I watched a program on the Science Channel. The focus was animal behavior and their feelings. One of the studies was about cows. The conclusion was that cows who were happy or contented with their handler produced more milk. Handlers that were calm, patted the cattle, and exhibited kindly and friendly behavior resulted in higher production.
This is not the first study of feelings and behavior of cows. Dr. Donald Broom, professor of Animal Welfare in Cambridge’s Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine challenged cows with situations requiring them to think and make decisions in overcoming a set of obstacles. As the cows succeeded, “their brainwaves showed excitement, their heartbeat went up,” the report showed. They liked challenges.
In another study Psychologists at the University of Leicester, UK, played music of different tempos to herds of cattle. The results? “Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water were a big hit in the milking shed.” Easy listening produced more milk than fast-paced rock and roll. There is a direct relationship between friendly handlers, music, and work. Reducing stress usually produces healthier and happier workers and they in return produce more work for their efforts.
In a Gallup pole of two millions workers from 700 organizations found that “the length of an employee’s stay in an organization is largely determined by his relationship with his immediate supervisor.” Contented workers continued working for a supervisor he or she liked, however 46% quit if they didn’t like their supervisors. I guess the difference between cows and workers is that cows can’t quit and look for different handlers.
Contented workers are developed by trust, expectations and challenges, and responses by their supervisors. Supervisors that provide praise for a job well done, usually end up with employees returning the favor by producing more jobs done, well. In other words if we appreciate how we are being handled or cared for, we produce more milk.
Some organizations might milk this information for all its worth, but organizations that form a bond with management and employees should expect the cream of the crop and “butter” relationships.
RE: Ponders Corner article dated December 6, 2017
My uncle Robert Herbert retired from Fort Lewis. He and his wife Geneva lived in Lakewood with their sons and owned the 7-Eleven in Ponders Corner. He lost his life in a holdup of the store on Feb. 20, 1969.
Jennifer,
Thank you for reading my articles and for writing.
Sad news of your uncle’s death in a hold-up. I think my parents had an attempted hold-up around that same time. I was married in 1966 and moved out, but would sometimes stay over night at the motel when my parents needed me. The office was part of their home. One evening a man came into the office. My mom came to the counter and he pulled out a gun. My mom ran screaming back into the living room. The man started to follow her, but my dad from inside the house warned him not to come any closer. The robber not knowing whether or not an armed man awaited around the corner fled. My mom’s panic possibly saved her life.
Ponders Corner became an even more dangerous place. My parents bought a home in north Tacoma, but only my mom and sisters lived there. Eventually my parents sold the motel in Ponders Corner and the one they had on Pacific Avenue just outside of Parkland.
Thank you, again for reading and for writing. I’ve never written about the hold up before.
Don
Mr. Doman,
Every single business, government entity, and any other organization where there are employees and supervisors would “udderly” benefit from the wise and accurate words you have shared with us this morning.
You have inspired me to write a companion article that will support the concepts you have shared with us. I think I will title my article, “Environment Tax; No Not That Environment”.
100% of the supervisors in our land would do well to read and heed the need to treat underlings in a more favorable manner. It does not cost, it pays.
Joseph Boyle
Dear Mr. Boyle,
Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and adding constructive content for the story as well.
I agree, my article could help most managers . . . except perhaps Cool Hand Luke. His father Cold Hand Luke, died unexpectedly in a Minnesota barn back in ’49. Cool was just never able to come with grips . . .
Nice. Glad I didn’t know this when I was managing people. Now I know why they kept leaving and getting better jobs and pay and respect. Hm, maybe I can now start a pizza place that will not have employee turnover daily. Oh, well.