One of speaker Norm Rubin\u2019s universal laws of life goes like this: \u201c Make everyone a stakeholder. Involve everyone on your team in your farm; ask for their input and opinions. Recognize that all those involved in your business will build your business. When you make everyone in your network a stakeholder, whether they have a financial or emotional investment in your business , then they will produce like they have never produced before.\u201d
\nDo you agree with Rubin?
\nMaking decisions on the family farm can be emotional and frustrating if the decision making style is one of \u201cbenevolent dictatorship\u201d. This style is listening to Dad\u2019s direction, because it is \u201chis way or the highway\u201d kind of thinking. These farms do not have an inclusive model of decision making that listens to or respects all the team’s inputs.
\nRemember you have two systems in play here, the family dynamic and the farm business system. Here are some helpful overview questions to help the decision making process from NDSU Fargo\u2019s Sean Brotherson:
\n1.\tWhat is the issue or concern that we need to make a decision about ? The father is typically keyed into operational decisions to keep the farm production high and profitable. The successor is thinking a bit more on the strategic side and wondering, \u201cwhen do I get to be the manager and have ultimate control of the final decisions on this farm? \u201c Mom is trying hard to separate the family issues from the business concerns, but she seems to get caught in the cross-fire of angst from her husband and her adult son. Her key decision is to have a process or place to sit down to talk things through and get some action on making a decision for change ! The daughter-in-law is busy with her off farm job and wonders when she will be able to contribute her perspectives in the decision making process. She feels her voice doesn\u2019t count because no one asks for her opinions.
\n2.\tWhat are the values that will guide us in setting goals related to work and our family? Values are the cherished beliefs that we hold. I have a values assessment tool that indicates my top 7 values as spirituality, intimacy, honesty, challenge, friendship , independence , and accomplishment. These are the drivers for the work that gives me meaning and purpose. When a farm family team has conflicting values, no amount of talking is going to \u201cfix things !\u201d As Brotherson states : \u201cFamilies tend to be more happy and successful when they have shared values and goals.\u201d If Dad is blind to the need to build relationship with time off for fun and family, he will continue to demand 100 hour work weeks, 24\/7 and drive away the desire of the next generation to copy his workstyle. I agree with Brotherson, \u201cThe decisions we make, the way we use our time, and the things we spend money on are influenced by the values we have.\u201d What are your top 7 values ? Compare your list to your spouse and your farm team members. What is negotiable for you and what is non-negotiable?
\n3.\tResources to get what you want can be abstract or concrete. Sean Brotherson calls this the chart of \u201cImportant resources in work-family decisions\u201d:<\/p>\n
Resource\tPersonal\tInterpersonal<\/p>\n
Abstract resources\tAutonomy\tResponsibility<\/p>\n
\tPersonal growth\tCommitment<\/p>\n
\tPersonal esteem\tQuality of life<\/p>\n
\tLevel of stress\tCare of children
\n\t\tStability
\n\t\tStress on family<\/p>\n
Concrete Resources\tPersonal\tInterpersonal
\n\tJob satisfaction\tFamily interaction
\n\tEducation\tHome environment
\n\tCareer development\tProviding
\n\tWork environment\tHousing\/benefits
\n\tMoney\tTime together
\n\tSkills\tMoney<\/p>\n
When you ask yourself about the resources you should consider in making the decision, you can reflect on Sean Brotherson\u2019s charts above. Sometimes the personal (self-oriented ) goals will be more important that the family oriented or interpersonal goals. When the farm family can sit down in a respectful open conversation to discuss what everyone wants and why, amazing decisions can flow forth. If you can use the abstract and concrete resources to pin-point what exactly is your concern for your decision, you\u2019ll have a much more fruitful conversation and actionable outcome.
\nLet\u2019s take an example of the young son who has come back to farm with his parents. Armed with his college degree , a young wife and two small children he has great expectations of how things are going to go on the farm. When he discovers that his quality of life is threatened by excessively long work hours and no opportunity to be a shareholder or equity owner in part of the farm, he starts to get very frustrated at age 33. He is \u201cseven years away from 40\u201d which is a goal he holds for power and control of being the farm\u2019s ultimate decision maker. When he is 40, dad will be 65. Dad still has a great need for job satisfaction and good family interaction. Can the young son find a way to prove that he can make good decisions by operating a part of the enterprise \u201con his own\u201d, showing the financial success of the decisions he has made in that part of the operation ?
\nWhat resources are you drawing on to make good decisions? What other advisors or inputs could you access to create resources that would be helpful for better decision making on your farm team?<\/p>\n
4.\tDraw a line down the center of a blank page and list COSTS and BENEFITS of the decision.
\n\u201cCosts refer to a decrease in what a person values such as less autonomy or economic security. Benefits refer to an increase in those things that are valued, such as increased time together or better personal esteem .\u201d says Brotherson.
\nConsider at what point the costs are going to outweigh the benefits of a certain decision. For example, working off-farm helps the cash flow, but the cost of vehicles, food, child care, clothing, processed meals, etc. may not be worth it. Women who work off-farm may be doing it more for personal satisfaction than economic gain !<\/p>\n
Different families have different styles of decision making. Some autonomous folks may rest the ultimate decision with one family member, usually the one most affected by the decision. Other families have a more collaborative style whereby making the decision is shared jointly via consensus. On highly stressed farms the style for decisions tends to rest with the founder, usually the father or husband who is dominant in decision making.<\/p>\n
I hope you\u2019ll do some work on identifying your top 7 key values. I encourage you to challenge the decision making habits that may not be working for you, and engage a new approach. Also remember that procrastination in not making a decision to act, is indeed a decision. <\/p>\n
END<\/p>\n
Elaine Froese, CSP, CAFA, CHICoach helps farm families get clarity, certainty and commitment to act on their farm\u2019s future plans. Visit www.elainefroese.com. Buy Farming\u2019s In-Law Factor for Christmas. Come say hello at the Manitoba Farm Women\u2019s Conference in Brandon, Nov. 17th.
\nCall 204-534-7466 for coaching, speaker bookings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of speaker Norm Rubin\u2019s universal laws of life goes like this: \u201c Make everyone a stakeholder. Involve everyone on your team in your farm; ask for their input and opinions. Recognize that all those involved in your business will build your business. When you make everyone in your network a stakeholder, whether they have…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n