Communication on Farm
Through calving, its completely ok to throw monthly meetings out the window. But as the tail paint goes on for mating, its time to get back to some good habits.
Ensure you bring the snacks - when everyone is busy, making sure there is some fuel can make a huge difference to moral during the meeting
Just like that it is the beginning of Spring. I know for many farmers, the back to back frosts for the first time in several years has been a shock to the system in terms of managing pasture and I have seen some frayed tensions between farm owners, sharefarmers and staff where good communication habits have not been prioritised.
What are examples of good communication habits?
Be honest – keep it professional but be honest about what your concerns are and especially be transparent where there are finances involved. My number one complaint from farm owners with in shed feeding is they feel its too easy for the sharefarmer to pull the cord and squeeze more feed in – and when that feed is costing upwards of $600 a ton, I don’t blame them. Have a transparent conversation about the cost and come up with a solution for a more financially affordable replacement that won’t impact milk production.
Put yourself in the other persons shoes – this is a good piece of advice for everyone but it can be really easy to make a decision or a flippant comment without considering how it will impact the other party. For sharefarming, especially in periods of tight feed availability, it is important that decisions are made as a team, balancing the costs carried or income lost and the financial impact on the other party.
Recognise where professional support is needed – farmers are typically great at DIY, but when it comes to building good communication habits, having support can go a long way. It might even just the fact you actually have to meet on the agreed date and there is someone taking notes for you. Schedule this as soon as possible.
Let go of the small things - working for someone who is nitpicking constantly is a sure fire way to ruin all good communication habits. Recognise what is important, discuss the positives, and if it really needs to be addressed, do it in a professional manner.
Keep it professional – when you are meeting business to business, pretend like you are meeting with your bank manager. Stay on track, avoid getting heated, and have someone document the conversation in writing, sharing the minutes to all parties afterwards.
Are you keeping on top of you communication on farm? If you need support with this, send me an email louiseg@thesharefarmingconsultants.com
