Calf managers often focus on addressing sanitation, nutrition and general calf
management concerns. But, how much time is really spent addressing
employee-related issues? Could communication or the lack thereof be at the root
of calf management challenges?
Before assessing whether communication is a limiting factor on an operation,
there are a few questions managers may want to consider, advises Christie
(Stanley) Underwood, calf and heifer specialist with Purina Animal Nutrition
LLC.
· Do employees understand what authority they have to make decisions?
· Is there a system in place to report issues as they arise?
· Is there an open line of communication between employees and managers?
· How is the line of communication between managers and employees maintained?
· Do employees feel comfortable conveying needs and misunderstandings to
rectify a problem?
· Are employees told what their specific duties are, and are their roles
defined or is it a learn-as-you-go position?
“If you answered no to any of these questions, communication could be an
issue,” notes Underwood. To improve communication, managers should ensure
that they are putting the right people in the right place, stick to their
protocols and acknowledge employees that are doing quality work.
Put the right people in the right place
“I recently read the book Good to Great by Jim Collins. One key insight
that I learned from this book, is to get the right people on the bus, get the
wrong people off the bus and put the right people in the right place within the
bus,” says Underwood. (Click the following link for more information on
Good to Great http://bit.ly/CollinsGreat.)
Having the right person for the job strongly relates to calf operations. For
instance, it is best that a patient, gentle person feed colostrum to newborns,
whereas a fast-paced individual with an eye for detail would be a stronger fit
for putting out bottles for calves. The latter must be sure to not let the
milk/milk replacer get cold before the calf consumes it, but yet pays attention
to calves that are not drinking. A strong calf manager must balance immediate
needs and emergencies on an operation with the long-term goals. Assigning the
right person for the job is one of these decisions that will affect the
long-term success of an operation.
“When it comes to raising a healthy calf, one must never put off until
tomorrow what needs to be done today,” says Underwood.
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Source: Atticus Communications