Communication paves the way for success and peace. Written for Farm Futures and originally published in the July/Aug 2024 issue. "I don't care if he doesn't understand everything about hogs or running a sow barn. I need someone who can communicate and understand people." "We don't really get along with each other. We quit talking years ago and just focus on work." Communication skills, or lack thereof, are common complaints I've heard over the years. One would think that with all our options, mail, email, instant messaging, texting, and Slack channels, we would all be master communicators. But...
Blog
Succession Planning
Transition Planning Traps
Four tips to avoid transition planning problems. Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published 5/30/2024 HERE. Sustainability applies not only to the environment but also to sustaining future generations of farmers. It's also important to keep in mind that succession or transition planning in a strong dairy market is easier than in a tough market. Not only is there more optimism for the future and more options for growth, but there is also more money to go around. Unfortunately, today, there isn't extra money in dairy. Sustainable family dairies are strong in three areas: family unity, family asset growth...
Succession Planning
The Five Steps You Need to Know to Create a Farm Legacy
Determining the roles people will play in the process is the first step. Written for Milk Business Quarterly and originally published 4/30/24 on dairyherd.com So, you've had the family meeting regarding transition planning and agree that you need to start the process. Now what? Every situation is unique. We've done transition planning for twenty years and have developed a process that is flexible enough to allow for the unique needs of each family. For anyone who has run a dairy, processes come naturally. Milking, feeding, and reproduction all have detailed processes. This framework is just another process, with steps and...
Succession Planning
Transition Planning – Where to begin on a short notice.
Sometimes, you don't have much time. What info do you absolutely need to get started? Written for Farm Futures and initially published in their March/April 2024 issue. Planning a transition plan over several years is not always possible. Sometimes a sudden event moves the transition planning from "someday" to an urgent "right now." How do you begin? Transition planning, even under the best of circumstances, is not easy. Throw in a sudden death or other family event, and the process is even more dire. Successful transition plans all have one thing in common. The family follows a process. While no...
Succession Planning
Where Perks Create Conflict
What to watch for so perks don't create unintended issues down the road. Written for MILK and originally published in the Feb 2024 Quarterly issue. The issue at hand, at least on the surface, was the fish house being built in the farm shop. For those in warmer climates, let me explain. Here in the upper Midwest, we can fish all year long. In the winter, it gets cold enough, and the ice thick enough to drive pickups on the ice and pull out fish houses. These look like small 8x12 ft. (some are longer than 18 feet!) enclosed trailers....
Business Growth Strategy, Succession Planning, Uncategorized
Keep the Peace: Farm business vs. farm life
As farms become larger, many families conclude that perks must be limited and keep business more separate from personal life. Written for Farm Futures and published in the February 2024 issue. Most families get along great and, on most days, enjoy working together. This can lead the family to believe they are in alignment on essential issues. But, often, there is enough differences between some fundamental principles that someday will cause friction. Alignment around these principles falls under an underused area of transition planning called family governance. They are critical in keeping the peace and creating a strong family farm. ...
Communication
For Better Feedback, Keep Quiet
Let Silence Do the Heavy Lifting Written for Farm Futures and originally published in the January 2024 issue. The harvest went well, and the work got done, but the owner could tell it was more stressful for everyone since they picked up more acres. There were too many balls in the air for the owner to juggle. He wanted some ideas from his key employees. He knew they shared the same frustrations and that, with their experience, they had good ideas on how to make the next season smoother. What he really wanted was for the employees to "step up" ...
Leadership
Good leaders all have soft skills
Soft skills help build stronger teams with fewer headaches. Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published 1/16/23 HERE. How often have you seen a highly skilled manager fail in leading their team? Some signs are high turnover, lax standards and low morale. How often have you seen employees or owners in charge of managing people struggle to connect with employees and keeping everyone aligned with the goals? How often have employees been promoted because they have the technical know-how and work hard, but no one wants to work with them? Great leaders are goal-orientated but realize they need to build...
Business Growth Strategy
Get a Better ROT (Return-On-Time)
There is a direct correlation between solid meetings and ROT. Written for MILK and originally published in the Nov. 2023 quarterly issue. The meeting room was quiet as the owners and the next generation entered. The meeting was supposed to start about fifteen minutes ago, but folks were slow coming in. No one was entirely comfortable. Everyone was thinking about something else outside, but one of the owners had called a meeting, so they all came. It was unclear what the meeting was about, but each person had an idea in their mind what it SHOULD be about. The last...
Communication, Succession Planning
How to start awkward conversations
Begin the transition planning conversation by keeping it tight. Ask to have an initial conversation about transition planning at some point in the future and encourage others to speak up about their vision for success. Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published January 1, 2024 issue. Transition planning for a family dairy is not easy, and the stakes are high, not only for the business but also for the family. Even if it isn't verbalized, there is often a powerful desire to get transition planning over with but not a strong desire to go through the process. After all, the...