Many farm families are feeling a deep sense of guilt knowing they should be having business meetings, but they just don’t seem to get around to it. The key factor is understanding why you need to meet.
-Family council to explore how the family operates
-Succession planning
-Estate planning: wills, inheritance, fairness issues, legacy plans
-Advisers and suppliers meetings
-Human resources, operations etc. Continue reading Whose Mouth Should Be Moving At Your Meeting? »
Their faces were contorted with fear as I spoke about the importance of a well-crafted will. At the lunch break the farm woman confessed that her husband was being sued by 5 greedy siblings, under the guise of taking care of a demented dad’s interests. I asked quietly if they had a good agricultural lawyer, and she said she was disappointed by the lawyer’s lack of understanding of farm business.
At the farm kitchen table a very astute and innovative farmer confessed to me that he did not have written land lease agreements with his many landlords, because “having things in writing attracts lawsuits.” I was shocked at his beliefs !
Another farmer approached me to reveal that she is now motivated to update their wills, noting that 30 years has passed since the last will was signed. “Where did the time go ?” Continue reading Crippled By Fear of Court »
“We all knew the farm would go to the boys. We were born in the ‘30’s and everyone expected Dad and Mom to roll it over to their sons. We were given educations, no land.”
“We wondered why my sister and I were not part of the family discussion about who would have the home place. It really hurt. Dad couldn’t understand why I was crying when we talked about it later.”
“The girls in our family all married well. I guess our parents felt we were well taken care of. My brothers got all the dairy quota and the farm. We girls got $10,000. I’m not sure my lawyer today would think that was fair!”
“Out here in dry land Saskatchewan we wonder if we’re lucky we got cash and we are not stuck with the risk of the farm !” Continue reading How do we treat the girls? »
Sometimes a short conversation lights a huge fire of controversy, and this blog may create a few sparks, so please read carefully, all the way to the end.
A farm family with a very strong-willed daughter-in-law asks their business planner how to make progress with decision making since the “in-law” seems to have an opinion about every farm business decision made. The planner advised the farm team to consider farm business and shareholder decisions as their “territory” making it clear that the spouse, ie. Daughter in law was not part of that decision group.
What would you advise for conflict resolution?
Everyone has an opinion, so let’s dig deeper and figure out what a daughter in law needs: Continue reading The Daughter In-law Barrier »
Do the Tough Things Right... How to Prevent Communication Disasters in Family Business
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