As any family’s health is dependent on the health of its individuals, any organization’s health is dependent on the physical and psychological health of its employees. In other words, we can say that the main responsibility to maintain the family or the organization’s health is on its individuals. We all agree that a healthy body needs all kinds of vitamins. The very same way, it will not be wrong to suggest that the organization body also needs these vitamins. Thirteen different kinds of vitamins are recommended for an organization. The continuous use of these vitamins, by the individuals at all levels of he organization will help maintain individual as well as the organization’s health.

VITAMIN A: Like blood, the supervisor has to circulate to stay in touch with the organization. One of the ways that leadership is felt is by the supervisor’s physical presence. Sitting on a swivel chair does no one any good.

VITAMIN B: Management and employees are partners, and like all partnerships, it must be based on trust to work. Everything is possible if employees feel they are treated with fairness. Anything else will bring the resistance that will collapse the bridge of productive feeling between the employees and management.

VITAMIN C: Good human relations always begin, if you treat everyone as a unique person with a unique personality.

VITAMIN D: This one should be taken in combination with vitamin C. No one responds productively and positively to a leader who is authoritative. Authoritative leaders will not be able to make their employees to cooperate with them. The supervisor who is too conscious of authority puts a distance between himself or herself and the employees, and that will work against the loyalty and cooperation.

VITAMIN E: Never make a promise to an employee but if you make one, never break it. It is good for building respect for one’s position. It’s good general rule to make as few promises as possible, but the promises that are made must be kept.

VITAMIN G: Successful supervisors keep their employees informed about the prospect of change. This not only gives management the benefit of employees insights and support but it also helps in controlling grapevine and rumors.

VITAMIN P: It is human nature to defend themselves against threats to their self-respect. It must be kept in mind when correcting a performance problems in an organization. The objective should be to educate the employee without making him or her afraid to try new tasks. It will win cooperation. It is already recommended to start with a pat on the back, which will soften the criticism.

VITAMIN B1: If there is any secret to successful supervision, it is the ability to see issues from the other person’s point of view. The effort to understand anther’s position pays off in terms of a willingness to please the supervisor.

VITAMIN B2: For supervisors who do not hesitate to give an employee a warning notice, it is an advise that they should practice praise. All of us need the stimulation of praise.

VITAMIN B3: This is the encouragement pill of ambition, motivation and initiative in an employees. It is a byproduct of a regimen of B1 and B2.

VITAMIN B4: Supervisors should concentrate on the positive strokes. Enthusiasm is one of these. It is infectious and a good supervisor gives it to the whole department.

VITAMIN B11: Cooperation is by definition a two-way street. Keep that in mind because without it all the fine planning in the world will never be translated into action.

VITAMIN B12: This last one is essential, especially for supervisors who have taken all their other vitamins and realized success can be its own worst enemy, accompanied as it often is by self-satisfaction, intolerance, close-mindedness, and self-esteem.

Good health for you and your organization!
Adopted from Robert G. Romero “The Vitamins of Human Relations”’ Supervisory Management, American Management Association, (February 1982)