is constant communication and updating with the management team. Tey then update their staff as needed. Tere is a weekly management meeting, whereby each department gives updates and reports to everyone, discusses issues and policy decisions, troubleshoots and plans for the future. We also do a yearly all-staff meeting to convey key mission and safety directives and keep everyone engaged and motivated. Tere is a fair amount of email communication and often a follow-up email after the management meeting. While we use email for a lot of communication due to the large staff size, it is still important to involve everyone in the process and have buy-in from the entire staff.”
Shaffer: “I try to communicate verbally
as much as I can. Text and email is very common, but I almost always follow it up with a verbal conversation, even if it is as simple as, ‘Did you see my message and do you have any questions?’ I also try to keep a light-hearted and comedic workplace. We always have running jokes and are playing little games with each other to keep everyone’s spirits up.”
Vaughan: “We use traditional email and
texting for most direct communications. If it is an overall message to employees, we utilize our new scheduling program to make sure the message is consistent. We are having success using photos and videos to explain tasks to employees.”
Carlson: “At my level in the company, it is almost all face-to-face. At the managers’ level, it is face-to-face and several emails and texts daily.”
Flynn: “I communicate with my staff on a daily basis through conversations, emails, text messages and phone calls. My office door is always open, and I try to make myself visible and available to talk.”
WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES AS A MANAGER?
Dobbs: “Right now, it’s staffing. Every
other business can hire at a higher rate. I need to make employees want to work for my facility. I found that if employees are valued and appreciated they will work for less money. Tese loyal employees will get their friends to work for you, too.”
Fitzgerald: “Te challenge that we all hear a lot about these days is how to continue to update our people management style and strategies to address each new generation of young adults. And in the current market of extremely low unemployment, retaining talent has become increasingly difficult. We are constantly challenged to think outside the box in our hiring and retention strategies.”
Grate: “I think my biggest challenges are always personality differences, especially between my veteran staff of 20-plus years and my teens. Everyone handles situations differently, and they don’t always see eye to eye.”
Harton: “Definitely staffing and personnel-
related issues. Making sure all of our stakeholders/vendors are taken care of while operating a robust ice industry business.”
Shaffer: “Without a doubt, dealing with employees. Tey become like family, and I find it hard to discipline an employee because I know my decision may cause hardships on their family. Even when firing or suspending an employee is 100-percent justified, I still worry about the employee’s
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