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Unit Aims, Objectives and Prerequisites
S.1.4 The port supervisor: personal attributes

1. Unit Aims

This Unit is designed:

1. To identify and explain the nature, styles and sources of leadership.
2. To consider how a supervisor can motivate the work-group to perform better.
3. To review the nature of interpersonal skills and assess their significance to a supervisor.
4. To discuss the personal qualities required of an effective supervisor.
5. To encourage supervisors to recognize their personal attributes and enhance those that make supervision more effective.

2. Unit Objectives

After completing this Unit, the learner will be able to:

1. List and describe the component knowledge, understanding and skills required by a supervisor, and outline their importance in the performance of the supervisor’s job.
2. Describe the nature of leadership and explain the roles of leaders and followers.
3. Distinguish between formal and informal leadership, and show how informal leaders can influence the behaviour of the group.
4. Recognize the form of leadership being displayed in a given situation and assess its implications for work-group effectiveness.
5. Name and distinguish between the various categories of leadership styles, and explain how particular circumstances may demand different styles.
6. Select the most appropriate leadership style for a particular supervisory situation.
7. Define the authority of a leader, distinguish between the various sources of that authority, and recognize the difficulties associated with exercising authority derived from each source.
8. Demonstrate appropriate and effective leadership authority when leading a group in performing a given task.
9. Explain the means and strategies available to motivate the work-group and describe how the group may respond to the various types of incentives.
10. Given the necessary information about work situations, select appropriate motivational strategies to maximize work-group performance.
11. Describe the ten personal attributes referred to as interpersonal skills and explain their value in effective supervision.
12. Use his/her interpersonal skills to the full when carrying out his/her supervisory duties.
13. List and explain the nature and value of the personal qualities desirable in a supervisor.
14. Apply his/her own personal qualities fully and appropriately when supervising the work-group.
15. Define, recognize the best definition of, or distinguish between true and false statements concerning, the technical terms used in the Unit, as listed in sections 3 and 4 below.

3. Unit Prerequisites

It is assumed that trainees will, before starting this Unit, have studied the following Units or will have demonstrated (for example by successfully completing the Tests for those Units) their understanding of the topics covered by them:

• Container terminal operations (C.1.1) or its equivalent for bulk terminals or break-bulk berths
• The port supervisor : organizational status (S.1.1)
• The port supervisor : tasks and duties (S.1.2)
• The port supervisor : supervisory skills (S.1.3)