All managers are involved in planning. Some do it in their heads or subconsciously. Others do it through rigid corporate guidelines.

Supervisors need to learn how to plan. They need to plan each day and the short term of up to a year. They also often participate in long term planning.

Planning is critical for the long term success of any group. When the good supervisor hires, motivates, disciplines, sets goals, trains, and communicates, they do it with the longer term plan in mind.

There may be simple plans such as a goal to increase output per man hour by 25% in one year. There may also be long term plans such as a business mix shift or the addition of a new product.