Dan Hanson Fast Company December 1998

"Feeling Connected to your Work Brings Energy to the Workplace"

This article illustrates many parallels on how I believe University of Minnesota Extension should function. Hanson was concerned about people in the workplace of Land O'Lakes Inc., being played as pawns and with businesses as though they were valued by only their bottom line. They (Land O'Lakes) were losing touch with the fact that organizations were made up of people.

In Extension programming we too are dealing with an organization made up of people. These people include our clientele, Extension Committee, county boards, support staff and colleagues at county and campus levels. These different groups represent diverse needs and ideas and when involved in programming, this process develops a sense of ownership in our programming. Ed Yonker, Cluster Extension Committee member says our committee wants to be involved in program development. They want this because it brings to the table a grass roots input that connects and brings energy to our organization.

Hanson believes there are three steps to building connections in an organization or workplace. First, the people in the organization must feel connected. Our goal in Extension is to develop teamwork at all levels. We don't want people to feel alienated. Everyone should have some responsibility or ownership in either program development or delivery. This not only brings energy, but also creates an environment for internal and external communication that ultimately results in higher quality programs.

Secondly, Hanson says you have to have "pockets of wellness" where teams have changed how things are done. I believe this is grassroots programming. When I have been involved in programming during drought, flood, or economic disasters, collaborative teams have been formed. This model or format has developed and delivered programs that have brought solutions and assistance to the targeted audience. Brian Steen, a crop and livestock producer says, "Extension programs have helped me make decisions during tough times. They have coordinated government agencies, business, and the resources from land grant universities to give us timely information.

Thirdly, Hanson realizes what we in Extension have known for a long time. Successful programming must come from the bottom up, not the top down. As Hanson says, "People feel better when the organization succeeds because of them."

Finally, successful programming means recognizing team members or collaboratives. To continue to build our support base we need to involve the people we serve. As Hanson says, these people not only need to be appreciated, but they need to be challenged. This philosophy needs to continue to be the cornerstone in building successful programs in Extension.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 1999

Answers

James Nesseth,

Thanks for your discussion on "Feeling connected to your work."Very well organized. Terrific job of relating it to your work with Extension. Watch for mechanical errors - just minor in your case. Overall, very well written.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 1999