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

suzann.knight@unh.edu