{"id":2645,"date":"2017-04-05T14:00:39","date_gmt":"2017-04-05T20:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elainefroese.com\/?p=2645"},"modified":"2017-04-05T14:00:39","modified_gmt":"2017-04-05T20:00:39","slug":"hiring-the-right-people-and-winning-the-talent-war-tips-from-donald-cooper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elainefroese.com\/2017\/04\/05\/hiring-the-right-people-and-winning-the-talent-war-tips-from-donald-cooper\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiring the Right People and Winning the Talent War: Tips from Donald Cooper"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HiringMy speaking colleague Donald Cooper<\/a> recently presented Eight Essential Steps to Attracting, Engaging and Leading a Top-Performing Team<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0at the Farm Tech 2017 conference in Edmonton.\u00a0 I appreciate Donald who, at age 75, has decades of business and life experience for creating a better culture on our farms.<\/p>\n

We hate to lose money as farmers, but do we understand the costs of losing a valuable employee who works well on our farm and is part of the team? Cooper wants us to understand the costs of re-training\u00a0and the cost of losing a great employee.<\/p>\n

Below are many of Donald’s tips, with some edits by me. \u00a0These tips will help you to build a stronger farm team that consists of the right people.<\/p>\n

It All Begins with Clarity<\/h3>\n

Clarity is the first step to finding the right people. What is the job description? What is our vision? What do we commit to become? Cooper is big on commitment, which is different than motivation. Commitment means there is action at your business to accomplish what you set out to do, you are not just \u201ctrying.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mission is the action we commit to\u00a0each year to move towards our vision, the extraordinary bottom line we commit to generating. How do we commit to behaving along the way? Cooper talked about becoming bitter about your job, and then comes death! He would prefer that we show up on our farms with passion.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get to choose your journey, \u201csays Cooper. \u201cChoose passion.\u00a0Are your lights of joy on?\u201d<\/p>\n

No one will love your business more than you do. Farmers need a\u00a0commitment to act. <\/strong>\u00a0Are you keeping your promises for action on your farm?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we change our language we change our culture,\u201d exhorts Cooper. \u201cLean and mean are not helpful words. Let\u2019s be lean and kind! It doesn\u2019t rhyme, get over it.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is Our Purpose?<\/h3>\n

It is vitally important that you know your purpose. To understand this, fill in the blanks on the following statements:<\/p>\n

Our customer purpose is to help ____ to____.<\/p>\n

Our investor purpose is to generate an ROI of at least _____ %<\/p>\n

You can only solve problems that you take ownership of! The best people have to work for somebody, and you have to deserve them. \u201cWhining is not very effective,\u201d says Cooper.<\/p>\n

What kind of Ag business would the best people want to work for? Specifically, what must we do to become that kind of business? Good people want the\u00a0opportunity to grow. The want clear, honest, and consistent communication, a positive, uplifting environment with values they can be proud of, and recognition of work-life balance.<\/p>\n

Make jobs more engaging and make people more productive. How can you enrich jobs so that people are not bored? Young people are smarter and better informed. Work-life balance is important to them. They know they have career choices.<\/p>\n

Collaboration is the key word for young people. They want to know \u201cwhy.” They feel entitled. You have to determine the specific skills, qualities, and experience required for the job.<\/p>\n

We Become What We Hire<\/h3>\n

You can\u2019t build an extraordinary business by hiring ordinary people! Do you know who you are looking for?<\/p>\n

Talent issues to explore:<\/h4>\n