Eric Paulson: Servant Leadership and Talent Retention in Agribusiness

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Eric Paulson is the General Manager of Belgrade Cooperative in Belgrade, MN, a position he has held since October 2022. He was born and raised in Appleton, MN. After graduating from high school, he attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in Accounting. Paulson's agriculture-focused career began with Western Consolidated Cooperative in his hometown. He then moved to South Dakota, where he held multiple leadership roles, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer of a multi-location full-service Cooperative, before returning to Minnesota. He has a deep passion for Agriculture and, more specifically, the Cooperative system, where he has spent his entire career. Paulson, along with his wife, Jatelyn, and their four children, currently resides in Sauk Centre, MN. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, golfing, snowmobiling, and spending time at the lake.

In this insightful episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast, Mark Jewell sits down with Eric Paulson, the General Manager of Belgrade Cooperative in Belgrade, MN. This conversation dives into the essence of intentional leadership, talent retention, and the importance of company culture within the agribusiness sector.

Eric Paulson defines being intentional as synonymous with servant leadership, highlighting the significance of fostering employee contentment for business success. The episode further delves into the cost of employee recruitment versus retention, with Paulson shedding light on investing in personnel and maintaining a robust support system at work. Aligning with his approach, strategies for anticipating succession planning are underscored as crucial to achieving future organizational objectives.

Key Takeaways:

• Servant leadership as a cornerstone for intentional management, focusing on employee needs for overall business prosperity.
• The cost of recruiting a new employee is approximately $50,000, emphasizing retention and employee appreciation for financial and operational efficiency.
• The impact of COVID-19 posed a dual challenge: sustaining the business and supporting staff through unprecedented stress.
• Succession planning becomes pivotal, especially with a significant proportion of staff nearing retirement, highlighting the need for a strategic approach to talent management.
• Eric Paulson attributes personal energy and optimism to the successful outcomes of his team and the collective achievements within the organization.

Notable Quotes:

• "If you don't have the people, you don't have to worry about having the business."
• "I've been extremely good at managing chaos."
• "You support this co-op and you support each other."
• "I was able to help him get to where he wanted to get to as an end goal for his career."
• "We have a lot of similar staff that are right alongside me, that have young kids that are either in school age or in the process of starting their family."

Join us for this enriching discussion with Eric Paulson and gain from his expertise in leading with intention within the agribusiness sphere. Tune in to the full episode to explore these pertinent topics in greater depth, and stick around for more enlightening content.