When two family members are unable to have effective communication, they often turn to someone else to hear them out. Many times, alas, this is Mom.
Tag Archives conflict resolution
Mother in the middle
Farm Family Coach: This Mother’s Day, work to communicate with each other, not through Mom as an intermediary
How to clean up your conflict filter
Seeds of Encouragement: Shift out of an avoidance mindset and face conflicts for what they are
When the dust of harvest rolls and clogs up the efficiency of your combine filters, you don’t keep going — you stop and clean or replace the filter. If you spread your fingers open across your face, you are creating body language for the conflict filter clogging up the communication for your farm team. It’s […] Read more
Making blended farm families work
It can be a difficult transition, but here are some tools that can help
When you get married, you blend two different styles of family dynamics, and it takes a while to adjust. According to the 2011 Canadian Census, 12 per cent of Canadian families involve step-parenting. You can imagine the adjustments needed when these stepparents run farms. In our coaching practice, we help blended ag families navigate this […] Read more
Froese: What is your model of forgiveness?
What conflict hits your farm what is your plan to make things better?
Happy Easter to one and all. Resurrection Sunday is a special celebration on our farm as we gather as family to celebrate a risen Saviour. We are a family of faith who farms. We also count our blessings when things are going smoothly and we are getting along. Some days, there is conflict, but it […] Read more
Froese: Assumption-free living on your farm
Don’t assume you know the reason for another’s actions — ask for clarification
A weary-looking farm woman waits patiently in line making sure she is the last one to speak to me privately after my keynote. She has just one question. “When is the right time to start including our daughter-in-law in family business meetings; she doesn’t know a thing!” How would you respond? Reflective listening is activated, […] Read more
Top ‘phrases’ for coaching farm families
The Elaine Froese (phrase) that pays
One snowy day at a beautiful ranch home in southern Alberta around the expansive kitchen table, the farm team said, “Elaine you should make a list of your top phrases that you use in coaching.” “OK,” I said, knowing that many of the best projects are started by attentive practical ranchers and farmers who call […] Read more
Too frosted to forgive?
Forgiveness is an issue that farm families need to take a look at
Man, I can’t believe that guy, every time I make a mistake, he just can’t accept my apology, and he keeps really good track… for years!” Does your farm team have the ability to apologize, and accept mistakes? I was saddened to hear a young farmer confide with me that in all his years, he […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
