– From the article ‘The right business stuff’ in the October 2024 issue of Country Guide.
Leadership / Embody the essence of leadership in everything you do, from strategic thinking and proactive planning to embracing self-care and empathy for yourself and others. Some farm management tasks can be contracted out, but you can’t outsource leadership.
A Good Attitude / A good attitude affects everyone around you. In the end, your attitude can affect the outcome of any discussion, task or goal.
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Keep an Open Mind / Look at every situation from all perspectives. Be willing to adjust and adapt yourself when needed, and always be open to learning and growing in order to enhance your own understanding and skill sets.
Be Honest / See things the way they are, not the way you want them to be, especially when dealing with family dynamics and working with multiple generations.
Control Your Emotions / Respond, don’t react. Keep emotion out of decisions and be objective when responding to situations. Recognize your own strengths and weaknesses. Every farm’s management requirements are unique, so it’s important to understand what constitutes effective management and to be honest if there are areas where you need help.
Communicate / Set and communicate your objectives and outcomes. Clear communications are a must if you expect family and staff to be accountable.
Challenge Yourself / Pull yourself out of your comfort zone. Be willing to push yourself to avoid falling into ruts or patterns that don’t serve you or your farm business. This is especially important in situations like communicating and dealing with family dynamics.
