5 replies to this topic

[GMO]

A reply posted by AZuzack got me thinking:

 

 

GMO, we could start a whole new thread from that post.  QA has to be stubborn and yet flexible.  We have to have integrity to prevent harm but make risk based decisions that may (or may not) allow some harm.  We have to make one-size-fits-all regulations into functional practical programs.   

 

When I started in the food industry, the only real requirement was to be a scientist. 

 

There were few requirements to be good influencers. You didn't have to be a strategist or a leader. You could stick to your specialism and that was that.

 

Now it's not the same. You don't get to be that narrowly focused. When I go to some factories, I'm now increasingly seeing some Technical people who have not adapted as part of the problem rather than the solution.

 

Back in the day 20+ years ago, systems were poor. These great Technical people have worked hard on improving those systems and now, it's pretty rare to go into a factory and find they have poorly designed processes.

 

Problem is on the implementation of those processes. The engaging people, influencing them, working with people who are very different, persuading, working cross functionally... Then build that into the fact that we're often sales people in disguise having to keep technical people at retailers happy on top of the "day job". And honestly? Firstly I see a lot of understaffing in this area, especially in retailer branded where the manning to workload in commercial is often double that of Technical. But also what I see is technical people who cannot adapt to these softer skills and why would they? What they've been praised for, built their careers around etc, well that's not the job anymore.

 

Some of these people then become blockers to change. Who, for example, can't see why procedures aren't being complied with in the factory and start finger pointing without seeing the procedures designed by their team are completely unworkable (happens surprisingly often). Or describe situations where they're not supported by other functions in food safety but were nowhere to be seen on the last health and safety or lean event. Or who struggle with maintaining retailer relationships when they've not had the decades of training salespeople get and aren't just built that way to enjoy schmoozing. 

 

I think we see the impact of it on here sometimes. I've been rightly called out for it, a certain intransigence or robustness in replies which can be misinterpreted as rude. I never think it's meant that way, just years of science training and having to fight your corner in industry probably didn't make us great at gently persuading, at least not in text.

 

So it made me wonder. How much are you and your colleagues seeing this as an issue? Working on the so called "leadership soft skills" as part of CPD? Or are you seeing Technical development as more important? How much do you recommend this to your teams?

Edited by GMO, 02 January 2026 - 03:29 PM.

[Scampi]

How i conduct myself at my desk and on the floor are essentially 2 different people 

 

My function on the floor is to ensure buy in and I cannot do that by operating like a dictator.  I have to actively be seen, engage AND listen.  That does not mean I need to change anything, but if I'm not fully aware of what is actually happening on the floor, I have zero control 

 

When dealing with management, I have to be alot more practical in my approach and usually that means boiling things down to RISK or ROI as IMHO it's one of those 2 things 99% of the time

 

I have a small team, they know I count on them for improvements and suggestions, and together we have found ways to improve our tasks and add new ones

 

Both set of skills are naturally inherent to some degree, but each of us needs to figure out which one needs more nurturing 

[kingstudruler1]

I see poor leadership a major issue in food manufacturing (at least in the USA).   When I talk about leadership, its not just the CEO, President, etc.   I have seen horrible if not toxic leaders at the vp, director, manager, supervisor ranks (all departments).  It really does cause a lot of uneeded issues.  Companies that are not evaluating and devleloping employees leadership characterisitics are not setting themselves up for success.   21 irrefutable laws or leadership should be requried for everyone.  

 

 

(change trust with other leadership characteristics, give it some thought)

Edited by kingstudruler1, Yesterday, 08:11 AM.

[jcieslowski]

For what it's worth, and probably not very much (lol), but I am not and have never been a scientist.  I'm an implementer, program developer, coach (I'd like to think mentor sometimes), culture leader, and system builder.    I tend to 'outsource' the science (by that I mean, ask here, look up and use other people's (mostly the governments) validations, etc.) and focus on culture and compliance.  

 

I'm sure not coincidentally(given my background), I have found that an old school scientist type is a great team member and valuable asset to any food safety program but that they tend to be too rigid, too exact, and, generally speaking, unpopular people in a plant environment.  I find myself often saying to these folks things like "it's called continuous improvement for a reason" or "evolution, not revolution", or "Rome wasn't built in a day".  I think people that think like a scientist have developed a particular set of skills and mindset that make them great for in the moment issues but not so great for big picture vision building.  Can't see the forest through the trees kind of thing.

 

And now that I've rambled on, I guess I'll try to answer the question....    I think about my own development very little.  My company has hired me for what I already know, not what they want me to know in the future.  I've been around a few years now (is it really over 20?!) and have written and developed enough plans that I'm pretty comfortable with Government and SQF requirements and how to build and implement practical systems to comply with those requirements.  

What I do think about is the CULTURE and TEAM development, which I think about incessantly.  I'm always asking how I can train up, elevate, promote, and develop my teams. Who's the next man up? (using this as a sports term, not a gendered term) I believe strongly that engaged, knowledgeable employees are better for everyone.  One of my internal KPIs that I use to compare my progress in a plant is how many people request to join my team.

 

Thanks for coming to my Ted talk!

[TimG]

Similar boat as JC. I am not a scientist. Processes, systems, putting out fires (problem solving), and people.

I list people last because I am really starting to dislike that aspect of my job lately. Which probably does not bode well, as they are a pivotal part of getting goals met.

 

Maybe I should work on my interpersonal development...

[MDaleDDF]

I'm not a scientist either.   Like Brian Wilson, my instrument is the studio.   I play the studio.

I also think about my development little, if at all.   I used to when I first got in the biz, and I do think I'm still developing, but now it just happens as I go, I don't lay it out.   Let life come to me kinda thing....no need to overthink.   Honestly the lady that had the job before me over baked every ham she ever touched, and I've tried hard not to do that.  It doesn't accomplish anything imho, other than an ego feed.

 

 

Similar boat as JC. I am not a scientist. Processes, systems, putting out fires (problem solving), and people.

I list people last because I am really starting to dislike that aspect of my job lately. Which probably does not bode well, as they are a pivotal part of getting goals met.

 

Maybe I should work on my interpersonal development...

Maybe it's not you.   People seem to be getting weirder as time goes on, and certainly more difficult to deal with.    Some employees over the last few years have had unreal attitudes.   They expect everything handed to them, and have a "I'll work harder when I get a raise" attitude.

 

I had an employee literally threaten to murder me last year, lol.....Cops had to come drag him out of the building.

Edited by MDaleDDF, Yesterday, 03:27 PM.