University of Minnesota

Dairy Initiatives

Dairy

Department of Animal Science


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Do the "Little Things" Get Done on Your Dairy?

LEE GROSS
University of Minnesota Extension Service
Stearns County

On a successful dairy, several thousand details need to be properly attended to each day. (Well, ok, maybe it's more like hundreds, but I got your attention.) The single most common complaint I hear from dairy managers is that their workers (family members or employees) don't pay attention to the little things that can lead to big problems if not caught early. They're not alert to critical details that determine whether a cow stays or is culled. Whether the moldy silage goes into the mixer or gets put aside. Whether you're informed that the teat dip from the new barrel looks different from the previous batch. Whether the cow in heat gets reported.

How can you make your workers do the detail work? Well, you can't make people do anything. They have to want to do it! But there is a way you can help them want to pay attention to the small stuff. It's called motivation and folks, that's an internal act.

Here are some ideas on how to help your workers develop that motivation:

  • Regularly review your mission statement with your workers.
  • Tell them how important your business is to you and your family.
  • Let them know how important they are to the success of your business.
  • Let them know that they are important to you as individuals.
  • Tell them you need their skills and experience.
  • Tell them the business can only succeed with their help.
  • Tell them you want to see them grow in their job and achieve whatever they want and are capable of doing in your business.
  • Show them that your business is a fun place to work.
  • Tell them the "little things" are the most important things.

Easy? Far from it! It takes serious effort to convey these messages to your workers on a regular basis. But try it. Be sincere. Write reminders on your calendar. Smile!

People that are appreciated are motivated. People that are valued are motivated. People having fun are motivated. People that know they matter to the organization/dairy/family are motivated. Motivated people do great things.


D A I R Y    I n i t i a t i v e s    N E W S L E T T E R
Volume 11    Issue 2    Summer 2002