Steinhurst Dairy in Creston, Ohio, understands that keeping their team happy is a critical part of keeping their farm efficient and profitable.
Here are 10 ways this seventh-generation dairy farm keeps a low employee turnover rate:
- Give more responsibility. Give milkers another responsibility, like calf chores, bedding or equipment maintenance, to keep them motivated throughout the day.
- Ask for hiring recommendations. Employees who enjoy and trust the team they work with are happier. It’s that simple.
- Avoid micromanaging. Empower employees do their job with your training and guidance.
- Start from the bottom. As a manager, starting at an entry level helps you appreciate and understand the work your employees do.
- Hold team meetings. Listen, listen, listen. Hold regular meetings with employees to address challenges head on and celebrate success.
- Create a positive environment. Yelling or screaming doesn’t help anyone improve. Staying positive, even with mistakes, builds trust. Employees that trust you will come to you when conflicts or issues come up.
- Deliver a detailed job description. Doing your part to help your employees succeed by setting clear expectations can result in a rewarding days work.
- Think before you react. More often than not, you’ve made the same mistake. Discuss a solution together so the employee can learn and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
- Show respect. Family or not, keep the golden rule front and center. Employees do their best for people who treat them well.
- Trust your team. Inspire your team to be experts in their work, who have the same goal as you - run a profitable, successful dairy farm while maintaining a good quality of life.
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