gunslinger supervisor does it all and is the only person allowed to deal with problems. It harms a team’s cohesiveness.
  • A look at what employees deserve from their supervisors and how employees take their cues from the leader.

Module 2
Become Premium-Brand

  • Why is it we choose one brand over another? One person over another? Did you know you have a brand already?
  • If your team had to describe you, would they describe you as a budget brand supervisor or premium-brand supervisor? Want to learn the difference?
  • Long driving road trips are the basis for building better engagement among your team members?
  • Road construction that backs up traffic proves the pitfalls of a lack of information and why people jump to conclusions from their worst fears and worst outcomes.
  • Review of what employees want and need from supervisors. And two words that can help them become more effective.

Module 3
Focus Down, Not Up

  • A supervisor’s greatest center of influence with their team starts by recognizing where supervisors are starting from. The team depends on supervisors to be there for them.
  • With so many of them, the competition to get noticed as a mediocre supervisor is tough. True leaders are rare and noticeable. Are you one?
  • You can find a correlation between a mediocre supervisor and staff turnover. People do not leave a job; they leave their supervisor. Here is how to fix it.
  • Most Hollywood movies follow a 7-step formula. The first two steps are most important for supervisors. It is in these first two steps that they can identify their purpose.
  • Will you take a step that can elevate your effectiveness? It’s easy to do once you create your three critical actions.

Module 4
Create Elite Teams

  • As a supervisor, if you don’t have certainty about your team, you will be afraid of what could happen. Elite teams have certainty.
  • What decisions will your team make when you are not in the room? Where there is certainty, there is trust.
  • Would it surprise you to learn that leadership is not as important as coaching skills? Coaching is what turns ordinary teams into elite teams.
  • This is the section that turns more heads. You have three choices of the kind of supervisor you can be. Only one of which can create an elite-level team.
  • Tools to creating your elite team. Standards instead of rules, identifying team strengths, and creating a mission against something.

Module 5
Selling the Safety Brand

  • The word “selling” may make you bristle. But don’t worry, it’s not what you think it is. We discuss why selling safety is necessary for supervisors.
  • In order to get a handle on how to better sell the safety program, we present the simple rule that will help you get better buy-in to your supervisory and safety.
  • Selling is not about jamming stuff down your people’s throats. Selling is about getting permission to help them be better and to help them get what they want.
  • Basketball coach Jack Donohue did this one thing every day to get buy-in to his coaching and buy-in to the team mission. And his players could not wait for it.
  • How can you motivate employees to be more enthusiastic about safety? It starts with identifying what benefits that employees get from safety.

Module 6
Motivating Your Team

  • Supervisors do not generally know much about what motivates people. But motivation of the crew is a supervisor’s responsibility.
  • Everyone is motivated to do something. Trouble is that employees who seem unmotivated are just not motivated by the same things you are.
  • “I’m only in it for the money.” There are six things far more important to employees than money? A half-million workers divulge what it is.
  • The things you should already be doing to make sure that you don’t undermine your own efforts to raise the level of motivation in your team.
  • Safety meetings are wasted and could be utilized so much better – in the same way a sports team uses their pre-game meetings to get buy-in to the mission.

Module 7
The Supervisor As Coach

  • When employees buy-in to safety, you do not need to chase after them. You can replace that time with coaching and mentoring, which is more satisfying.
  • No one does their best thinking under pressure. Certainty is tied to consistency. And consistency is one of the most admired traits for supervisors.
  • Your team buys into you because they trust and respect you. Because you listen to them, hear them and care about them. Conversations matter.
  • Nowhere does it state that safety meetings cannot be fun. Here are four things you should be talking about in safety meetings.
  • Wrapping up the 8-week program, we encourage supervisors to pay close attention to the words in today’s message.

Monday Mentor

We keep the learning going for 44 more weeks every Monday morning.

  • After the 8-week PeopleWork Supervisor program has ended, we keep the learning going for 44 more weeks. Every Monday, supervisors will get video tips, ideas, and strategies to continue developing their skills.
  • Using a combination of review material from The CareFull Supervisor, relevant white papers, research, surveys, the latest trends, and excerpts from business books, supervisors can stay sharp and be continuously learning.
  • These weekly videos ensure supervisors set aside time each week to build on their learning – a very important part of developing their supervisory effectiveness.

52 Benefits of Safety

52 weekly videos that encourage buy-in from frontline employees every Friday.

To keep your team engaged in safety, you need to keep their attention. Too many safety conversations focus on what the company needs employees to do. But that is only what the company gets.

The most efficient way to build attention and engagement in safety is to talk about how safety benefits the employees.

52 Benefits of Safety is a 52-week video series dedicated to engaging front-line employees and their supervisors in safety. Every Friday for 52 weeks, a new video.

  • No more fumbling around for new things to discuss at safety huddles.
  • No more complaints from supervisors that they need fresh topics.
  • No more eye-rolling from employees when the discussion turns to safety.

Just play the video on a mobile device or computer and then discuss it with your team.

  • 52 reasons to get behind the safety program.
  • 52 ways that employees benefit directly from working safely.
  • 52 weekly safety moments to talk about how employees benefit from safety.
  • 52 ways to change the safety conversation.

CareFull Community Online

Private online community for frontline supervisors only.

Welcome to our exclusive online hub—a gathering place where supervisors from diverse trades-based and manufacturing industries converge. Whether you are a current or past student of the PeopleWork Supervisor Academy, this community is your compass for growth, mentorship, and shared wisdom.

What Awaits You:

  • Peer-to-Peer Dialogue: Supervisors engage in candid conversations with fellow supervisors. They can share victories, challenges, and those “a-ha!” moments that shape their leadership journey.
  • Mentorship Magic: Mentorship isn’t a one-way street. Here, seasoned supervisors guide the next generation, and fresh perspectives invigorate seasoned leaders.
  • Experience Exchange: Imagine tapping into a global network of supervisors—each with unique insights. Your supervisors can learn from their triumphs, setbacks, and innovative approaches.
  • Stay On-Topic: Our vigilant moderation ensures that discussions remain laser-focused. No tangents—just relevant, actionable insights.

Why Connect Your Supervisors?

  • Broadened Horizons: Your supervisors can gain fresh perspectives from supervisors across continents. Their experiences enrich your supervisors’ toolboxes.
  • Inspiration Abounds: Your supervisors can witness how others overcome challenges. Their stories fuel your supervisors’ determination.
  • Collective Wisdom: When supervisors unite, magic happens. Together, we elevate entire industries.
  • Imagine the ripple effect: a supervisor in Tokyo inspires one in Toronto, who, in turn, sparks change in Sydney. Let’s create a global community where every supervisor counts.

Live Weekly Group Coaching

Weekly Zoom interactive coaching calls for supervisors to participate live.

Every week, we gather. Imagine a virtual room buzzing with energy—each supervisor with unique stories and shared aspirations. Welcome to our weekly Zoom coaching sessions—a dynamic blend of learning, camaraderie, and growth.

What Awaits You:

  • Teaching Moments: We kick off each session with targeted teaching. From leadership principles to practical tools, we dive deep into the supervisor’s toolkit.
  • Coaching Intensity: It’s not about theory; it’s about application. We guide supervisors through real-world scenarios, helping them navigate challenges, build resilience, and elevate their impact.
  • Interactive Q&A: Got burning questions? Bring them to the table! Our Q&A segments are lively, insightful, and tailored to supervisors’ needs.
  • Exchange ideas, share best practices, and broaden your perspective. These weekly (7 weeks only) sessions are a roundtable discussion of supervisors talking about how to be better supervisors.

Who’s Invited:

  • First-Time Supervisors: Find your footing, gain confidence, and learn from those who’ve walked the path before you.
  • Veteran Leaders: Share your wisdom, mentor others, and stay sharp. Your experience fuels the collective growth.
  • Future Industrial Leaders: If you aspire to lead, this is your launchpad. Connect with role models and soak in the wisdom.

Why Join?

  • Community: Beyond pixels and screens, it’s about human connection. Our Zoom sessions foster a sense of belonging—a tribe of supervisors committed to excellence.
  • Real-Time Solutions: Stuck on a challenge? Tap into the collective brainpower. Together, we find solutions.
  • Inspiration: Witness how supervisors across industries tackle adversity, celebrate wins, and evolve. Their journeys inspire yours.
  • Our weekly Zoom sessions are transformational. Let’s create a ripple effect—one supervisor at a time.

BONUS: Lifetime Membership

When you join the PeopleWork Supervisor Academy, you’re a member for life. Once you’ve completed all of the elements of the program, you continue to have access as much as you want. All of the training Modules, the bonus resources, the weekly live coaching, and the online supervisor community, are yours forever.

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Is Supervisor Academy right for me?

Are you an industrial company determined to break free from the cycle of frustration of knowing your people can do better? Do you care deeply about your team’s success? Do you want to set your supervisors up for success?

Then PeopleWork Supervisor Academy is right for you. Think of it as a haven for forward-thinking leaders.

Bid farewell to endless talk and indecision. Our academy arms supervisors with practical tools, igniting their leadership potential.

No more questioning if you have truly set your supervisors up for success. We are here to erase doubt and replace it with unwavering belief.
In today’s dynamic economy, industry boundaries blur. Whether you manufacture widgets, refine or ship energy, or weld steel beams, success hinges on universal principles like:

  • Trust as Currency: Build trust within your team, with clients, and across any industry. Trust is the bedrock of success.
  • Meaningful Connections: Beyond transactions lies connection. Forge bonds that resonate—supervisor to employee, company to community.
  • Employee Caring: Protect and value your most precious asset—your employees. Their well-being fuels collective achievement.
  • Leadership Pipeline: Prepare supervisors not just for today but for tomorrow. Nurture future leaders within your ranks.

At PeopleWork Supervisor Academy, we help you create supervisors who lead with heart, empower teams, and shape a brighter industrial landscape.

Yes, PeopleWork Supervisor Academy works for…

First-time Supervisors
First-time supervisors often grapple with self-doubt from transitioning from peer to leader. We provide foundational skills, from effective communication to trust-building for first-time supervisors to foster trust with their teams, creating a solid foundation for future success.

Experienced Supervisors
For seasoned supervisors, the academy delves into advanced leadership concepts. It is not just about managing tasks; it’s about inspiring greatness. Experienced supervisors learn how to mentor and develop their team members. Passing on wisdom becomes part of their legacy.

Up-and-coming Future Supervisors
Future leaders get insights into what it takes to lead. Beyond technical expertise, future supervisors learn active listening and empathy—the bedrock of effective leadership. The academy encourages future supervisors to think beyond the day-to-day.

What Supervisors Have to Say

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Our company has been working with the PeopleWork programs for three years, and we have committed to two more. A testament to how much of a difference these programs have made for our people and culture.
Billy Shearer
New Braunfels Utilities, TX
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Other outfits may teach frontline leadership skills, but none would have the message, the steps, the method of delivery, the professionalism, and charisma. This is the whole package.
Kim Grant
Paper Excellence, BC
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I was able to work through quite a few of the things that this program provided us with and it helped me in being better planned and more prepared. And I’ve noticed much more engagement from my team.
Beau Boughman
CHS Refinery, KS

Who teaches PeopleWork Supervisor Academy?

The Academy is led by Kevin Burns, worldwide Amazon best-selling author of PeopleWork: The Human Touch in Workplace Safety and, The CareFull Supervisor: The Skills to Lead and Be the Supervisor Employees Want to Have. Named by BookAuthority.org in 2020 as the author of the #4 Top Workplace Safety Book of All Time, Kevin’s mission is to help supervisors realize their greatest potential to improve industrial workplaces everywhere.

What you will learn at PeopleWork Supervisor Academy is based on nearly 30 years of experience. Train with the industry leader who has helped, and continues to guide frontline industrial supervisors to success using his exact playbook.

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kevuin burns
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Interested in PeopleWork Supervisor Academy for your whole team?

We offer volume pricing for 20+ supervisors.