Conflict. Everyone wants to avoid it, but experts say that’s never a good move.
Basic human needs feed into conflict all the time, says Athena Diesch-Chham, a farm girl and now a clinical social worker and owner of Restorative Path Counseling and Wellbeing. Sometimes conflict can be addressed by answering these important questions.
1. Have we gotten the nutrition we need?
2. Are we staying hydrated?
3. Are we taking breaks?
4. Do we have the opportunity to connect with people who are important to us outside of work and in work?
5. Do we feel valued?
The last question may be one of the most important. “If we don’t feel valued, Conflict is way easier to jump to,” she says.
How Do You Solve Conflict on the Farm?
So, when conflict happens, and you can tell an employee is visibly upset, what should the sow farm manager or a colleague do to help?
Acknowledge and validate.
“Here’s one way to approach it,” Diesch-Chham offers. “Say, ‘I’ve seen you are struggling today, I want to let you know that’s OK. I want to check in to see if there is anything I can do to help. If you need a space to talk through any of it, I’m here.’”
Farm culture says ‘Uh-oh. They have feelings, head down. Don’t call attention to that.’ Fight against that, she says.
“We don’t live or work in a vacuum. This is not the only thing we have in our lives. When we have things happening, and we need to acknowledge it,” Diesch-Chham says.
Talking about emotions is always helpful.
“The cool thing about emotions is if we name someone’s emotion and we name it incorrectly, they will tell you. If you name it correctly, they will immediately feel validated, seen or heard,” she explains. “Either way, you can’t lose because you’ve helped them engage in it.”
More from the Synergy on the Farm Series by Farm Journal’s PORK:
Employee Emotional Health: The Crisis No One Wants to Talk About on the Sow Farm
Invest in Employee Mental Health to Maintain a Successful Sow Farm
Lameness: The Leading Identifiable Reason for Sow Mortality
Study to Investigate Potential Mechanisms that Control Uterine Prolapse Susceptibility
Can Genetic Selection Lower Incidence of Uterine Prolapse in Pigs?
What’s it Worth to Reduce Your Herd’s Stillborn Rate?
Ease Your Gilts into Electronic Sow Feeding Systems
