The difficulty here lies in the bewildering territory bwteen minor snags and major disasters. Handled properly and decisively, the problem in this gray area sometimes turn out to be insignificant, but self-confident supervisors, particularly inexperienced ones, are perhaps too eager to prove they can cope on their own. Communication is a matter of keeping subordinates informed, providing accurate feedback, explaining decisions and policies, being candid about one's own problems, and resisting the temptation to hoard infomration for use as a tool or a reward. Communication must flow in both directions if it is to flow at all. Information won't surge up where it barely trickles down.
Support means showing concern for subordinates as people.
It means being available and approachable. It means helping people, coaching them, encouraging their ideas, and definding their positions. Respect feeds on itself. The most important form of respect is delegation, and the second most important is listening to subordinates and acting on their opinions. Here, the law of reciprocity tends to rule.