NIAA Fosters Collaboration & Mentorship

Associations play a vital role in all sectors of society and the economy. The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), therefore, plays a vital role in today’s food system.

A bold statement … let me explain.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that two key factors in professional and personal success are collaboration and mentorship[i].

Whether interpersonal or interorganizational, NIAA brings together people and organizations that do not always find themselves in the same spaces, fostering an environment for shared discussion and learning. We saw this a few weeks ago when NIAA was asked to convene a virtual “meet and greet” to ensure animal agriculture is addressing the latest variant of H5N1 from a holistic standpoint. After NIAA’s 2024 annual conference, leaders identified an opportunity to ensure various individuals and organizations could leverage each other’s insights and expertise.

NIAA connected leaders from more than 40 national associations and governmental agencies in the animal agriculture sector of today’s food system. From this, new collaborations began allowing for shared insights and practices addressing biosecurity, worker health and safety, food safety, animal care, and more.

A great example of collaboration.

From a mentoring standpoint, I relish the feedback I receive from NIAA members about who within our organization is a mentor for them. Because of the depth and breadth of backgrounds and experiences NIAA members bring to our association, participation in NIAA convenings provides many opportunities to foster relationships that grow to mentoring status.

I have seen this occur numerous times within NIAA Councils. Individuals join a Council, meet others with a vested interest in the Council’s Purpose, foster strong relationships, learn from one another, and then apply new knowledge.

Since launching the NIAA Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders program in 2021, I have seen over 50 NIAA members become peer mentors to each other. Having “hallway discussions” during their sessions about work and life events, navigating key decisions about career and family together through their GroupMe apps, and reaching out individually to me and others on the NIAA staff team to seek guidance or feedback.

As an association staff person there is nothing more rewarding than a member seeking assistance. Just within the past few months I have been able to help NIAA members identify speakers for events they are hosting, better utilize their CliftonStrengths, find career coaches, explore new job assignments, and talk through a variety of issues facing animal agriculture.

I know you have also had these conversations with your fellow NIAA members … that is being a mentor.

Today’s food system is stronger than it was yesterday because of the collaboration and mentorship NIAA fosters. As we near the halfway point of 2024, in what ways can NIAA help you better collaborate with and mentor fellow animal agriculture leaders?

Drop me a note. I’d love to hear.

J.J. Jones

[i] Science and Public Policy, Volume 48, Issue 2, April 2021, Pages 235–245

Eby, L. T., Allen, T. D., Evans, S. C., Ng, T., & DuBois, D. L. (2008). Does mentoring matter? A multidisciplinary meta-analysis comparing mentored and non-mentored individuals. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 72(2), 254-267.

Kammeyer-Mueller, J. D., & Judge, T. A. (2008). A quantitative review of mentoring research: Test of a model. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 72(3), 269-283.

Kaiser, L., Conrad, S., Neugebauer, E.A.M.?et al.?Interprofessional collaboration and patient-reported outcomes in inpatient care: a systematic review.?Syst Rev?11, 169 (2022).

Weir, Kiersten, What Makes Teams Work, September 2018, Vol 49, No. 8, Print version: page 46

?