English translate to follow…
Cuando la experiencia vale más que el dólar
¡No todo está bajo el control del poderoso dólar! En el mundo agrícola, la experiencia es invaluable y puede ser incluso más valiosa que el dinero. Al brindar oportunidades para que nuestros compañeros adquieran experiencia, mejoramos su satisfacción en el trabajo, fortalecemos su compromiso con nuestro rancho y, en consecuencia, aumentamos la eficiencia y productividad. Aquí hay algunas áreas clave para ofrecer experiencia a nuestros compañeros:
- Capacitación Continua
¿Ha preguntado a sus compañeros si hay algo técnico que les gustaría aprender en el rancho? La capacitación es fundamental para adquirir nuevas habilidades y conocimientos. Tal vez tienen ideas sobre qué quieren aprender, y podría ser en un área totalmente diferente a la que están ahora. Permítales asistir a talleres prácticos, ya que no solo mejorarán sus competencias, sino que también los prepararán para roles de mayor responsabilidad.
- Rotación de Tareas
¿Será que Juan puede hacer más que uno solo rol en el rancho? ¡Imagínese si Juan pudiera trabajar tanto afuera como adentro! Dedique un día cada semana para rotar las posiciones. Esto es el principio del entrenamiento cruzado. No debemos esperar hasta que haya una ausencia para permitir que los trabajadores roten entre diferentes tareas. Así, los trabajadores pueden obtener una visión más completa del rancho y desarrollar una gama más amplia de habilidades.
- Participación en Decisiones
¿Cómo prefiere que le dirijan: recibir instrucciones sin comentarios o tener la oportunidad de dar su opinión sobre cómo realizar el trabajo? Involucrar a los trabajadores en la toma de decisiones marca la diferencia entre ser un ‘mandón’ y ser un ‘líder’. Quienes ejecutan las tareas suelen tener ideas valiosas para mejorar los procesos, ya que son quienes están en el centro de la acción. Solicitar su opinión les proporciona un sentido de pertenencia y responsabilidad.
- Reconocimiento y Recompensas
¿Tienen algún lugar de reconocimiento para honrar al empleado más destacado de una temporada específica? ¿Cómo están reconociendo a sus empleados? El reconocimiento, junto con una recompensa, va más allá de los incentivos económicos; los elogios públicos crean un ambiente donde se valora y se reconoce el esfuerzo individual, motivando a los trabajadores a mejorar continuamente hacia metas específicas.
- Mentoría
¿Quién es mi mentor y a quién estoy mentorando? Como dice el refrán: “El hierro con hierro se afila”. Para seguir avanzando profesionalmente, necesito tener un sucesor preparado, o de lo contrario, nunca podré seguir creciendo. La mentoría es un proceso profundamente satisfactorio que fomenta una relación de amistad profesional que puede ser valiosa durante muchos años, incluso más allá del ámbito laboral.
- Cursos de Idiomas
¿Son los supervisores en mi rancho los mejores líderes de personas o fueron elegidos simplemente por su capacidad para hablar diferentes idiomas? Las clases de inglés pueden abrir muchas puertas para el avance profesional. Aprender un nuevo idioma es un proceso largo. Busquemos pequeñas oportunidades para experimentar la cultura americana: Super Bowl Party, Thanksgiving Dinner, fuegos artificiales del 4 de Julio, etc., y así podemos fomentar un interés por aprender más.
Conclusión
¡La experiencia realmente vale su peso en oro! Utiliza estas ideas para dar un pequeño paso hacia el aumento de su experiencia y la de su equipo. Haz una lista de sus logros y los de su equipo, y verán cómo sus esfuerzos se multiplican.
(translated)
Experience is Worth It’s Weight in Gold
Not everything revolves around the almighty dollar! In agriculture, experience is priceless and often more valuable than money itself. By offering our team opportunities to gain experience, we boost their job satisfaction, reinforce their dedication to our farm, and thereby improve efficiency and productivity. Here are some areas where we can provide valuable experience to our team:
- Continuous Training
Have you inquired with your team about any specific technical skills they would like to develop on the farm? Practical training plays a crucial role in acquiring new skills and knowledge. It’s important to ask because their interests might lead to learning opportunities in entirely different areas than their current roles. Encourage them to participate in various workshops, as this will not only enhance their skills but also prepare them for greater responsibilities.
- Cross Training
Could Juan take on multiple roles on the farm? Imagine if Juan could work both outdoors and indoors! Allocate one day each week to rotate positions. This is the essence of cross-training. We shouldn’t wait for absences to allow workers to rotate between tasks. This approach helps workers gain a broader understanding of the ranch and cultivate a diverse set of skills.
- Participation in Decision Making
How do you prefer to receive instructions: being commanded without any input, or having the opportunity to share your thoughts on how to do a job? Engaging workers in decision-making distinguishes between being a ‘boss’ and being a ‘leader’. Those actively involved in tasks often offer valuable insights for process improvement, given their direct involvement. Seeking their input also fosters a sense of ownership and accountability.
- Recognition and Compensation
Do you have a designated area on the farm to honor the outstanding employee of each season? How do you show appreciation to your employees? Recognition, alongside compensation, transcends mere financial incentives; public acknowledgment fosters an environment where individual contributions are valued and celebrated, inspiring employees to strive for continuous improvement toward specific goals.
- Mentorship
Who is my mentor, and whom am I mentoring? As the saying goes, “Iron sharpens iron.” To continue advancing professionally, I must find a successor, or my own advancement will stagnate. Mentorship is a rewarding process that cultivates a professional friendship lasting many years, extending beyond the workplace.
- Language Courses
Are the supervisors on my farm effective leaders of people, or were they selected primarily for their bilingual skills? English classes can significantly enhance opportunities for professional growth. Learning a new language is a gradual process. Let’s seek out small opportunities to help our workforce learn about our American culture—such as Super Bowl parties, Thanksgiving dinners, Fourth of July fireworks, and more—to cultivate a deeper interest in learning.
Conclusion
Experience truly is golden! Use these ideas to take a small step toward enhancing your team’s expertise. Compile a list of your achievements and those of your team, and you’ll witness how your efforts yield multiplied results.
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By Mary Lewis, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The La experiencia es oro post appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.
Have you talked to your Spanish-speaking employees about the eclipse?
1. Start on day one with the protocols and rules of the bathroom. Even though it seems childish, spend time teaching the expectations of how to use the facilities: how to clean after yourself, where toilet paper goes and where paper towels go, etc. Even explain how to wash hands. Remember that paper towels in Mexico are not common. If you had never used one before, how would you know how many to use? Where do you dispose it? What do you use them for? Plumbing in Mexico uses small pipes. Toilet paper cannot be put into the toilet, or the toilet will become plugged. So, if you don’t want a whole bunch of used toilet paper in the trash, explain to employees where it goes and that the pipes will not become plugged here in the U.S. with toilet paper. But do explain how they could become plugged (paper towels, trash, and other feminine products).
2. Teach to leave things better than they are found. In order for this to work, everything must have a place. If the soap runs out, where does an employee find another bar? Do you have a place for the trash to go? Is it labeled? Benjamin Franklin wrote “A place for everything, everything in its place.”
3. Tidiness is part of cleanliness. Is your bathroom area also a storage area, a dumping spot for extra products? This encourages disorder and disrespect. An area that is respected is also valued and maintained tidy. Keep your bathrooms free from disorder.
4. Talk about the unspeakable. Don’t let this topic be off limits. We create culture wherever we go. We add value to things we enjoy and like and we disapprove of habits that we feel don’t represent us. Celebrate the cleanliness. Have a competition between facilities or between work shifts. Encourage staff by asking for ideas on how to make the bathrooms their own.