FARMFINANCE
By Jim Snyder
Tough talk
Communicating effectively is essential to your farm business and personal relationships
This article is the first in a series about family farm business management. The material is based on seminars developed by BDO. Each seminar focuses on a different aspect of preparing your farm for a transition.
C
ommunication is essential to any business or family relationship. Think about the number of people you interact with daily. Different personalities, communication styles and skills can affect how well you communicate. Operating a successful dairy farm while managing family and personal issues can be challenging. Good governance and communication are keys to long-term happiness, both professionally and personally. Communicating effectively is important in all areas of your life, not just your business. You may be thinking you and your family already communicate well, meet regularly and deal with conflicts as they arise. However, that is usually the exception, not the norm. Your family is a team, even more so when the family is helping run the farm. It is critical all family members communicate effectively to manage the farm effectively. If you’re in the midst of transitioning the farm, good communication is even more important. 20 | March 2012 | MilkPRODUCER
Your family is a team, even more so when the family is helping run the farm. All family members need to communicate effectively to manage the farm effectively.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - March 2012