Good people develop better people

The DairyNZ People Expo, in Stratford on Wednesday, April 11, will present ways dairy farmers can build positive team culture, and will discuss ideal working hours and farm safety practices.

Manawatu dairy farmer Stuart Taylor is one of three speakers at Taranaki’s People Expo and will share his experience of turning his business into one which grows careers and lifestyle for his employees. 

Taylor has seven staff managing 1000 cows, but similar principles apply to family farms and teams of two or more.

“Ninety percent of success in leading people is what the leader does, not the capability of the people,” says Taylor.

“Good people develop better people, the good make great, and from good people you get solutions to everything else that is important in farming. We are 100% reliant on the people who run the farm, so people are our priority.” 

On Taylor’s farm, rosters are adapted to suit each team member’s lifestyle, farm roles factor in goals and aspirations, a rotation system improves skills and work variety, and overall farm goals are shared to help give a sense of direction for the business. 

Other speakers at the Taranaki People Expo include Fonterra manager of social responsibility Matt Trent on international trends in working hours, and Rural Safe founder and managing director Debbie Robertson on belief-based safety and how a person’s actions keep people safe.

Other People Expo events are in Waikato (April 10), Rotorua (May 1) and Invercargill (May 9).

Each region’s People Expo provides farmers with an opportunity to ask the experts questions and share their own ideas with other farmers on what works and what doesn’t, along with novel ideas and practical tips.

To register for the expo and for more details visit dairynz.co.nz/peopleexpo