Kansas State University

Be the Reason Someone Stays and Succeeds

Submitted by Gregg Hadley

When an agent resigns or retires from K-State Research and Extension, they are given the opportunity to complete an exit survey. The office of Extension Operations provides summaries of these surveys (with names redacted) to the extension administration team about twice a year.

We presented the most recent exit survey analysis to the State Extension Advisory Committee at their summer meeting last week, so this topic is fresh on my mind.

There are several common reasons offered for leaving K-State Research and Extension. Some of the reasons given were not marks against K-State Research and Extension or our profession. Others were. One reason for departure that was near the top -- again -- is workplace environment. This includes conflicts with colleagues, board members, volunteers and stakeholders, among others.

This is very disappointing to me. For those of you who were around in 2017 – 18, you may remember that we worked hard on enhancing the workplace environment. We were successful. Workplace environment decreased in prominence as a reason given for resigning or retiring. Unfortunately, workplace conflicts appear to be on the rise again in our local units. I imagine the same is true for our campus and regional center colleagues, too.

As I was thinking about this issue and what each of us individually can do to improve our workplace environment, I thought of the following questions: Would you rather be the reason that someone leaves K-State Research and Extension, or would you rather be the reason they stay and succeed?

I believe the latter is what we would all say we want, but do our actions reflect that objective?

• Do we proactively reach out to see how our colleagues are doing, or do we ignore them or (even worse) try to make their life more difficult?

• When they are developing a program, do we try to facilitate and promote their effort, or do we try to draw attention to what we ourselves are doing and try to garner resources away from their effort?

• When we have disagreements with a colleague, do we sit down to talk and develop a better understanding with one another, or do we go to our directors, department heads and board members to complain about them?

Note: These are conscious decisions. My mom and dad were fond of the saying, “You reap what you sow.” In other words, you create and maintain the environment you work in.

If you want an overly competitive and hostile workplace environment – bicker, backstab and ignore. Just remember, you will probably experience the same treatment.

If you want to be in a supportive, productive and happy work environment – show professionalism and kindness towards your colleagues and support their efforts. You will probably be blessed by the same treatment by them.

Instead of being the reason a colleague leaves, be kind to your colleagues. Treat them professionally. Encourage them. Facilitate and promote their efforts. Be the reason your colleagues stay and succeed!