Peter Hughes
Agri and Family Business Consultant; Farmers Weekly columnist
Think life’s tough? Think again!
With the deluge of bad news which assails our lives, my optimism sometimes wavers. The London Paralympics has given me back my perspective.
Become a gold medal manager
The career of an athlete may last 10 years. A business manager has to perform at optimum efficiency for 40 years or more. That takes some doing.
Grade your jobs
Job evaluation has to be done, but it all falls down if it’s not followed up with proper job grading.
Don’t wreck motivation!
Pay is the key ‘hygiene’ factor. Mess it up, and you destroy motivation – even with your own son.
Circles of succession
Understanding these three circles could save you from a family feud and having to sell the farm.
Succeeding at family succession
Had they done enough? Would the business be in good hands and would they be able to think about their retirement?
Making a mess of succession
Managing employees and managing family are two very different jobs. Have you got the skills for both?
Co-operate or struggle on
In a monopoly, one seller faces many buyers. In a monopsony, one buyer faces many sellers. Farmers have to deal with both – but there is a solution.
Image matters
Successful people recognise that projecting the right image is the first step towards opening doors and making others sit up and listen.
Get e-literate or get left behind
The social media wave provides an opportunity for agriculture to win hearts and minds.
The social media opportunity
Although the cellphone opens up a new world of communication, it’s a
small part of the ‘e-options’ available these days.
Got no time for Facebook? Think again!
There’s power in social media, yet many businesses consider social networking sites as ‘toys’ of little value.
Unlock the power
The lazy man’s budget is ‘last year plus’ and it’s pretty useless. Here’s how to do it right.
Let there be light
Learn the language of finance and you’ll be able to participate in business at an entirely new level.
Looking beyond the jargon
Over the past 500 years, accountants seem to have turned the simple task of keeping track of a set of figures into a black art, understood by few.
Scorecards – no laughing matter
Being financially illiterate is akin to playing a game without knowing how to keep the score. Who would want to do that?
Are you making a mess of donations?
"You need a set of criteria against which to judge all requests for donations and s system to deal with them."
More management lessons from rugby
Don't let the tears in your eyes from the Springbok loss to Australia blind you to the valuable management lessons to be learnt from that match.
The birth of management
Those who have chosen a career in management, especially in the noble profession of agriculture, are among the exalted few.
Management lessons from golf
How can you and your co-workers develop as much passion for work as golfers have for golf? What is it that motivates golfers? The fact is, there are many business lessons to be learnt on the golf course.
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