Peter Hughes
Agri and Family Business Consultant; Farmers Weekly columnist
Fire: the greatest threat to your farming operation
Firefighting is not complicated, but managing the process, which includes prevention, training, communication, maintaining equipment and more, is another story. It requires minute attention to detail, says Peter Hughes.
Image matters! Now’s the time for farmers to take action
The COVID-19 pandemic has handed farmers a golden opportunity and we dare not let it pass. Let’s work together to boost the public image of farmers and farming, says Peter Hughes.
Hail to SA’s farmers, but what now?
Our farmers have played a major part in carrying us though two pandemic-ravaged years, and they deserve praise. But there’s no room for complacency; now’s the time to brush up on the business.
The crucial characteristic missing in many managers
I thought I’d identified all the major personality traits needed for achieving great managerial success. However, I missed one important quality brought home to me by the COVID-19 pandemic, says Peter Hughes.
The unsung heroes of successful farms
It seems to be a flaw in human nature: everyone is keen to build, but no one wants to maintain. Yet the really important people are those who keep our assets running efficiently, says Peter Hughes.
Celebrate the wonderful people of this country
The unrest and looting that started on 9 July was appalling, but what a privilege it was to witness the fight-back by South Africans of all walks of life, including farmers, says Peter Hughes.
Learning from the orchestra
The conductor of an orchestra manages the musicians, hones their skills, and gets them to work in perfect harmony. There are many management lessons here for farmers, says Peter Hughes.
Business writing skills: the power tool of the effective manager
Clear, concise writing that avoids phrases like ‘as a consequence of’ instead of ‘because’, or inanities such as ‘going forward’, creates a good impression and strengthens your arguments, says Peter Hughes.
Provide feedback to your employees
All employees, managers included, need feedback on how they are doing in their jobs. Yet so often this feedback is either not provided or is ad hoc and incomplete. The only sensible solution is to set up a formal evaluation system, says Peter Hughes.
Is ‘fake meat’ a threat or opportunity for livestock farmers?
The anti-meat lobby and the emerging ‘fake-meat’ industry pose a threat to livestock farmers worldwide. Timely action by meat industry organisations, and exploitation of opportunities to grow crops for the manufacture of these meat-replacement products, are needed to secure the future, says Peter Hughes.
‘The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle’
So says management legend Peter Drucker. He is right; delegation (done properly) gets the job done, saves time and gets the best out of employees! Peter Hughes explains.
Thriving in a family business when you’re not part of the family
A family business can offer good employment opportunities in a pleasant working environment, but it can come with unique challenges. Understand them and you’ll never regret being a family outsider, says Peter Hughes.
Check those references
Extracting bad news from referees can be good news if it saves you from employing an unsuitable candidate.
Fight that negative bias!
Never before has it been so tempting to wallow in negativity and pessimism. Beware! It’s an attitude that holds dangers for your business, career, marriage and friendships, says Peter Hughes.
Failure can fire up the will to win
It is easy to become dispirited, risk-averse or moribund after failure. The real winners in life, whether they are individuals, teams or businesses, are those that choose to press on regardless.
Discover the power of zero-based budgeting
Tackle your annual budget from scratch, and you’ll discover many things about the finances of your business that you have never noticed before.
The often-abused business budget
A lazy ‘last-year-plus’ budget is an exercise in futility and bad management, but worse is to enter the new financial year with no budget at all.
Don’t let digital media take over your life!
Learn how to use digital media to your advantage, and avoid the debilitating pitfalls of addiction.
Lessons in leadership from the virus
The varying effect of the coronavirus pandemic in each country has depended entirely on the way in which its leaders have managed the process. Take note.
Building a motivated team
To achieve high productivity and ensure all-round business excellence, you need buy-in from your employees. Here’s how to build a committed, enthusiastic workforce.
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