Set a clear direction. Farmers who want to uplevel their operation are first making sure that they – and then everyone else in the operation – know exactly where the farm is headed for the future. Because the farm leader is the CEO of the operation, they – and any other leadership team members – are responsible to steer the ship. That starts with a clear vision for the future that translates into a clear direction. Everyone involved in the operation should be able to explain the vision for the farm’s future, since it’s communicated regularly to the team by the leader or leaders.

Build on efficiency. Becoming more efficient is an essential part of farming – the goal is to become the most efficient producer per unit (per bushel). No matter what part of the commodity price cycle agriculture happens to be in at the moment, the most successful farm leaders continue to keep their eye on the ball when it comes to efficiency per unit. They build on efficiency by tracking key metrics for their operation – and find ways to help their team members recognize their ability within their roles to impact metrics for the better. Some farm leaders are tying bonus opportunities for employees to the achievement of certain efficiency metrics in the operation that employees can individually impact.

Focus on leading. As farm owners and leaders grow their operations, they often find themselves responsible for making sure work gets done through other people rather than actually doing all the tasks themselves. This requires a different focus and skill set than what many farm leaders may have been used to earlier in their careers. Farmers who want to uplevel their businesses are working to intentionally improve their business management and people management skills because that’s what’s required of them more and more in their day-to-day work as the farm’s CEO. This might look like seeking out information on leadership, business, and HR skills – reading books, taking a course, working with an advisor, and so on.

Watch for opportunity. The best leaders are always looking out for opportunities for their operations. That doesn’t mean they jump on every business opportunity that arises, but they pay attention so they can evaluate the best opportunity for their unique operation. Their awareness of their farm’s needs, successes and challenges allows them to select opportunities that are the best fit for their own operation. Being able to size up opportunity is a key skill for any farm leader who wants to take their operation to the next level.