Get the best from staff and survive
Getting the best from dairy farm staff through effective performance management is particularly important in tough times, according to Sarah Watson of peopleMAD.
"Managing your team during a downturn may require a slightly different approach," she told Dairy Days, run by the Dairy Women's Network around the country in March and early April.
"Those businesses that get it right will emerge stronger and better equipped to thrive in the future."
Performance management started with a business plan, as staff requirements and individual job descriptions should all relate back to the specific goals of each farming business. An analysis of the tasks, standards and level of responsibility expected of each position would give farmers a clear set of guidelines to make sure everyone was contributing to the success of the business.
Watson said that useful templates and explanations for staff planning, job analysis and descriptions as well as performance monitoring were all available in the updated DairyNZ HR Toolkit, available on-line.
Women at the seminars were able to role-play a performance appraisal where there was potential for conflict between the employee and the employer. They learned how the situation could be diffused by good communication, listening and an ability to see the other person's point of view.
Feedback
Watson also stressed the need for positive feedback.
"We're very good at pointing out when people do things wrong," she said.
"As employers we need to get better at pointing out when people do things right. It's not enough just to say ‘They're paid to do it right'."
Watson encouraged employers to discuss the current downturn with their staff, so their whole team understood the issue and the need to cut costs in certain areas.
"In the first place you need to make sure they understand the impact, for instance of the reduced payout on your farm - what does it mean in dollars and cents?
"This will help rationalise any decisions you make."
Understanding the situation would also allow staff to make their own contribution to the cost-cutting effort as team members may have valuable ideas and suggestions of their own. Getting the whole team together regularly to discuss issues, generate ideas and monitor progress against budgets was a useful way of getting the best out of everyone in a difficult situation.
Contact www.dairywomensnetwork.org.nz or email info@dwn.co.nz.
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