Walpeup farmer Jim Wakefield is on a quest to improve staff communication

MONDAY morning staff meetings are now a regular fixture in Jim Wakefield’s grain and sheep operation.

New pathway: Jim Wakefield at the Walpeup farm he jointly runs and where he is attempting to improve communication with staff. Picture: Greg Scullin

MONDAY morning staff meetings are now a regular fixture in Jim Wakefield’s grain and sheep operation.

And he is working on other ways to better communicate with staff as part of the Grain Growers Limited young farmer leadership program.

Mr Wakefield farms at Walpeup, west of Ouyen, in a sheep and cropping operation run with Michael Pole.

He and Mr Pole established their farming businesses by combining their two farms about two years ago, using a similar model to the one established and promoted by South Australian farmer John Gladigau.

Each of the six participants on the GGL young leadership program is required to do work on a project, and in Mr Wakefield’s case this is how to better communicate and manage staff in this jointly-run business.

“We joined our properties and run it as one entity,” Mr Wakefield said.

“We need to deliver messages to the involved staff member and be on the same page.”

Staff management involves a regular Monday morning meeting, as well as using smart phone app Wunderlist, which allows users to share to do lists and work projects.

“We allocate tasks and (our staff) tell you via the app when they have completed it,” Mr Wakefield said.

They also use the online cloud service Dropbox, where large files can be shared.

Mr Wakefield said he took on the leadership program to try and improve his business, and research different ways to communicate within the business.

“We are trying to cherry- pick what bigger organisations and farmers are doing, then try to effectively implement it,” he said.

Mr Wakefield said the cropping season at Walpeup was “slightly behind average” and more rain was needed.

“We didn’t get a great start and we have been trying to catch up,” he said.