Rethinking Business Strategy: How To Use The Principles Of Farming To Grow Your Business

In the age of technology, many businesses have forgotten why they exist. In a world that is constantly moving faster and faster, companies are often focused on just keeping up with the curve in order to survive in a highly competitive environment.

However, this myopic focus can be detrimental to growth, innovation and overall company success. To really understand the driving forces behind business growth, it is important for executives to look back in time—to take a page out of their ancestors’ book—as a way to help set them on a path filled with potential for better future performance.

Agricultural practices offer valuable insights into corporate strategy today. Plowing fields meant preparing the land for plant consumption; corporations should do something similar- assess their internal workings to see where they can improve.

1. Get A New Perspective

One of the corporate world’s biggest dangers is falling into linear thinking, or seeing one singular cause leading to success or failure instead of multiple factors that each impact business performance on some level. When it comes to looking at business growth, executives need a new perspective- an opportunity to view their company as farmers would look at crops—in order to make progress with effective strategies. One way to gain this perspective? Take a step back from day-to-day operations and take time for personal reflection. By stepping away from the daily grind, executives are able to truly see what is happening within their companies instead of just assuming events will unfold according to plan without any work.

2. Look To The Past For Innovation

Like their ancestors before them, today’s company leaders should put themselves in the shoes of those who came before them to learn new lessons that can be applied to modern business growth strategies. One example? Mining coal at the wrong seams not only wastes money but also energy—millions of dollars are lost by some corporations every year due to poor strategy. Instead, companies should look back on the past- ask experienced employees for their input and read books or articles about how businesses have grown in the past to aid with future innovation. This knowledge is crucial when it comes to making smart decisions on where resources will go- whether it is time, money or people- based on factors such as market requirements and industry demands.

3. Trace The Successful Path For New Ideas

The past and present may not necessarily predict the future, but they can at least give a glimpse into what is coming next or where trends could possibly be headed in the future. Analyzing historical data and market reports as well as conducting thorough internal reviews will help company leaders to get an idea about what their companies need to do to achieve success. Questions that should be asked include: How did similar businesses achieve success? Why did some fail? What steps did they take- internally or with customers or clients- that led them down this path?

4. Fertilize The Soil And Reap Bigger Yields

The best way for business growth is to start small. Applying the same strategies that successful business owners have previously used will make it easier for executives to see how their own customers or clients would respond.

What worked on a small scale could work again with larger amounts of resources, taking companies from good to great and beyond- by infusing new ideas into the existing structure. By fertilizing the soil, farmers are able to grow more crops which can then be sold at higher prices for bigger profits—the same holds true for companies today. By using tried-and-true methods that have already been proven effective, businesses are able to avoid costly mistakes and invest time in smarter ways. By focusing on success during these formative stages of growth companies will find themselves with saturated fields of vibrant, flourishing crops- ready for consumption.

5. Use The Best Seed To Achieve Thriving Crop Eradication

By fulfilling the needs of their customers or clients companies are able to grow big before making it across the finish line. The same principle applies to farming—farmers must take specific steps, such as planting superior seeds in well-prepared soil, to ensure they have success with higher yields and better quality crops. On a practical level this means asking questions about what makes one crop truly different from another before investing resources. Answering these questions correctly will help executives select which business strategies would be best suited for their company’s situation—whether that is through increased use of technology, updated software or additional manpower via hiring or training.

6. Match The Seeds To The Time Of Year And Time Of Growth

By using the right type of seeds, farmers are able to reap stronger, hardier crops that will bring them bigger and better profits than if they had used inexpensive seeds or incorrect varieties at the wrong time. Companies can experience this same phenomenon of growth by following a few simple steps: talking with their employees and managers, listening to customer feedback, and making timely updates. For example: If a company’s product is not selling well on mobile platforms such as smartphones or tablets but is doing so on personal computers instead of through website purchases or downloads, companies could stop the production of mobile-compatible products for a short while.

In the age of technology, many businesses have forgotten why they exist. In a world that is constantly moving faster and faster, companies are often focused on just keeping up with the curve in order to survive in a highly competitive environment. However, this myopic focus can be detrimental to growth, innovation and overall company…