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Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) has a workforce of about 2,400. YPG Col. Ross Poppenberger has prided himself in consistently hosting quarterly town halls inside the YPG Theater to inform and interact with as many of those employees as possible.
During the town halls Poppenberger would ask if anyone had questions and would get one or two people to speak up. Most employees sat quietly, but probably had a question or concern of their own.
When the COVID-19 pandemic made face-to-face contact risky, Poppenberger cancelled the upcoming town hall but still wanted to keep in communication with the workforce so he turned to another communication medium…video messages. Meeting with YPG Public Affairs Officer Mark Schauer and YPG leadership, the idea of video messages came about. “I thought it was an effective way to communicate effectively with our distributed workforce.”
The unique things about these pre-recorded videos is that the workforce has the opportunity to ask questions in a pressure-free environment. Each Monday morning for the last eight weeks the YPG’s public affairs office has reached out to the entire workforce via email requesting questions from them for their commander. The first week, the workforce flooded the inbox with emailed questions.
“It told me that we did the right thing for the workforce and that this was an outstanding method to communicate with everybody,” remarks Poppenberger.
Between Poppenberger, Command Sgt. Maj. Jamathon Nelson, Technical Director Larry Bracamonte and Acting Garrison Manager Ronnie James, the panel attempted to ease fears. “Every question that is asked is answered. We consolidate the questions in a little bit broader topics. If there is something that specifically needs to be addressed, we do that.”
The video messages were filmed at YPG’s headquarters with Schauer asking the question from the workforce and Visual Information Manager Riley Williams filming and editing the nearly 20 minute long videos. Poppenberger then sends an email to the workforce along with a link to the video. The videos are also posted on social media.
Each following week the questions have come in smaller quantities, which Poppenberger says is a good sign.
“It says that we are mitigating fears, which I think is the biggest thing. We are over-communicating. We are informing the workforce. It says that our program is working and that the workforce is informed.”
The work force has been very receptive to the video messages sending both Poppenberger and Public Affairs messages of appreciation. One of those messages came from Beth Davis: “I appreciate this video series and think that it would be a good tool to employ even after the pandemic is over. It would be very helpful in ensuring that important information is disseminated to all levels.”
Poppenberger, along with YPG leaders has transitioned from recording videos weekly to every other week until July 9, when Poppenberger hands over command of YPG to Col. Patrick McFall.
Poppenberger leaves these words of wisdom to the workforce. “We are doing these videos to mitigate fear. Let’s not let fear rule us, let’s apply good, sound facts and logic to the decisions we make.”
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2020 17:15 |
| Story ID: | 371410 |
| Location: | YUMA PROVING GROUND, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Technology brings workforce and Yuma Proving Ground leadership closer, by Ana Henderson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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