What signals do you give your team members?

Are you aware of the Pygmalion and Golem effects? Not? They are crucial concepts vital to your success as a manager and your employees’ performance, writes Peter Hughes.

Embrace artificial intelligence or risk becoming obsolete

In his quest to learn more about the many artificial intelligence tools available, Peter Hughes tested one of these platforms with questions he knew the answers to. And the results left him pleasantly surprised.

Do it Murphy’s way: comprehensive preventive maintenance

I shudder when I hear someone say, ‘If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.’ It’s an excuse for sloth and would have caused Murphy to have a heart attack, writes Peter Hughes.

Will 2025 be a better year for farmers?

There are some factors pointing towards a more productive and profitable year in 2025 after 2024 took a heavy toll on most farming industries, says Dr Koos Coetzee.

Strategies for farmers operating in an uncompetitive market

There are a few strategies that farmers can pursue to survive in uncompetitive markets, such as selling their produce directly to consumers to reduce costs, writes Dr Koos Coetzee.

Be a ‘marketer’, not just a ‘seller’

Selling and marketing are entirely different jobs. The seller thinks short term, while the marketer has the long term in mind. Farmers need to think like marketers, writes Peter Hughes.

The characteristics of micromanagers

Micromanagers have certain common personality traits and characteristics. Get to know yourself well enough to avoid developing this bad management habit.

Do your utmost to differentiate your product

You can add value with product differentiation, and it’s possible with every product under the sun. Don’t be discouraged by naysayers, writes Peter Hughes.

Whatever it is, make your product stand out from the others

Whether you are a small, medium, or large farmer, you can differentiate your products and your business. Obliterate from your mind the myth that differentiation is only possible for some farmers, says Peter Hughes.

Bad marketing kills businesses. Don’t let it happen to you

Marketing is not a ‘shoot-from-the-hip’ activity. It needs expert management, and many farmers are not good at it. But upgrading your skill in this area is crucial to the success of your business, writes Peter Hughes.

Stop complaining and start complying

Farmers should stop complaining about the cost and hassle of complying with sustainability standards, says Dr Koos Coetzee.

While ‘manners maketh the man’, soft skills make a good manager

Hard skills are the bedrock of successful business, but soft skills are what create winning teams, motivate people and build profitable businesses. How well are you doing with them?

Are you a micromanager? Watch out!

Micromanagement is seriously detrimental to any company, manager and employee. Beware of it creeping into your management style, says Peter Hughes.

Farmers must understand consumer decision-making to stay competitive

In a constantly changing market, farmers need to know and understand the factors that influence consumers’ decisions.

Why great leaders take humour seriously

Understand the role of humour in your success because even in the most difficult of times, a smile or a laugh goes a long way toward making everyone feel better.

Beware the negativity bias and land ownership myth

Many of us believe that government is tardy on delivering title deeds to applicants, but a quick Internet search will dispel this idea.

Get to know your customer

In a constantly changing market, farmers need to know and understand the factors that influence consumers’ decisions. By Dr Koos Coetzee.

Management lessons from farmers

The analogies between a good farmer and a good manager abound! Farmers have no excuse for bad management at any level.

Communication: the foundation of profitable businesses

Communication is paramount in business, and yet many managers give little thought to its importance. Are you one of those, asks Peter Hughes, or are you giving it the attention it deserves?

Make work more fun, and more profitable!

Managers should do their best to create a work environment where employees truly enjoy their jobs. This isn’t as easy as it sounds! It takes planning and effort to establish a pleasant, positive atmosphere, says Peter Hughes.

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