March 19, 2024
The Extension Family
Submitted by Robin Eubank-Callis
Think of a time that you were celebrating or grieving. The people that helped you dance on the mountaintops or make it through the lowest of valleys were family, or friends that seemed more like family.
Recently, I heard this story: An agent realized on the weekend she was double-booked for the following week. One was professional development and one was presenting in a neighboring county. On the weekend, she reached out to the hosting agent to confirm times and figure out how she could make both obligations. The hosting agent offered to switch speaking times so the agent would not need to rush. These two had known each other for years. But this is what the extension family should be doing.
Reimagine, if this situation happened to a new agent. Would they have made that call or just skipped one event? Have you made connections with people to be able to make that phone call possible? Would the agents around you feel comfortable calling you for help?
Think again of those friends that seem more like family. How did they get to be that way? Spending time together is a common answer. Also, being open and willing to share fears or needs with each other.
Of the 220 extension agent positions, 91 have less than five years of experience. Of those, 74 agents have less than three years of experience. While I do not have the numbers of specialists recently hired, there are a substantial number of hires in the same timeframe.
Communicating through email, Teams chat or even text message can move projects forward, but does it help build the family? Think of the last phone call you were on. My experience is that the call starts about one subject and ends up being about several others.
Zoom has replaced many face-to-face meetings. While we do get more time back in our schedule by reduced travel, there is something to be said for the conversations that happen before and after the meeting.
The efficiencies that have been gained in the last 25 years have allowed for a more responsive and flexible organization. No, I’m not suggesting we forget Zoom or Teams chat. Rather, I would like to challenge each person to make genuine connections with two other people this week. Pick up the phone for a longer call, look for an opportunity to carpool, or even write a thank you note to somebody.
In the new reality of one-third of our agents being in their positions less than three years, we cannot afford to wait for those connections to develop over time. I contend the only way we keep the Extension Family that so many exalt is to be very intentional in reaching out and forming those bonds.
This can also apply to your local office. Are staff meetings all about calendars and event deadlines, or do you allow time to check in with each other about life? Celebrating birthdays, having office retreats, or taking a walking break together can all be first steps towards developing those relationships.
The Extension Worker’s Code by T.J. Talbert from 1922 said it this way:
Cooperate to Mutual Advantage of All: A helpful relationship must exist among all the extension workers. It is therefore the duty of all to foster this agreeable relationship in every possible way in order to give the work the proper stimulus and support. If the comparatively small number of persons associated in the work cannot cooperate to the mutual advantage of all, and toward the success of all the work, we can hardly expect to receive the fullest support and cooperation of those whom we would serve.