Are you losing sleep worrying about the farm and its future?
First of all, we understand. And secondly, you are not alone.
Your farm represents a huge financial investment and asset, as well as it being representative of your life's work. Having a conversation about its future is not easy, particularly if there a number of different voices and varying opinions at the table. How do you know what people are really thinking, or if your idea really is the best one? What will it look like to hand over the farm, and what will you do next?
These are all valid thoughts and concerns, and they are never going to be resolved inside your head. But how do you get the conversation started? And how do you ensure that you see it through?
If you're feeling stuck and you don't know where to start (or if you've had a false-start and you're feeling a bit gun-shy), then we are here for you. Since 2009 we have been helping farming families unlock their current situation and take the next steps required (and then the ones after that too) to ensure that future plans are discussed and shared, and ideally agreed and understood.
With everyone on the same page, it makes it a lot easier for you to provide clear instruction to your legal and accounting advisors, and to thereafter move forward together, with your family unity protected, respected and intact.
Free Succession Planning eBook
In this booklet, we’ve drawn on our 100+ years of collective experience in succession planning to identify the nine most common mistakes that farming families make, and how to avoid them happening to you and those you love.
Simply fill out the form below and a copy of the eBook will be emailed to you from your local Coach.
Please note: Submitting your details above will add you to our email database. You are opting in to receive emails from us from time-to-time. You can unsubscribe from the database at any time.
Our Process
Our Succession Planning process is based on a proven framework and structure that responds to each family's individual circumstance. Our independence is key to our success, together with our experience, gentle guidance and coaching for accountability and outcomes.
As part of our process, we will:
- Establish trusted relationships with all family members. This is achieved via our discovery phase which is 100% focused on asking the right 'open ended' questions to capture insights and enable conversations to get started.
- Help you to articulate the end goal, and then begin coaching with the end in mind.
- Develop a shared understanding, so that all family members can learn and appreciate what is important to one another.
- Explore and develop options – and then utilise our professional experience to uncover preferred pathways.
- Create a formalised written plan – documenting specifics, including accountability steps.
- Undertake regular reviews – to celebrate successes, identify changes and to adapt the plan as needed.
Each family's needs will be different, and that is anticipated and expected. In terms of timing to get started or to allow for this process, there's no perfect time or timeframe, but it is critical that the conversations are held while there's sufficient time to think, discuss and explore options. That way, a smooth transition or outcome can occur, rather than decisions having to be made under urgency, with high emotion involved, accompanied by probable stress and duress.
Moving Your Farm Forward
Partners Dani Darke and Scott Neeley discuss Succession Planning, why it's so important in this day and age, and how the discovery process can connect the needs and wants of both generations.
Outcome
As an independent facilitator, we provide a platform for greater clarity and objectivity in decision making. For you, this means that succession planning risks can be mitigated, choices can be discussed and potential growth opportunities identified and optimised. Most critically, the measure of our success is that family relationships are strengthened and family unity retained, maintained or enhanced.
Duration
Developing a succession plan requires commitment from your farming business/family. To ensure mutual success, we ask you to undertake some preliminary work known as discovery (which requires all members to complete questionnaires). Thereafter, we will engage with you for up to six months (or more) so that a sustainable, equitable and satisfactory legacy is achieved and family relationships preserved.
Service Charges
We are a time-based service business which means the cost for succession planning will be dependent on the complexity of your farm/business and the number of family members to be consulted. We are happy to talk to you about your requirements, and advise costs before any work begins.
Rural Coach offers services that are registered with the Management Capability Development Voucher Fund. Small businesses may qualify for help to pay for services such as training workshops, courses and coaching that build the management capabilities of their owners, operators and key managers.
Testimonials
Inclusive Conversations
It's not often that we get a chance like this, as kids, or as the next generation, to have this type of conversation.
Son-in-law, married to 4th generation dairy farming family / Ruawai, Northland
