聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Most farms are gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year鈥�.seeding! And of course, we have many producers still dealing with calving while trying to get equipment serviced and products lined up for seeding time. Your days get longer, work demands are getting higher and your time is precious. You know that your efficiency is linked to your profitability. This is why a team huddle every morning with your staff is so important.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It would be ideal to start each day with a 鈥渢eam huddle.鈥� When your team has a clear vision of what needs to get done and everyone is pulling in the same direction, it makes 鈥済etting the job done鈥� much easier. Creating consistency is important 鈥� so choose the same time, same place, every day to hold a team huddle. The shorter the team huddles, the better, so try to keep it less than 15 minutes, but also allow each team member to touch on all the points you鈥檝e decided to talk about during your huddle. If huddles turn into 45-minute discussions, then you鈥檒l start to get a lot of glazed-over looks from everyone who doesn鈥檛 need to be part of the discussion. If specific issues are raised that may require more attention, then a formal meeting can be scheduled for another time. Team huddles are meant to be short and are intended to improve management and performance levels at the farm.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Team huddles are the time where duties are decided, updates are given and everyone is clear as to expectations and deliverables for the day. You may wish to set an agenda for each huddle to discuss specific items but ensure that everyone is allowed to contribute and participate in the conversation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Here are some key points to remember when implementing this strategy on the farm:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Keep huddles focused, positive and short. Everyone may already feel that his or her time is stretched, so 小蓝视频 able to stay on topic and addressing the needs are important. Save the visiting for another time.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Set SMART goals for the day. SMART is the acronym for specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and timely.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Ensure that everyone understands his or her responsibilities and your expectations.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Review action items at the end of each meeting, recapping who is accountable for what activity.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Allow everyone to share ideas and provide feedback where possible.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Focus on the 鈥渨e鈥� rather than the 鈥淚鈥� because there is no 鈥淚鈥� in a team.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Be open to change.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Make requests rather than demands of others.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Making these 鈥渕orning huddles鈥� a habit will:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Establish a climate of trust;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Motivate staff because they are part of the decision-making process and may feel like each one is making a meaningful contribution to the operation;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Encourage communication and collaboration;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Generate ideas for improvements;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Increase an understanding of everyone鈥檚 expectations and responsibilities;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Make the farm run more efficiently and effectively;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Make for better goal setting 鈥� daily, weekly, monthly;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Allow yourself to act more pro-actively rather than reactively as a manager;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Allow the team to detect problems, weaknesses and mistakes so corrective measures can be implemented to mitigate potential problems;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Contribute to a well thought out strategic approach to all your decisions relating to production, marketing, finance and human resources on the farm; and
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥� Ultimately, create a more happy and healthy farm!
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If you require more information on implementing effective human resource strategies into your daily farming operations, feel free to contact your regional farm business management specialist or the ministry鈥檚 agriculture Knowledge Centre.
