Reading Time: 7 minutes How does a young animal learn to hunt? By observing the older generation. Humans are much the same. As a social species, we learn by mimicking, otherwise known as social learning. Social learning is the process through which we acquire knowledge and behaviours, by watching and imitating others. Like much of human social learning, transferring […] Read more
Knowledge lost and gained
Over the past few decades, technology has progressed exponentially, providing access to vast amounts of information. Ironically, this influx is contributing to a loss of important knowledge as well
In the combine
Syngenta leader Jeff Rowe talks about being prepared for leadership and the importance of listening to people
Reading Time: 3 minutes Jeff Rowe, CEO of the Syngenta Group, doesn’t often get home to his farm near Princeton, Illinois. He’s usually operating from his base in Basel, Switzerland, instead. But when he does get back to the Midwest, you might catch up to him running a planter in the spring or the combine in the fall, just […] Read more
Summer Series: Creating a positive culture
[Make it Count] Will creating a better workplace culture really improve your bottom line enough to justify all the buzz it’s getting?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sure, a positive workplace culture can make your farm a more enjoyable place to work, and who doesn’t want a few more smiles in their day? But will a better workplace culture really improve your bottom line? According to a growing body of psychological research, the answer is a clear “yes.” The new science says […] Read more
Summer Series: Develop leaders, not labourers
[Leadership] Allowing people to safely struggle is good. Let them know you are there for support, but they’re expected to figure it out and get it done
Reading Time: 3 minutes A leadership expert offers his advice to help answer the question “What’s at risk if I don’t help others on my farm develop their leadership skills?” – April Stewart, CG Associate Editor Part of having an executive mindset on the farm is developing others. Developing others might seem like a basic function of management, which it […] Read more
Summer Series: Characteristics of highly effective leaders
[Leadership] Part two in a series on leadership
Reading Time: 4 minutes “Solutions to the greatest challenges and opportunities are not found in strategy or quick fixes, they are found within the people who have problems.” These are the 12 characteristics effective leaders learn and practice to influence their farm’s ROI.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor In my last article I described six characteristics of highly effective […] Read more
Summer Series: Farm CEO: Women farm executives
[Leadership] “Women are showing up in business, and what they are doing is working. It should be seen as a model for all of us.”
Reading Time: 3 minutes Studies show that women have a lot to offer in terms of executive decision-makers on the farm – and there are plenty of lessons agriculture can learn from them.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor Women make great farm CEOs. Did you hear that, Dad? Studies are showing that women have a lot to offer as […] Read more
Summer Series: Up to the job
[Leadership] You’re home for the summer. Now, how are you going to show Mom and Dad that you’re a safe bet for taking over the farm?
Reading Time: 6 minutes You’re home for the summer. Now, how are you going to show Mom and Dad that you’re a safe bet for taking over the farm? Here’s how to get started.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor It’s a phrase that means just what it says. Leadership succession is real, and it’s catching on. If your succession […] Read more
Summer Series: Do you have the tools to be a better farm leader?
[Leadership] Becoming a more effective leader will position you to adapt to the challenges and opportunities coming your way
Reading Time: 6 minutes The words “leadership” and “management” are often used interchangeably, but there are important differences – and by focusing on leadership, you can ensure you’re putting your energy and resources in the right areas of your farm business.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor “Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things.” It’s a […] Read more
Summer Series: Is my kid a leader?
[Leadership] What does leadership potential look like?
Reading Time: 6 minutes What does leadership potential look like? Are there certain skills a parent should teach or encourage their kids to develop? And how can parents do that? Read or listen to this article to find out.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor It’s actually two questions. It isn’t just how much leadership potential have my kids got? […] Read more
Summer Series: Making a leader
[Leadership] As farms get bigger and more complex, more farmers like Steve Koeckhoven are drawing leadership insights from other business sectors
Reading Time: 10 minutes On-farm leadership is more than the skills we usually think of when defining a leader. This article looks at what farm leadership is really about.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor When we think of strong leaders we often leap to examples like politicians, sport coaches and the CEOs of large corporations, so it’s little surprise […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
