Keeping employees motivated can be a challenge, and even more so given the financial challenges facing many industries. Utilizing a strategic performance evaluation process and providing timely feedback are a crucial component for motivation among staff. From this webinar, participants will take away ideas that managers can implement to motivate their employees, from compensation to job design and interpersonal interactions to performance evaluations. Dr. Sara Mann, University of Guelph, will focus discussions on the value of conducting performance appraisals and how to do so effectively avoiding many of the major pitfalls. As we begin the New Year, make a resolution to learn or refresh on the value and how to create open continuous feedback throughout the organization. 

This two-part webinar is a ‘can’t miss’ for those that are looking to develop an internship program or for those that need to re-assess some components within an existing internship program. Part 1 of the series will focus on tips for a successful program. With a wealth of knowledge and feedback from interns throughout the agriculture industry, Ashley Collins of AgCareers.com, will share what interns are saying organizations are getting wrong and what they are doing right. Learn how to overcome those destructive practices and identify ways to build on areas of strength. This session is sure to provide unique solutions and advice directly relayed from today’s students.

Part two of this internship webinar series is ideal of those responsible for managing or interacting with interns. These personal interactions are what can make or break the internship in the mind of the student. Understanding the critical role that the manager or mentor contributes to the success of the internship program, both present and in the future, is often overlooked. Ashley Collins, AgCareers.com, will dive deeper into ten tips specifically for managers and mentors of interns that can help to form a productive working relationship.  When students return to campus, you want them to say good things about their experience and the manager/mentor relationship is the number way to influence what is said. This webinar is a great step in investing in the development of this crucial aspect of successful internship programs.

Have you ever looked at the job descriptions or titles of jobs posted within the agriculture industry?  With the many negative stereotypes about careers in agribusiness, overcoming unattractive and unexciting job titles and descriptions shouldn’t have to be one of them. In this webinar, learn from some experts, the AgCareers.com team, about how to make online job descriptions more appealing and work to attract top talent. This brief webinar will provide insight into creative job titles and job descriptions/positioning that generate results online as well as obstacles applicants encounter that impact success. Take this opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of your online job listings and identify areas for quick improvement.

With all of the online social interactions that employees are exposed to, many new challenges for businesses have developed. Whether it is a chronic case of an employee continually on Facebook throughout the workday or negative comments about the organization being shared via Twitter by an employee after work hours, understanding and having a workplace social media policy in place can help to effectively and fairly address these situations. This session, will share example case studies from organizations that have successfully implemented social media policies and what is included as well as what is not. From this session, participants will be able to begin to evaluate the benefits as well as the downfalls of a structured social media policy and how they may be able to begin to structure a policy that will work within their organization.

This brief webinar will update participants on the latest trends in base compensation as well as incentive pay and benefits. Participants will take away key aspects of strategic design for compensation and suggestions for compensation solutions, such as the AgCareers.com Compensation Benchmark Review.   Ask questions of our guest presenter to gain insight into specific compensation challenges you face. Leading into business planning meetings for the upcoming year, arm yourself with up-to-date information that can be used to make informed and strategic decisions.

It is no secret that good communication is imperative to successful relationships both inside and outside of the workplace. However, the focus on developing and maintaining effective communication skills within the workplace is not often a priority. To make matters worse, with all of the many avenues to communicate the challenge becomes even greater. In this session, the guest presenter will discuss the importance of good workplace communication and where good communication often goes wrong. Participants will also learn where common communication hang-ups happen and how to overcome them, such as how things are said versus how they are interpreted. The presenter will provide some tips that all employees can try to help get the organization on the road to communication excellence!