A Sense of the Animal Health Community

Defining our roles within the animal health community and the meaningful contributions we can make.

This topic is something I wrote about 10 years ago, but it seems the subject matter is more relevant today than ever. We are living in a nation that is divided in so many ways. Topics that have us split include politics, religion, race, gender, and sexual orientation.

We live in an age of instant communication. There are multiple channels available that people use to deliver their thoughts and opinions to the world with relative ease. It’s my opinion that too many are too quick to share their points of view with the world without taking the time to fact check what it is that gets them riled up. More and more “keyboard warriors” wage verbal war on social media against friends, family, and neighbors without respect for relationships or a basic sense of human decency. What does this say about our culture? What does this say about our society? More importantly, what effect does this have on our own communities?

Communities are often microcosms of larger societies. We often feel that we are connected to our community. Many people have fond memories of “home” and end up with a sense of community for wherever it is that they call or have called home. A sense of community also often translates to a sense of belonging and a sense of pride.

Every person deserves to feel like they belong. Feelings of belonging and pride are very important to a person’s psyche. The more you feel accepted, grounded, and secure, the more active, productive, and successful you can become.

The animal health community

Have you ever seen yourself as a part of the animal health community? Is there such a thing? It seems that our industry has a lot of the same attributes as a successful, bustling community. Our community members are very compassionate when compared to those of other communities or industries. Many of us experience a sense of pride when we tell others that we work in animal health, and there is often a sense of belonging when dealing with fellow animal health community members.

The nature of the animal health community is sculpted by the combination of science and compassion. Our worldwide “community” is responsible for the health of almost every animal species known to man. We protect and improve a huge portion of our world’s food supply. We provide care for the domestic pets that have evolved into modern-day family members. The U.S. animal health industry is the largest in the world, yet our industry is not large when compared to many others.

When people get into animal health they tend to stay in the community. It seems that as a percentage, more people will change jobs within the animal health industry versus the smaller percentage of people who exit the industry for employment elsewhere. You cannot belong to this community and not have an understanding of what the community represents.

It’s our job to define our role in the community. What are we doing to contribute? Is it possible to enhance one’s career by becoming more active or visible in the animal health community? I believe that each of us can make a difference in our community. We can use our relationships, knowledge, and influence to make our little corner of the animal health world a better place. If you can expand those tactics to places outside of the animal health community, then you have become one of the people that others will respect and remember.

Knowledge provides value

I’ve mentioned that we are in an age of technology with a focus on immediate gratification, where goods are largely disposable. These are not all positive things! As you see and hear people pronouncing their opinions in the spotlight of the news media, social media, and elsewhere, do you ever find yourself wondering how much of what is being said is a fact, and how much is just opinion? One way to differentiate yourself from your customers and other partners within the animal health community is to become a bit of an industry scholar. Taking the time to find facts about information and topics that are important to your customers makes you a valuable resource.

Some of the most informative people in our community are also some of the most popular. These folks have invested the time to build a network of individuals and resources that they can rely on for information. In turn, they become a key resource in someone else’s information network. Taking the time to research pertinent topics for the customers that they serve without being prompted or asked to do so exemplifies the sense of community. I am sure that you can think of an individual that you turn to for information. I’ve known many of these “answer people” in my career. They are the ones that everyone in the call center turned to for help. I’m sure that you can think of at least one of these people in your office. Think about how many people rely on the “answer people.” Think of the network they have developed. These folks truly have a place in the community and are constantly recognized.

Be that person for your customers. Use your free time to read about happenings outside of your company. Look at information from your customer’s perspective. This is one of the most career-advancing building blocks at your disposal. It can truly help you to become an integral part of your community.

Here is one last suggestion on becoming more valuable in your community. This is as simple as it gets: Give your customers, co-workers, neighbors, and anyone that you interact with something extra every time you interact. I’m not talking about free products or discounts. What I am referring to can be as simple as a compliment to end the call. “It was a pleasure talking with you today.” It could be a piece of information that they may not already know. It is literally something as simple as a smile or personal acknowledgment. Make it something unsolicited and genuine. This little extra effort makes you a person that they will want to interact with again and again.

Giving something when nothing is expected is a great way to expand your presence in a community. When people get something extra, they tend to tell other people. In a compassionate community, or a community searching for compassion, this goes a long way.

The animal health community is one that you can be proud to be a part of. Do your best to make your place in the community. These suggestions apply to everyday life as much as they do to your position in the animal health community. If you are focused on success, you will find it much easier to achieve when you make the people that you interact with your primary focus.

Todd Brodersen, President of Same Page Consulting Inc.

Photo credit: istockphoto.com/AndreyPopov