Time spent honing your leadership, communication, and management skills is seldom wasted. There are plenty of resources and coaches that can help your progress. Written for Dairyherd.com and originally published 3/3/2023. We all need to find and keep great people for our farms. This is truer than ever before. Maybe...
Category: Uncategorized
Uncategorized
Less conflict, better business & stronger family connections
Keeping and building family connections across generations is the single most effective way to reduce conflict. Written for Farm Futures and originally published 2/23/23 The ties that bind us together can get frayed over time. How connections are strengthened makes all the difference. Surviving and thriving in any business is...
Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
Why Farm Leadership Matters
Farmers who choose to lead have an advantage over those who just manage. Originally published at Farm Futures in their November/December 2022 issue. Old employee management and leadership techniques can be a bottleneck to farm growth and profitability. There comes a time on most farms when the founders cannot do...
Uncategorized
Farm Crisis: What do we do now?
How to manage first 30 days after an accidental farm death. Originally published at Farm Futures in their October 2022 issue. Farming is a dangerous profession, and the chance of severe injury or death is real. Most of us have at least heard of the work-related or farm-related death of...
Succession Planning, Uncategorized
Gain Traction on Farm Transition
Originally published at Farm Futures on 9/28/22. While many farmers are unsure, maybe nervous, about the transition planning process. Not starting the process often makes things worse for everyone. However, getting started is often the hardest part. We'll explore how you can get transition traction, so your farm legacy...
Business Growth Strategy, Succession Planning, Uncategorized
Moving from Commander to Coach
The most powerful move you'll make is moving from the commander to the coach. Written for MILK Magazine and originally published in the July/Aug 2022 issue. It's fairly common for farmers never to retire. So common, in fact, that we seldom hear the phrase uttered when going through a transition...
Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
How to Assess Your Teams Performance
Rank your employees from basic skills to MVPs, then focus on how to help them level up. Written for Farm Futures and originally published at https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/how-assess-your-teams-performance on 6/27/2022. Gone are the days when employees were cheap and easy to come by. Labor, including working with family, is always one of...
Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
What makes a successful Partnership?
Partnerships are a great idea. You pool together talents and money to go farther than each party could by themselves. Written for MILK Magazine/DairyHerd and originally published at https://www.dairyherd.com/news/business/what-makes-partnership-successful on 5/23/2022. Some partnerships are large endeavors, and others are smaller. But no matter their size, some flourish, and others don't....
Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
Dealing with Discomfort
There is more than one way to handle conflict Written for Farm Futures and originally published in their May/June 2022 print issue. The Father and son sat across from each other, building tension. The topic was compensation within their family farm as part of their transition plan. This meeting occurred...
Business Growth Strategy, Uncategorized
Better Communication, Less Confusion
Hold quarterly team meetings to keep goals moving forward and communication flowing. Written for PROGRESSIVE DAIRY and originally published in the March 2022 issue. Are you sometimes left wondering if your employees understand the farm's priorities and goals? Do your employees ever feel they get conflicting messages and wonder, "What...