Increasing your leadership skills can be challenging. There’s a limited amount of time in the day to accomplish what you need to do.

However, your team’s performance level depends on you. You need to continuously cultivate your team members’ knowledge and skills to increase their productivity. This increases their engagement and job satisfaction, resulting in stronger retention and a better bottom line.

Implement these three tips to more effectively lead your agricultural team.

1. Openly Communicate

Maintain ongoing communication with your team.

• Be straightforward in your interactions.
• Show that honesty and transparency are important.
• Demonstrate that ethical behavior is a company value.
• Model positivity and purpose.
• Be empathetic, compassionate, and humble.

Genuinely connect with each team member.

• Show how each team member’s role fits with the company’s vision and strategic plan.
• Customize your interactions and communication style to each situation and team member’s preferences.
• Actively listen to what your team members say.
• Ask questions to gain information and check your understanding.
• Provide motivation and coaching to attain individual and team goals and expectations.

Offer team projects to promote collaboration and leadership.

• Show your team how to do things rather than tell them.
• Remind your team to ask questions when needed.
• Encourage autonomy and decision-making to promote ownership.
• Promote learning from mistakes.
• Recognize individual and team achievements.
• Point out how team member contributions and results impact the company.
• Build trust and accountability among your team.
• Improve team performance and morale.

2. Give & Receive Feedback

Provide your team members with constructive feedback to improve their performance.

• Align each team member’s performance with company goals.
• Be direct, honest, and respectful with your feedback.
• Recognize each team member’s achievements.
• Include concrete steps for the team member to improve in a specific area.
• Set a time to follow up on the team member’s performance.
• Discuss whether the feedback was implemented and what the results were.
• Share how the team member’s efforts positively affected the organization.
• Celebrate the team member’s wins.
• Promote an environment of productivity.
• Continue the process to improve individual and team performance.

Encourage your team to provide you with constructive feedback on your leadership.

• Ask for input on your leadership style and approach.
• Uncover specific steps you can take to improve your performance.
• Apply the suggestions.
• Discuss your results with your team.
• Focus on continuous improvement.

3. Encourage Growth

Prioritize learning and growth among your team.

• Set aside a budget for your team’s professional growth.
• Empower your team to take on new challenges.
• Emphasize knowledge and skill development.
• Include on-demand, virtual, and in-person learning options.
• Encourage your team members to implement what they learn.
• Provide stretch assignments to further develop your team members’ skill sets.
• Delegate tasks and decision-making.
• Acknowledge your team’s accomplishments.
• Provide inspiration and motivation for career advancement.

Get Help with Hiring

Let the Morris Bixby Group place you with agricultural candidates to continue moving your team and company forward. Contact us today.