STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILD NUTRITION & INDUSTRY PowerfulPartnership #
When you hear the word, “partnership,” what initially comes to mind? Do you automatically think of a formal agreement between two parties, who are joining forces to achieve a common outcome? or do you think of two parties combining their resources, to create an undeniable force, ultimately influencing the market in which they operate? Partnerships are essential for success. Too many times than often, we as child nutrition operators, along with our industry partners take for granted the powerful partnership between us. Whether we’re looking to expand our collaborative efforts or simply continue to build upon the partnerships we’ve created, this article explores the power of partnerships, and offers tips for sustaining the partnership between child nutrition operators and our industry allies. PRIORITIZE OPEN COMMUNICATION Communication is key. We must prioritize open and effective communication. In order to build and sustain effective communication, we must ensure our communication involves both the comprehension AND successful transmission of our message. We must ensure that everyone is working together to achieve the established goal of feeding our children nutritious and appealing meals. FOSTER TRANSPARENCY & UNDERSTANDING You may be asking yourself; how do we achieve open communication amongst operators and industry? I wholeheartedly believe this begins with fostering transparency and nurturing mutual understanding. We must continuously exchange knowledge, discuss our challenges, while proposing solutions. Also, we must celebrate our wins and share our success stories. It’s vital we understand and comprehend each other’s perspectives.
HAVE AN INVITATION MINDSET What’s an “invitation mindset?” An invitation mindset involves three key components. These components are being open, being responsive, and being courageous. Being open with each other provides the opportunity to listen to each other and understand one another’s perspective. Being responsive and courageous allows us to effectively make informed decisions as the experts in our field. These combined components are the keys to unlocking greater understanding and sustaining the partnership between us. Remember, there’s no “I” in team and together everyone achieves the desired outcome. ENGAGE IN ADVOCACY Advocacy is the act of supporting a cause. For myself, and other operators, along with industry, the cause is providing nutritious and quality meals to children. So, ask yourselves, who better to advocate for the needs of child nutrition than its very own operators and industry personnel? I challenge each of us to be the voice and take advantage of opportunities to advocate for our children. The powerful partnership between child nutrition operators and industry is not only essential, but is the building blocks for transforming the realm of child nutrition programs. Our partnerships will yield an unprecedented benefit for our children. In order to build these partnerships and foster deeper collaborations, WE , both industry and child nutrition operators must be creative in our efforts, intentional, and strategic. Remember, “if we are moving forward TOGETHER , success will take care of itself.”
Mary Ellen Gilliam, MBA, SNS | MSD Wayne Township, IN Mary Ellen Gilliam, MBA, SNS is the Assistant Director of Child Nutrition for MSD Wayne Township in Indianapolis, IN. She began her career in child nutrition as a dietitian and nutrition manager, in Georgia, before returning to her midwest roots. A proud #BoilerMaker, Mary Ellen earned her Bachelor Degrees in both Nutrition Science & Dietetics from Purdue University. She earned her Masters of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Mary Ellen is the youngest of thirteen children. Child Nutrition for Mary Ellen is where Passion meets Purpose.
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