Back in March we visited with Ben Potter, of Farm Futures, about the best practices in hiring temporary help. Ben then captured the ideas in an article on Farm Futures website here. You can download and print it here. 2021 03 How to hire the best temp help-BenPotter . Or continue reading.... Strategies for securing good seasonal workers. by Ben Potter, Farm Futures Mar 10, 2021 Is good help really that hard to find? It can be - especially when you're in a pinch to tap quality workers for seasonal help. But there are some best practices to consider when...
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Business Growth Strategy
Why you should manage each employee differently
Why you need different strokes for different folks. "Plug and play" is what we all want with employees. Just hire them, put them in a cab, and don't worry about them. They'll do an expert job. Plug them in and turn them loose. In reality, this management philosophy doesn't work. Plug and play is a mythical management style that doesn't exist. People aren't machines, and employees require management for you to be satisfied. Assuming you hire well, each employee needs a different management style. It may sound overwhelming but how you manage depends on the type of work and their...
Succession Planning
How to start the farm transition conversation
Starting a transition plan isn't easy. It's not only hard to know where to begin, but how do you even begin the conversation? The stakes are high, and many farms don't make a successful farm transition for many reasons. Procrastinating the initial transition conversation is one of them. The younger generation doesn't want to start the conversation because they may appear greedy or ungrateful. The older generation sometimes believes the younger generation needs to "step up" and start the conversation. Unspoken stalemates are often the result. A 4 Step Plan Don't wing it! All too often, this first conversation is...
Succession Planning
Values-The critical link in successful farm transition planning
John was ready to start his succession plan. He was 63 and wanted to get the process done quickly. He had a plan. During our first meeting, we discussed history, core values, and culture. John's response? What does this have to do with transferring the farm to my sons? Most family businesses do not successfully transition to the next generation. It is an unfortunate fact, and family farms are no exception. Why don't they make it all the way? There is often unmanaged conflict based on incompatible values and a fuzzy vision of where the farm is headed. As we...
Business Growth Strategy, Dairy Signal - PDPW, Succession Planning
Family Dynamics in Farm Management – Dairy Signal
Does working with family or transition planning seem too hard? You're not alone. Family dynamics can make it difficult, but harmony is possible with the right plan. Liz shares tips and answers questions on the PDPW Daily Signal. Listen and watch here. It aired March 2nd on PDPW's Dairy Signal Show. Ready to find out more? Give us a call
Business Growth Strategy, Dairy Signal - PDPW
Giving & Receiving Feedback – Dairy Signal Episode 2
How do you handle feedback? A strong leader listens even if they don't fully agree. Listening builds trust. When trust is high everyone is open and honest with each other, and everything is easier. Listen to this video-cast and learn to improve your feedback skills. The result? Your business will run smoother, your stress will be lower and your employees happy.
Business Growth Strategy, Dairy Signal - PDPW
Managing Effective Teams – Dairy Signal Episode 1
We are excited that Liz is a part of the Dairy Signal Show. It's a series of presentations that PDPW (The Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin) puts out 3x/week. Liz will be participating at various times throughout the year. We'll keep you updated when she's on, and post recordings of her talks here on our blog. In January Liz had her first episode. She spoke about 'Managing Effective Teams." You can listen to it below. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS: Hire Right Onboard effectively Right people on the bus Train Communicate (Listening and speaking) Giving & receiving feedback Stay & Exit...
Business Growth Strategy
Sometimes Ya Gotta Let Go
As business owners we are good at adding. Adding more acres, more sales, more landlords, and more employees. More is a sign of success; at a certain point, more can limit new opportunities. Some opportunities may be growing the farm, succession planning, or building your employee team. There comes a time when you have to let go to get more of what you want. Work - Your time is valuable and there isn't enough time to get all the work done. Every year your time is squeezed even more. Has your role changed but your tasks haven't? Are you doing...
Succession Planning
Is your family committed to the farm?
Lack of a shared vision may be one of the most significant threats to sustaining a family business through multiple generations. Roughly 83% of family farms do NOT make it to the third generation. Developing your own family's vision will greatly increase the odds in your favor. Your family farm is not the same as it was when you started it. It has evolved over time due to financials, demand, land availability, technology, and hard work. You have and will continue to feed the world in a highly competitive environment. When farming was financially sustainable many farms wanted to continue...
Business Growth Strategy
Do you have the right people on your bus?
Is there a Third Question to Ask? You have probably heard the phrases, "we need the right people on the bus," and "we need the employees in the right seats" on that bus. These phrases imply we need to find the right people to join our businesses and then make sure they are in the right spot. This sounds reasonable. But is there another question you need to be asking? It's not a secret that farms have a competitive advantage when they consistently find good employees and keep them. Part of keeping an employee is placing them in a role...