Think like a farmer 1/7 "Don't shout at the crops"

Some of you had most probably read @ericbarker book "Barking up the wrong tree" in his attempt to explain surprising scientific facts behind why everything we know about success is mostly wrong; similarly, in this series of "Think like a farmer" I am trying to share and discuss Management Styles as they fit (or not) to particular work environments and local cultures.

I first need to give credits to whoever put the "Think like a farmer" 7 bullet points as I previously shared them on my post (check it out).

The 1st way of thinking like a farmer is "not to shout at the crops" not only because crops do have emotions and can sense danger, but also because they are the farmer's crops and by doing so he will most likely be damaging his own doings. Shouting is totally different from talking and shouting usually delivers unpleasant messages since the recipients' have already switched on their safety mode in order to escape the farmer's unnecessary screams.

Shouting also creates a toxic environment at the farm since it clouds the real discussions and it makes filtering the message from the noise very challenging; it is the best recipe to create mistrust within the farm and therefore everyone starts looking for shortcuts to avoid responsibilities or follow "orders" in a way the farmer will need an army to keep his farm in order not by enforcing rules and policies, but by spreading fear amongst his own crops.

"Narratives" is another unfortunate illustration of excess shouts and screams where the farmer keeps dismissing the crops' efforts to still deliver pleasant results especially during the drawth season (we will discuss more on point #7 of this series).

Lesson: A good Manager (or a Farmer) knows how to whisper constructive feedback in her/his teammates.