Good internal communication is important to the success of any organization. How often does someone know something that should really be common knowledge, but for some reason that information is not shared with others in the organization who could benefit from it? Obviously, there are some things that need to be kept confidential, like personal employee information protected by HIPPA laws, etc. But most information, while not necessarily public, should be shared within the walls of the organization so everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the success of the business.
At Red Wing Software, we use a weekly internal newsletter to provide employees with the happenings inside the organization. Leaders of each department contribute information from their respective areas that they feel the rest of the team should, or would like to, know. In addition to structured departments, we also operate many teams that are specific to a particular project and include members from multiple departments. This is where communication can break down.
In the team meetings, ideas for new features, changes, or even new products are created. As these ideas are discussed, requirements are defined and refined, user interfaces are designed, test scenarios are determined, programming and documentation are completed, and voilà, the project is complete. The only problem is, sometimes everyone on the team becomes so involved in the process and has spent so much time talking about every detail, that they assume it is common knowledge to the entire organization, so they occasionally, and unintentionally, forget to share an important detail. I only use this as one example of how information can unintentionally be kept secret, when it should be shared with the entire organization so they can be included in the excitement about new happenings in the organization. Does this happen in your organization?
- Ken Hilton, President
Vir-Clar Farms, featured in Progressive Dairyman
Vir-Clar Farms was featured in the December 12, 2016 issue of Progressive Dairyman. In the story entitled “Visitor Center Gives Modern View of Dairying”, Katie Grinstead shares details about the farm’s new visitor center.
Yorek Farm, featured in Dairy Star Magazine
Yorek Farm was featured in a story in the December 10, 2016 issue of Dairy Star Magazine. In the story, “A Fine-Tuned Dairy”, the entire Yorek family helps explain their progress in expanding their operation.
SunBurst Dairy, featured in Hoard’s Dairyman
SunBurst Dairy was featured in a story in the November 28, 2016 issue of Hoard’s Dairyman. In the story, “Nutrition Sets up Reproductive Success”, Brian Brown of SunBurst Dairy explains their nutrition program and methods to increase reproductive success.
Shrimpf Farms, featured in Dairy Star Magazine
Kristin Schrimpf of Shrimpf Farms was personally featured in the November 12, 2016 issue of Dairy Star Magazine. In the story, “What is the Value of Networking with Other Women in the Industry?”, Kristin shares her background in dairy farming.
Dorrich Dairy, featured in Dairy Star Magazine
Dorrich Dairy was the subject of the story, “A Novel Bedding System”, which appeared in the November 26, 2016 issue of Dairy Star Magazine. The story elaborates on Dorrich Dairy’s new composting system.
I’ve mentioned before in this monthly message how important I feel continuing education is for everyone in any organization. If we don’t continue to explore new ideas and start to believe that what we are currently doing cannot be done any better, the business will slowly fade away. None of us can be an expert in every aspect of the business, so it’s imperative that we get out of our offices and learn from the wisdom of others.
I recently attended two conferences for just that purpose. The first meeting was with a group that focuses on data standards and facilitating the sharing of information between different companies’ products for the benefit of their clients. This was the first time I’ve attended this particular conference, and the first day was a bit overwhelming. By the end of the meeting, I learned a lot that I could bring back to Red Wing Software to help improve our company. I won’t get into much detail, but one of the most interesting sessions at this conference dealt with Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN). Until now, I was not aware that there was a standard format for BPMN. There are many software applications that help companies put their processes into an easy to understand flow chart. This was a timely topic for me, as we continue to improve and document our internal processes.
The second conference was the annual meeting of a consulting organization that focuses on one specific market. I’ve attended this conference for 30 years. While I always learn new things at this meeting, one of the biggest benefits is interacting with peers in the industry, outside the formal meeting times. It seems at many events like this that through networking more education and business is taken care of after-hours than during the scheduled sessions. As with any organization like this, you only get out of it what you put in to it, and it’s important to be an active participant. Our own Julie Strain is currently serving as President of this national group, and was responsible for planning this meeting in Fort Worth, TX.
Even if you can’t seem to break away from your busy schedule for a few days and attend events in your particular area of expertise, there are many online classes and webinars available on almost any subject to get that important continuing education.
- Ken Hilton, President