The Stress of the Season

Leading the Way

contributed article by B. Lynn Gordon Leader Consulting

How leadership works on the ranch.

THE STRESS OF THE SEASON FIVE TIPS TO REDUCE CONFLICT IN HIGH-STRESS TIMES

Whether March comes in roaring like a lion or quietly like a lamb, March is synonymous with calving season. For some ranches, calving may be winding down and others, it is ramping up, but generally, spring calving is in full swing. Calving time brings long days, sleepless nights, and dealing with unpredictable weather, all of which can negatively impact one’s mood. This creates high stress levels, low energy, and short tempers.

Dealing with stressful situations day after day is often mirrored in how we act and communicate. Communication becomes limited and strained and before we know it conflict occurs from miscommunication. As communication begins to break down, there is a higher likelihood of misinterpretation of what was said. Around the ranch, this can result in tasks incorrectly completed, mistakes made, feelings hurt, and an unwillingness to want to work together.

When your mind and body are tired, your ability to organize your thoughts and feelings and listen carefully becomes more difficult. You may not be in the mood to have a conversation or opt to keep any communication brief. This disconnection then starts to overflow onto others around you. Communication becomes even more vital in busy times to regain a sense of control when your daily routine seems uncontrollable.

During this busy and hectic calving season, keep these tips in mind to keep communication flowing and reduce potential conflict:

BE PATIENT

It seems there is always something that needs to be done to prepare for the arrival of the next calf, thus taking time to communicate means being patient in the situation and focusing on the issue at hand. If a situation arrives that needs to be talked through, patiently do so to find the solution. Jumping to conclusions is easy to do when time is limited and the to-do list long but addressing the other individual in a loud voice or with lots of emotion will immediately put them on the defense. Choose your words

“When your mind and body are tired, your ability to organize your thoughts and feelings and listen carefully becomes more difficult.” ________

wisely. Don’t bring in issues from the past, such as mistakes your employee or family-member might have made during calving last year; that is water under the bridge. Focus on the here and now and how you can make the current situation more productive.

LISTEN INTENTLY

Stressful times can accentuate feelings and emotions. Show your respect by attentively listening to the others’ viewpoints. Not only is listening important but entering a conversation with an open mind is also helpful. Be in tune with understanding if you are listening with pre-conceived thoughts or emotions rather than intently listening with an open mind to the words expressed. Aim to address the issue as early as possible. Keep in mind that sometimes listening does not always mean focusing on verbal cues. Watch for body language or tone of voice that might be indicators of potential frustrations. Conflict may not always be bad because discussion and disagreement may lead to a creative solution, but conflict that is not addressed remains just that — conflict. Unaddressed conflict will drain the life out of the employee or employer and out of the business.

CHECK IN REGULARLY

This is easy to say and difficult to do when calves need to be nursed, tagged and treated not to mention cows need to be moved. Supervisors who strive to have a consistent working relationship with their teams are not the ones who find out about the frustrations or disappointments when their employees decide to quit in the height of calving. Employers and supervisors, like leaders, need to empower the relationship they have with their teams to create an open environment for discussion and do so regularly. In some cases, we are far removed from the employees or disconnected from family members to the point; we don’t even realize conflict is brewing.

For example, if you’re taking shifts on night-watch, determine a time when you are both at the ranch to take 5-10 minutes to catch up. No doubt, you need to keep each other in the loop about issues related to the newborn calves, so take an extra few minutes to ask: How are you holding up? Are there things we need to adjust to reduce stress? What is working; what isn’t? Questions like these allow for input, making individuals feel like their viewpoints matter and that you care about not only their work but their health during such a stressful time.

CLARIFY EXPECTATIONS

In busy times, it is even more important to clarify expected behaviors, job responsibilities, and procedures. Unclear expectations result in confusion and disappointment. Most individuals feel more confident in their roles when they understand their expectations. Don’t let assumptions take over. Assuming extra bedding was put down because you heard the forecast is calling for frigid temperatures overnight or you have access to the records and know what cows need to be moved up to the barn, but you didn’t share this with others around the ranch creates uncertainty and uneasiness.

APPRECIATE DIFFERENCES

In the August 2019 issue of The Stockman, my column explained how valuable it is to understand what motivates us and those we are working alongside on the ranch or in the family. In times of stress and conflict, understanding how you can bridge the gap in the differences of personality types to create a more positive working relationship will lay the groundwork for reaching a faster solution. No two individuals are going to react to a situation the same, especially those with opposite personality characteristics.

B. Lynn Gordon, Ph.D., Leader Consulting, LLC. Sioux Falls, SD. Lynn is an agricultural freelance writer and leadership consultant with an extensive background in the livestock industry. She can be reached at lynn@leaderconsulting.biz or through her blog at http://www.leaderconsulting.biz

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