Continuous Development Program
At Vermont Craft Mead we believe in lifelong learning, not only for our jobs, but about anything and everything that interests us and helps us become better people. We have three programs in place to help our work family with their learning goals.
Professional Development
Initially, we used our semi-annual reviews to establish areas of learning for each member of the company. It didn't take us long to realize that this wasn't nearly often enough.
We now have monthly check-ins to look for areas where additional training could support individuals or teams in their work. This training can range from bringing in an expert in the field (e.g. the folks who built our canning line) to creating a project that helps focus on the learning goal to simply finding a book on the subject.
Closely related is...
We now have monthly check-ins to look for areas where additional training could support individuals or teams in their work. This training can range from bringing in an expert in the field (e.g. the folks who built our canning line) to creating a project that helps focus on the learning goal to simply finding a book on the subject.
Closely related is...
Departmental Cross Training
We urge our employees to learn about every area of the business first hand.
Not only does it help a sales person in their job if they understand how the mead is brewed, it also helps foster empathy. If a brewer experiences the frustration our sales team feels when they get negative feedback, or our financial team experiences in real-time a canning line malfunction, they'll be a little kinder to each other for the rest of the week.
Additionally, in a company our size, we often have to pull people into a different team at a moment's notice, so it helps if we all know a little bit about each other's work.
Not only does it help a sales person in their job if they understand how the mead is brewed, it also helps foster empathy. If a brewer experiences the frustration our sales team feels when they get negative feedback, or our financial team experiences in real-time a canning line malfunction, they'll be a little kinder to each other for the rest of the week.
Additionally, in a company our size, we often have to pull people into a different team at a moment's notice, so it helps if we all know a little bit about each other's work.
Personal Development
We have a huge amount of accumulated knowledge and training on our staff. With everything from a registered dietitian to someone with expertise in trusts and retirement to a Kierkegaard scholar to a professional chef, we have a lot to offer our work family.
So, starting in early 2019, we began a program where staff members volunteer to present about an area of interest they feel will either directly help with an area of learning or help everyone in the company grow as individuals.
So, starting in early 2019, we began a program where staff members volunteer to present about an area of interest they feel will either directly help with an area of learning or help everyone in the company grow as individuals.
