The first step is not to take care of it for them, it is to ask them how are they going to solve it. This is the best way to help people build their self esteem. And by helping build someone's self esteem, managers build their own self esteem, he adds. A business has to grow somehow cow numbers, milk quality, income because every day inflation is ticking. But, he cautions, make sure dreams match reality.
Reality includes the social issues of farming.
He reminded the audience farming has a different culture. While most farmers don't think twice about the need to postpone social activities or vacations if it's hay season or for some other reason, people not from a farm don't always understand. And this has been the undoing of many farm marriages. Plus, the next generation wants more time off. This is today's reality.