Labour law: are you coping?

Many may disagree with aspects of today’s labour law, but it’s far better than the ‘no-holds-barred’ days of the past.

Separate living and farming: the benefits

Imagine a farm used exclusively for the production of food or fibre, with no housing in sight!

Drought preparation: where to start

It’s not about pessimism, but planning. We must plan each crop as if this season will be our worst ever.

Fire-fighting: why getting involved is important

Beware! Unless you get your own house in order and work with your neighbours this dry season in fighting fires, you are taking a grave risk.

Fix it before it breaks

Preventive maintenance is an essential part of any well-managed and competitive organisation.

Learning from Eskom and others

Learn the critical lessons of corporate (mis)governance and don't take your organisation down the same road of failure.

Be a ‘realistic optimist’

If you have a tendency towards pessimism, you are heading for a career as a mediocre manager.

Why do we fear technology?

Effective hi-tech (and sometimes low-tech) solutions abound, yet many farmers are slow to adopt them.

Wage woes

Money itself is not a sustainable motivator. In fact, if badly managed, it has the potential to demotivate.

Five ‘qualities of greatness’

Dr David Kirk, entrepreneur and former All Blacks captain, identifies five ‘qualities of greatness’ in world-class teams. How many does your team have?

The First ‘who’, then ‘what’ approach

If this system works for the great companies of the world, it may work for you.

Test for the best employees

So, the job applicant has the right skills. But does he have initiative and common sense? Is he honest and reliable? Only a psychometric test can tell you.

The right way to interview

With the job advertisement and reference checks behind you, don’t make a mess of the next step.

The right person for the job

There is no magic formula for recruiting and selecting staff for your business. But by following a few simple rules you can make the best appointments.

To get good staff, write good advertisements

Your people are your most precious asset, right? Then why do we often do such a bad job of advertising for new staff?

Farmers – relationships matter the most

Feel like a pariah just because you’re a farmer? Get to know those you deal with and you’ll be surprised at how helpful they become.

Skill matters, not title deeds

What really matters in life is not what you own but what you can do. Your skill is your safety net.

Manage your time well

If you’re run off your feet, always late and full of anxiety, with never any time to do the things you love – stop, quiet your mind, and think.

Managing today’s biggest risk

Security of tenure on commercial farm land is under threat – but just like any other business risk, it can be managed.

Exploring Steven Covey’s matrix

Time management is self management. If you never have time to do the important things in life – look in the mirror.

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Managing for Profit