Trevor E.S. Smith | Could treating people like animals be the answer?

‘Scientist Live’ reports on a study that showed that happy cows do in fact give more milk.

“A cow with a name produces more milk than one without, scientists at Newcastle University have found. Drs Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson have shown that by giving a cow a name and treating her as an individual, farmers can increase their annual milk yield by almost 500 pints.”

Could happy people be more productive also?

RECOGNITION

The naming of each cow was designed to recognise their individuality. That inspired the farmer to treat them with greater care. That, in turn, reduced the fear factor and increased the cows’ sense of comfort with being around humans.

Who among us would not like to enjoy the individuality that is wrapped up in our identity?

Are you more comfortable in situations in which you are recognised as a unique being as against being required to fit into a rigid framework like carry-on baggage?

How would you respond if your unique interests and preferences were consistently recognised and taken into account? Would you be more engaged and responsive?

PERSONAL DESIRE

I would love if all my environments had a virtual interpreter.

The interpreter would immediately communicate accurately what I meant to say and not necessarily what I actually said, or what others thought I said.

That would eliminate a lot of misunderstandings and create a less conflict-ridden environment.

The fact is that such an interpreter exists. It is present in situations in which there is high trust.

It may sound as if I might have said something else, but the members of my group do not associate those thoughts with me, and so they put a positive spin on the communication.

In the worst case, they ask for clarification, and so I get a chance to fix it.

High trust is an essential component of ‘happy cow’ environments. Getting to know the other members of the group well and being ready to give them the benefit of the doubt, even when there may be none, is an excellent approach to building trust.

LESS FRACTIOUS ENVIRONMENT

The ‘happy cows’ study also found that the cows were easier to handle. Black eyes and injury are known to take place when stressed cows get frustrated with the milking experience.

Do you feel better able to deal with niggling issues when you are calm and at peace with yourself than when you are stressed and pressured?

Have you found that when the group is unsettled for whatever reason, it manufactures a lot more niggling issues? Those days when nothing goes as planned and everything is a problem?

There just seems to be more frustrating things to handle. Then, because we are also not in the right place mentally, we respond inappropriately. That adds to the niggles. Breathe, baby, breathe!

One key to maintaining a happy cow environment is having the discipline to look past distracting niggling issues.

Members are alert to the fact that in situations in which the group is discomfited, they need to play down offences and frustrations. Developing the discipline to let things go is a key to creating a happy cow, high-productivity environment.

OUTLOOK

Central to the happy cow productivity boost was the fundamental difference in the human/cow relationship.

The farmers made a commitment to creating a climate of warm, healthy coexistence. The cows responded favourably.

How much more could we achieve in our families, work and other groups, communities and nationally if we made a commitment to relate more warmly and with a greater sense of mutual respect and understanding?

In the context in which economic gain is of such importance, it is worthwhile to note that happy cow environments produce financial benefits.

If you want to achieve more in your groups, it also makes economic sense to adopt happy cow strategies.

Respecting the unique individuality of others is a start. Building trust will make a huge difference. Being alert to distracting niggling issues and learning to look past them is another powerful mindset adjustment.

Why not collectively milk the benefits that are derived from happy cow environments? Is it time to start treating people like animals?

ACTION

Ensure that your 2020 goals are achieved. Talk to us about how we can move your team to the next level by creating a happy cow environment in your organisation.

Trevor E.S. Smith/Success with People Academy. We guide the development of high performance teams. We are interpersonal relations, group dynamics and performance enhancement specialists. We provide learning and productivity enhancement technology solutions. We offer behavioural assessments from extended DISC on the revolutionary FinxS Platform and e-Competency Frameworks in our SPIKE solution. Email: info@successwithpeople.org.