Supervisors Training - Negotiating and Conflict Management Skills

English -Thursday, September 1, 2011 (9:00 AM to 4 PM, please arrive by 8:45 AM)

Interpersonal Negotiation skills. Farm managers and supervisors will learn specific ways of presenting their perspectives, whether speaking to a peer, subordinate, or other individual, so that the conversation can focus on the matter at hand rather than the personalities. We will discuss why people sometimes fall into conflictive relationships at work and how to avoid some of the common traps. Participants will learn about the importance of listening and giving opinions without becoming defensive. For more details see: http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7conflict/04.pdf

Goodwill deposits. Managers and supervisors will learn about the importance of providing good-will deposits in their general day to day management. In other words, the effect of positive feedback on performance. For more details see: pp. 192-198 in http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7conflict/12.pdf

Reducing the unpredictability of confrontation. There is a reason why managers often prefer dealing with the animals, equipment, nutrition or other issues at the farm rather than with people. The former are more predictable and do not talk back. Managers and supervisors will learn to distinguish between different types of conflicts and potential tools to use to solve these, such as conflicts between co-workers vs. conflicts between a supervisor and an employee.

Instructors. Gregorio Billikopf (Negotiation and Confrontation) and Ryan Boothe (Good-will deposits)

Who should attend? This meeting is directed to managers and supervisors. The two main topics we will cover are interpersonal negotiation skills and helping others resolve conflicts. Ag consultants, veterinarians and others may also be interested.

Cost = You may pay via credit card or check sent in the mail. $36 per person includes lunch and materials ($28 per person if paid or postmarked on or before August 19, 2011).

Credit card registration: You may also register at the bottom of the page at: https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=1763

Paying through check: Please send check made out to UC Regents: University of California c/o G. Billikopf 3800 Cornucopia Way #A Modesto CA 95358 Contact: (209) 525-6800

Both of these supervisory meetings will take place in Modesto, California, rooms H-I in the Stanislaus Building. http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7map.htm

Spanish - Helping foremen understand the role of power and authority as well as effective interpersonal negotiation skills (Spanish)

Thursday, August 25, 2011 (9:00 AM to 4 PM, please arrive by 8:45 AM)

Farm owners recently expressed the following as their top seven issues they wished farm foremen to focus on:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

2. Don’t say yes when you do not understand.

3. Pass on owner concerns to the employees.

4. Learn to delegate and do not attempt to fix all the problems yourself.

5. Take care of equipment and tools.

6. Do not cover up mistakes (problems with equipment or with people).

7. Loyalty goes both ways.

The two main topics we will cover—supervisory power and negotiation skills—will help us focus on the above mentioned issues in bold.

Supervisory power. It is tough being a foreman and being in the middle between management and workers. Farm foremen will learn more about their role in a position of power, including the importance of properly transmitting the messages of management toward the workers, and vice versa. For instance, foremen sometimes blame management for decisions made rather than standing up for the farm enterprise. We will also speak about the potential for abuse of power and authority (e.g., sexual harassment) and what steps foremen can take to avoid such challenges. For more details see: http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7labor/09.pdf

Negotiation skills. After learning how difficult it is to please both management and workers, foremen will learn specific ways of presenting their perspectives, whether speaking to management or to workers, so that the conversation can focus on the matter at hand. It is often hard for supervisors to let either workers or management that they have a different perspective, so in this session they will learn how to do this without being offensive and learning how to listen and consider the perspective of others as well as their own. For more details see: http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7conflict/04.pdf

Instructors will be Gregorio Billikopf (Negotiation Skills) and Ryan Boothe (Supervisory Power).

Who should attend? Spanish-speaking farm foremen, herd managers, crew leaders and front line supervisors.

Do any of the foremen require special food (e.g., vegetarian, etc.) or other accommodations? Please be specific when you let us know.

Cost = You may pay via credit card or check sent in the mail. $36 per person includes lunch and materials ($28 per person if paid or postmarked on or before August 15, 2011).

Credit card registration: You may also register at the bottom of the page at: https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=1763

Paying through check: Please send check made out to UC Regents: University of California c/o G. Billikopf 3800 Cornucopia Way #A Modesto CA 95358

Contact: (209) 525-6800