Bob Milligan: Effectively transitioning into a supervisor role


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Feb 25 2025 44 mins   3

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, learn how to set your star employees up for success as they transition into a supervisor role. Dr. Bob Milligan joins host Kimmi Devaney to chat about easing stress during this leadership transition, getting buy-in from other employees as their peer becomes their supervisor, skills that are essential to work on before transitioning into a leadership role and much more. This episode can also help those employees hoping to move up into a supervisor role in the future better prepare themselves for this transition.



Here's a breakdown of the episode:



  • [~1:30] About Milligan and his background with leadership
  • [~3:00] As a leader, what are some indications that someone is ready to transition into a supervisor role?
  • [~4:00] How to recognize if you are ready to transition into a supervisor role yourself
  • [~4:50] Skills that are important to develop before becoming a supervisor
  • [~6:15] Tips to communicate clear expectations
  • [~7:20] Tips to provide effective feedback
  • [~11:15] How the job changes when transitioning into a supervisor role and why it should it be reflected in the job description
  • [~13:15] How and why it is important for farms to create job descriptions for employees
  • [~14:55] Making the leadership transition more seamless and less stressful
  • [~18:00] The types of training that are most helpful in preparing new supervisors
  • [~19:00] Ways new supervisors can be proactive in their new role
  • [~20:45] Gaining buy-in/support from other employees as their former peer now becomes their supervisor
  • [~22:40] What to do when you are now supervising someone that you became friends with previously
  • [~26:30] Utilizing annual reviews to continuously gauge employee interest in future leadership roles
  • [~29:05] How to hire career employees who move up into leadership roles over time
  • [~31:40] Tips to improve confidence as a new leader
  • [~22:45] Leadership pitfalls and how to avoid them
  • [~37:10] Tips for younger supervisors now supervising people old enough to be their parents
  • [~41:10] Rapid-fire questions