Managing a farm is no easy job. Managing people – in some cases – is even more stressful. Dealing with the different personalities, perspectives and skill levels of employees can be a major obstacle when it comes to being an effective leader. However, organizational charts, also known as “org” charts, can help you delegate tasks to specific employees and prevent communication hiccups.
“Organizational charts are a visual depiction of your farm’s staffing structure,” says Jim Versweyveld, Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “They define roles and clearly illustrate ‘who reports to whom,’ with connecting lines showing accountability and reporting relationships.”
Not only do org charts outline roles, Versweyveld says they can also assist with:
- Helping onboard new employees by clearly showing who to go to with questions.
- Streamlining communication and reducing potential conflict from power struggles.
- Identifying logical farm successors and facilitating career paths for their skill development.
- Aligning job titles (levels) within your organization.
- Defining otherwise confusing family member roles for non-family team members.
Fortunately, putting together a team org chart does not have to be complex. Versweyveld says it can be completed in three easy steps.
- Determine Structure – Though there are a variety of ways organizational charts can be structured, Versweyveld says most farms stick to either the flat or hierarchical method.
According to Versweyveld, the flat method has only levels of middle management between leadership and employees—or, in some cases, no middle management at all. Small organizations and startups often have flat structures because they have fewer employees and less of a need for hierarchical management.
Some of the benefits of the flat method include:
- Avoids excess layers of management
- Elevates employee’s level of responsibility
- Lends itself to small farms
In contrast, the hierarchical method uses multiple levels of management and a “chain of command.” Larger organizations use this structure to keep the span of control (the number of direct reports per leader) to a manageable size.
Advantages of the hierarchical method include:
- Clearly defines “go-to” people
- Provides more progression opportunities
- Accommodates business growth
- Define Reporting Relationships – After you’ve nailed down the structure of the org chart, Versweyveld recommends outlining specific leaders.
“If you choose a flat org structure, all ,or nearly all, of the positions will report directly to the farm owner/manager, Versweyveld says. “If you choose a hierarchical org structure, it will be important to identify ‘departments’ with leaders who understand the accountability they will have for others’ success. This step often requires training and leadership skill development.”
- Share With Your Team – Once an org chart has been defined, it is time to present it to the team.
“Communication is very important for new org charts to be received favorably,” Versweyveld says. “Meet with leaders first and make sure they are fully on board with the new structure. Then meet with your entire team to explain the benefits the org structure will provide.”
Versweyveld provides the following org chart example.
According to Versweyvled, sharing org charts helps your farm business by demonstrating clear reporting structures for all employees.
“They help create a roadmap for how the work is to be done and the process required to ensure information is shared throughout the farm to the right individuals,” he concludes.
