Transcript Increasing the Effectiveness of Farm and Family Meetings

Increasing the Effectiveness of
Farm and Family Meetings
Suzann Enzian Knight M.O.E., M.S., CFP
University of New Hampshire
Purpose
Effective communication within farm
families decrease conflicts and
increase working together toward
farm profitability
Research Findings
• Communicating goals and values key to
outcomes.
• Effective communication is a leading
indicator of financial performance.
• Farmers are considered experiential-social
learners
Farm Family Challenges
• Live and work together
• Increased stress
• Diverse goals
The Family Glue
• Relationships
• Goals of each family member
• Quality of Life Issues
Let’s Talk About Money
1. Answer questions separately
2. Compare answers
3. Discuss similarities
4. Discuss differences
Communication: A Self-Assessment
Exercise
• Action Oriented
• Process Oriented
• People Oriented
• Idea Oriented
Coping with Other
Communication Styles
• Action Oriented Person
• Process Oriented Person
• People Oriented Person
• Idea Oriented Person
Organizing Family and Farm
Meetings
• Involvement
• Facilitator
• Agenda
• Discussion
• Ground Rules
• Recordkeeping
But meetings don’t happen….
Communication Do’s and
Don’ts
•Be specific
•Don’t just complain
•Keep to one issue at a time
•Compromise
•Forget the past
familyfarmfinances.net
Contact Information
Suzann Enzian Knight, M.O.E., M.S., CFP
Family Resource Management Specialist
University of New Hampshire
308 Pettee Hall, 55 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
[email protected]