Cancel OK

Talent Development: Creating Well-Rounded Leaders

A key component of talent development is to expose employees to the entire company, to learn about all facets of an organization.

Cross-training is a focus at many companies from the earliest days of employment. D.J. Stornetta, director of recruiting operations at Produce Careers, Inc. in Arroyo Grande, CA, said this exposure “gives people an instant perspective of what the organization is and what it does.”

Better yet, cross-training activities are developmental and low cost, though with the potential for significant long-term ROI.

“You have people who understand the bigger picture and are not so siloed. Cross-training makes teams more efficient, which drives higher margins and profitability.”

Creating cross-functional teams can also foster engagement by developing trust within a team and an appreciation of other viewpoints. Similar perspective can be gained from external training as well.

At the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation in Salinas, CA, alumni from its leadership programs travel to Washington, DC, to meet with regulators, who then stay with growers and their families to learn from each other.

“This is a good example of how a leadership program can have a practical outcome,” said Barry Bedwell, president. “Both sides get a perspective on each other’s jobs.”

Similarly, the STEP-UPP program, overseen by the Southeast Produce Council in Millen, GA, gives retailers a perspective on grower-shippers’ businesses, through farm tours and other initiatives.

“A light bulb goes off when they see what the grower-shippers go through,” said David Sherrod, president and CEO.

This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full version.

Twitter