Running a small business — especially a farming one — means wearing a dozen hats every day. You're the boss, the vet, the problem-solver, the machinery operator, the negotiator, the mechanic, the arborist, the accountant, sometimes even the cook. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget about something that really matters: growing your people.
We came across an article recently that hit home: “Great Leaders Develop People” from Triple Crown Leadership. While it's written with bigger businesses in mind, the message is just as relevant for farms and small teams: good leaders don’t just get the job done — they help their people grow along the way.
The article breaks it down into three simple things: challenge, support, and opportunity.
Challenge is about trusting your team with things that stretch them a bit — not setting them up to fail, but giving them real responsibility. Maybe it’s asking the 2IC to lead the calf-rearing plan this year, or letting someone run the toolbox meeting next week. People often rise to the occasion when someone believes they can.
Support means being there when it gets hard. It doesn’t have to be formal — often it’s just checking in regularly, noticing when someone’s having a rough day, or backing them when a mistake happens. You don’t have to have all the answers, but making it safe to ask questions and learn is massive.
Opportunity is where people can really start to shine. In small businesses, that might not mean a fancy title or promotion — it might be as simple as inviting someone to join a conversation with the bank manager, taking them to a field day, or involving them in planning the next season. It’s about letting them see more, try more, and grow into more.
The article also makes the point that developing your people isn’t a “nice to do” — it’s smart business. When people feel like they’re learning and valued, they’re more likely to stick around, step up, and care about the work like you do. And let’s be honest — in a tight labour market, that’s gold.
You don’t need a big HR budget to grow good people. You just need to make space for it — a few extra minutes to explain the “why,” a bit of trust to hand over the reins, and a willingness to back your people when they give it a go.
If you're keen to read the full article (it’s a quick read), here’s the link:
https://triplecrownleadership.com/great-leaders-develop-people/