How families can work together for farm success
Working with family in the farm business is not the same as working with employees you don’t share a blood bond with. Experts agree that a strong family foundation and a clear vision are critical to making the many facets of family dynamics work.
“The term, family dynamics, refers to the patterns of relating to, or interactions between, family members and the resulting picture of the family and family farm business,” says Jim Soldan, a family business trainer in British Columbia. “Each family system, and its dynamics, is unique.”
Solden and Gordon Colledge, a farm advisor in Alberta, offer the following tips for a successful business working relationship with family members.
Be clear about the owner’s role
Farm owners aren’t necessarily farm leaders.
“If it’s one owner, one title, and it’s a family, they need to determine who really is behind the decision making and who actually carries out the role of leadership,” Soldan says. “The family members need to direct leadership into the hands that are most capable for a particular area.”
Let the leaders lead
Leaders need to recognize their limitations by accepting accountability and honing their conflict-resolution skills.
Colledge says owner-managers should also be encouraged to involve more of the family, leverage their strengths, and recognize everyone's contributions.
“All of us want to be recognized for what we contribute, but sometimes families don’t pay attention, and they don’t compliment one another,” Colledge says.
Layout expectations together
Colledge says it’s important to be clear about expectations.
“Unmet expectation leads to frustration and frustration is one of the characteristics of anger,” he says. “Anger can run really high when expectations aren’t met.”
Developing a policy handbook that clearly states duties, responsibilities, expectations and limitations can help. Plan to review policies and work together as a family to make updates or changes.All of us want to be recognized for what we contribute, but sometimes families don’t pay attention.
With a policy handbook, families should hold regular policy review meetings in which efficiencies across the main areas of the farm are openly discussed.
“With that involvement, it starts to take on energy of its own,” Colledge says.
Soldan suggests a 50-50 rule: family members spend 30 minutes discussing how they are as a family and 30 minutes discussing the business.
“Allow people to speak without fear and maintain a dialogue process that’s regular and consistent,” Soldan says.
Define success
Soldan also believes the family should work together to define success.
“Family farm business success is a product of several factors, with some families adding more to make it more personal,” Solan says. “It’s a mathematical equation; if a zero is anywhere in the equation, the end effect is zero.”
He gives the example of profit, times harmony, times fun, times being of value, times trust, equals real success. If someone isn’t feeling valued or trust doesn’t exist, there will be no real success.
He recommends that families spend time together recreationally.
“Families that recreate together, stay together,” Soldan says. “It’s about life, and if anything comes at them, they will have a foundation to stand on.”
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