Saturday, March 30, 2024

Surviving and thriving this spring

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The busy season is almost upon us, with its long days and possibly long nights as well.
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People with the right attitude and skills make the difference between a stressful spring and a manageable one.

Busy is okay, it can even be fun, but being stressed isn’t good for anyone. Focusing on your people, with regular communication and feedback, will get the job done well and create a motivating work environment for staff.

Having a plan before you are in the thick of calving can give you a guiding light amid the mayhem. Once you are in the middle of calving it can be a different story. Things happen that are out of your control and can cause added stress.

It’s never too late to do a little planning. Try the following tips to help keep the busy springtime well planned and a little less stressful:

Talk to each other

  • Hold regular team meetings so everyone knows what is going on and what’s expected of them. As little as 10 minutes a day is all it takes and it will actually save you time
  • Address issues as they come up, so little things don’t become big issues
  • Take time to coach any new members on farm about how you rear calves/collect calves/check cows etc on your place because this may differ from their previous jobs
  • Buddy up new staff members with a more experienced team member
  • Talk with your team about what physical signs you each show when feeling under pressure or stressed (so you can cut each other some slack).

Motivate each other

  • Celebrate when things go well – it re-energises people and makes the hard work worthwhile
  • Celebrate milestones during calving eg, once you have calved half the cows, have a barbecue or shout.

Prepare ahead

  • Check that all your equipment is well-serviced, in the right place, charged up and ready to go
  • Have a casual/relief milker already signed up (with an employment agreement) so that they are available when you need them.

Fatigue and stress

  • If you drive with less than six hours’ sleep your risk of a crash triples, according to Land Transport NZ. Fatigue slows your reflexes and affects your ability to concentrate and make good decisions. Consider your staff and rosters – do they allow for decent rest and sleep periods for everyone?
  • No one is productive when they don’t get a break. Try to keep everyone’s hours under control
  • Make a goal of getting off the farm at least once a week, and encourage your staff to do the same, to allow some time out
  • People need regular food and water to make good decisions. Have some healthy snacks and drinks available in the dairy. Ask the team how they will ensure they eat well throughout calving. You may need to think of some novel solutions, especially for young staff. This could include hiring a housekeeper or cook for a couple of hours a day, providing a hot meal, or filling the freezer with healthy, quick meals.

Support each other

  • Share how you are going with your team and family. If something is getting you down, talk about it
  • Mistakes happen. React by coaching your team on what to do next time, then move on. Think positively.

Lead by example

  • Ensure you rest and eat well and encourage your staff to do the same
  • If it has been a bad day, show leadership by fixing the problem. Don’t blame others or fly off the handle. Keep calm and get on with getting it sorted
  • Make a note of issues that arise. After calving review your list of issues and create a plan to ensure they don’t happen again next season.

Have a laugh!

  • Sometimes things are out of your control and there is not much you can do. When things don’t go to plan, keep your sense of humour – laughter reduces frustration and defuses tension. It will help everyone get back to high productivity more quickly
  • Spring is a busy time on dairy farms and that’s a fact. Keep it in perspective, trust your instincts and support your employees to get the best results you can.

 For tips on managing and growing your team, visit www.dairynz.co.nz/people and on calving, visit www.dairynz.co.nz/calving

The Spring Survival Guide is available at www.dairynz.co.nz/springsurvival

Jane Muir is DairyNZ’s people team leader.

 

 

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