Over next 10 years, 75% farms will change hands, yet only 8% of Canada’s farmers have written transition plan
The time has come to bring even more guidance and fulfillment to North America’s farm family tables by expanding my dynamic team of multi-generational agri-pros, each with a unique coaching outlook and extensive agriculturally-based background.
Canada is home to 197,045 farm families and high land values are keeping many stuck. Farm Management Canada states, “over the next 10 years, 75% of Canadian farms will change hands, yet only 8% of farmers have a written transition plan.” Do you want your farm business to remain intact for the next generation? Do you want the family to get along and come home for gatherings? Most do.
What most farms don’t do is break down assumptions, have robust respectful family meetings, and discover the expectations of ALL family members.
When I ask farm families their main desire for coaching it is often “communication, communication, communication”.
They are stuck!
To date, 98% of Canadian farms are family-owned and operated. Successful farm succession or transition planning is a complex journey of understanding.
Courageous and clear communication involves seeing things from another person’s perspective, uncovering their intentions, fears, hopes, and dreams for their future. It’s about embracing conflict resolution as a business risk management strategy and not being afraid of talking respectfully about tough issues. Attacking the issues, not the person.
What are your expectations? When will we get certainty of agreements and timelines? Who is committed to getting this plan put into action?
I’m so excited to announce that in the near future I will be expanding my Stable of Coaches joined by Blythe Mackie (Holstein Canada), Crisol Gonzalez (Transformation Practitioner/dairy farming), Dani M. Ringrose-Hobbs (FDE, Process Facilitation), Glenn Dogterom (Accounting/Finance), Jenna Zurba (farm family coach & palliative care nurse), Kalynn Spain (Certified Leadership Coach/Bridge Builder), Kent Gulash (Territory Manager and District Sales Leader, with added experience in marketing & learning and development), and Lydia Carpenter (Farm policy/human relationships).
Our brand new team of multi-faceted coaching experts are quickly mapping out the North American farm family dynamic and we are ready to take the bull by the horns to figure out how to kickstart each unique farm family’s discovery process.
Values to live by
Relationships
Love and be loved. Finding peace, harmony, and understanding is critical in creating relationships that work long-term. Embracing mutually beneficial partnerships for the sake of everyone involved. Paying close attention to the culture of the farm family, what you truly believe, how you behave, and how you make decisions.
Transparency
Be honest and respectful. Having open and transparent communication is key for success. Setting a healthy boundary helps shift the family patterns in the way they communicate. Being vulnerable and sharing intimate stories eliminates misunderstandings, frustrations, and conflict triangles.
Hope
See the good coming. Seeing people as loving human beings who need care, respect, and honour. No longer accepting procrastination as a default habit. Showing up with grace, warmth, and a strong sense that no matter how hard things are at the present moment, there is hope for the future path to be better.
Empathy
Deep care for others. Having walked a similar journey with farm families, creates the ability to be a good listener and understand the families’ cultures and concerns quickly. Creating a safe space where people feel heard and are acknowledged. Delivering a message in a gracious, respectful, honest, and truthful way.
Fairness
Fair is not equal. Being fair helps everyone involved be successful by asking what fairness means to each person. Understanding everyone’s perspective and exploring new ways to transfer ownership. Coming up with workable solutions and managing expectations, with the ultimate goal of being rich in relationships.
Creativity
Open to new ideas. Facilitating discussions through creative problem solving without prejudging the outcome. Translating wisdom to others in a creative, fun, and playful manner. Creating discussions that highlight a new perspective, lighten the mood, and shift people’s mindsets in a positive way.
Impact
Leave an unforgettable legacy. Bringing something new to the world of Agriculture. Shifting how people make choices, communicate, create possibilities, and manage their farms with their families. Creating transformation in farm families and the way they relate to each other and run their business.
I’m on a mission to guide farm families to get unstuck and communicate better so they can be rich in relationships.
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