Getting naked – transparency and trust.
I don’t mind a good skinny dip in summer, best time of the year! And it seems many of us are the same - whether it’s in the river, bore bath, dam or creek – it’s a cracking good thing to do!
I’ll leave that there for now as we need to get to getting naked first.
‘Getting Naked’ is phrase that has been used by a number of business leaders over the years (and I can’t find who first came up with it in this reference) for development and improvement and alludes to – in business – baring it all to achieve transparency, honesty and trust with all of your stakeholders.
How often do you voice your true aspirations and goals with the people who can actually help you achieve them?
Who do you trust to share your entire business plans and position with? And do you do it?
Whether it’s your family (the next or preceding generation) or a business professional, bank manager, succession planner or accountant, having someone you trust is another one in your corner.
The most important and wanted thing for FFN members in alongside mental health awareness is improved business and financial management skills and these can be learned through many ways, a good coach/mentor – whatever you want to call it – is a bloody good support to have with you.
It’s not as easy as going out and picking someone or trying to find someone you already know to bare your business (and often elements of our personal lives in ag) with, you need to genuinely trust and like them. There are plenty of people who are great at what they do but who would be horrible to work with, in which case would be more damaging than beneficial, in my opinion.
Talk to your mates and neighbours and see what they reckon, if they know anyone who might be able to assist you. Trusted word of mouth is still the best source of information.
For young people and indeed everyone staring out in the farming game, I believe it makes such a marked difference for the ones who have a trusted person or team of people to help them make and realise their plans.
There is so much going on in everyone’s lives, so make sure you develop and use your support network.
It pays to remember that there are people out there who want to help you, and ever increasing and improving ways for us to get in touch with these people in different platforms etc that are evolving in the bush to make it easier for learning and development that we haven’t seen before, which I think is really exciting. Summer’s nearly here so find someone to get NAKED with!
- Dan Korff, Future Farmers Network
