Coaches Makes the Difference for Farmers
Farmers are like All Blacks – they do best when they have a coach to guide them and encourage them to suss out what they
need to do to reach their goals, according to farm business coach Brendon Walsh.
“Coaching involves farmers finding out what they need to know so they can make their own decisions on how best to
achieve those things they really desire,” says Walsh.
“The difference coaching and traditional advising is that one system relies on the knowledge and expertise of the
adviser; the other relies on the willingness of the farmer to learn, grow and achieve success, encouraged and guided by
a trained coach.”
Walsh believes the three essentials for success in any field are: Having a clear dream or vision for the future. Having
a huge desire to achieve that vision. Taking considered action.
“The role of the coach is to help and encourage you to maintain your focus and commitment, guide you in finding a way
around obstacles that invariably crop up,” he says.
“Coaching is primarily about helping people develop their own expertise – coaches have to be good at what they do, but
they are facilitators and not necessarily experts in day to day farming. Coaches help their clients to move forward by
walking alongside them. They don’t push from behind or pull from in front.”
Of course, technical advice may be needed at times, and finding and assessing it is part of the process of making good
business decisions. If farmers are guided to do this they achieve more solid, long-term success.
“People make spectacular progress when they realise that they are responsible for their own success. Families grow
closer, partners become less frustrated about the availability of family time, and people are energised,” says Walsh.