Tell us about a time when you had to resolve a conflict among farm personnel. How did you approach the situation?

There was a conflict between two farm personnel regarding the allocation of tasks. One employee felt that they were being unfairly burdened with more work while the other felt that they were being underutilized. I approached the situation by first listening to both employees' concerns and understanding their perspectives. Then, I called for a team meeting to address the issue. During the meeting, I facilitated an open and honest discussion where both employees could express their feelings and frustrations. I encouraged them to find common ground and come up with a solution together. After discussing various options, they agreed to rotate their responsibilities on a weekly basis. This ensured that both employees had a fair distribution of work and felt valued in their roles. I continued to monitor the situation closely to ensure that the new arrangement was working effectively and addressed any concerns that arose.

In my previous role as a Junior Dairy Farm Manager, I encountered a conflict among two farm personnel who were responsible for milking the cows. One employee was consistently arriving late for their shift, causing the other employee to have to handle a larger workload. The overburdened employee approached me with their concerns, feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. I immediately scheduled a private meeting with both employees to discuss the issue. During the meeting, I allowed each employee to express their feelings and concerns while maintaining a neutral and non-judgmental approach. I asked open-ended questions to encourage them to think about potential solutions. Together, they identified a flexible schedule that would accommodate both employees' needs and ensure a fair distribution of workload. I emphasized the importance of communication and accountability, and they both agreed to regularly check in with each other to ensure the new schedule was working effectively. To prevent future conflicts, I implemented a system where employees could anonymously submit any scheduling concerns or suggestions, providing an open channel for communication. This approach not only resolved the conflict but also improved overall employee morale and communication within the team.

During my time as a Junior Dairy Farm Manager, I encountered a conflict among farm personnel involving differing opinions on feeding practices for the cattle. One employee believed in a more traditional feeding approach, while another employee wanted to incorporate new scientific findings into the feeding regimen. The conflicting viewpoints led to tension and disrupted teamwork. To address the conflict, I organized a team meeting where each employee presented their arguments and supporting evidence for their preferred feeding practices. I facilitated a respectful and constructive discussion, allowing each employee to express their opinions and concerns without interruptions. After thoroughly considering both perspectives, I proposed a compromise that combined elements from both approaches. I emphasized the importance of flexibility and adaptation in dairy farming and how incorporating new scientific findings could improve cattle health and productivity. Both employees were receptive to the compromise and acknowledged the merit in each other's viewpoints. I encouraged them to collaborate and develop a new feeding plan that incorporated the agreed-upon compromise. This not only resolved the conflict but also fostered a culture of open-mindedness and continuous improvement on the farm. I followed up with regular meetings to ensure that the new feeding plan was implemented effectively and evaluated its impact on cattle health and productivity. The conflict resolution resulted in improved teamwork and communication among farm personnel, leading to enhanced overall farm performance.