We all know one of the most dangerous phrases in business is: We’ve always done it this way.
So, how can you boost creativity and new ideas on your farm? Start by focusing on why creativity is important, says Mary Kelly, CEO of Productive Leaders.
“The benefits of doing new things far outweigh any risks you may think there are to go outside your routine,” she says. “Plus, it’s fun. Life is about doing new things.”
Why is this culture of creativity important? Kelly says it will improve employee retention and teamwork.
“When people are free to be creative, it means they’ll also feel free to talk to each other and explore a lot of different ideas together,” she says. “This additional communication will improve bonding and teamwork exponentially.”
TACTICS AND STRATEGIES
At the recent Top Producer Summit, we hosted the first-ever Idea Exchange centered on innovative thinking. Attendees were divided into groups and shared tactics and strategies around key challenges and opportunities.
The magic, of course, was in the connections that were built. The ideas were pretty outstanding, too. Here are a few:
- Landlord Relations: Send birthday cards to your landlords. They are cheap but personalized, and who doesn’t like to receive a birthday card?
- Human Resources: To encourage leadership and skills development, dedicate a dollar per acre to be used for employee education. Team members can pick their trainings.
- Strategic Planning: Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are valuable but can be cumbersome to create. Find a process (loading the sprayer, planter prep, etc.) each employee does well and film them doing it. Then put the videos on a private YouTube channel. This makes your employee feel like a star, and others can pull up the video when they need it.
As you head into spring, find ways to try a new idea or two. As the artist Barbara Januszkiewicz said: “Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change.”
Read about the seven innovation skills to hone on your farm.
Read more stories from the 2023 Top Producer Summit:
Preventative Maintenance for Your People: How to Reduce Turnover and Boost Morale
How to Run An Innovation Sprint on Your Farm
Take Time to Celebrate Accomplishments
Farming Boom or Bust in the Decade Ahead? How to Manage Price Cycles
Be Inspired by Five Remarkable Farm Operations
