Business leadership, especially in family-owned or multi-generational farming businesses, can often feel like a murky maze.  
 
Who’s in charge?  
 
Who’s making decisions?  
 
Who’s taking responsibility?  
 
These questions might linger unresolved, leading to frustration, stagnation, or worse, conflict. 
 
A recent conversation I had on my holiday brought this issue to my attention.  
 
Sitting around a fire pit in a San Francisco hotel, sharing a slice of pizza with my 2-year-old daughter, I met Brad—a retired, high-ranking Navy officer and seasoned leader.  
 
We talked about lots of things, but when I asked him for his single greatest leadership lesson, his response was simple yet profound: Lead, follow, or get out of the way. 
 
This phrase captures the essence of what every business—farm or otherwise—needs to thrive. It’s a principle that calls for clarity in roles, an understanding of who is responsible for what, a willingness to follow when necessary, and the self-awareness to step aside if that’s what the business needs. 
 
The Challenge of Leadership in Farm Businesses 
 
Farm businesses are unique. They often blend business and asset ownership with leadership and management, creating blurred lines around who is responsible for what decisions.  
 
These dynamics become even more complex in multi-generational settings, where family relationships intersect with business roles and past programming that sets in when the pressure is on. 
 
For example, when a son or daughter steps into the farm business, tensions can arise. The older generation might struggle to relinquish control, while the younger generation might hesitate to fully respect or follow the established leadership.  
 
Without clarity on roles, everyone ends up pulling in different directions, hindering progress and creating conflict. 
 
Brad’s lesson resonates here: in successful organisations—whether a Navy unit or a top-performing farm—there is no ambiguity about who leads and who follows. 
 
There is absolute role clarity in 100% of circumstances because in combat, people’s lives are at stake. 
 
95% of the conflicts that arise in team environments are due to a lack of role clarity.  
 
The number one thing you can do to improve role clarity is create a clearly defined organisational chart. 
 
Your name may be in multiple seats in the organisational chart so knowing which role you are in at a given time is also important to understand. 
 
Are You the Leader Your Business Needs? 
 
If you’re the leader, you need to ask yourself some critical questions: 
 

• Are you leading with a clear vision? 

• Are you taking your business in a direction that ensures enduring success? 

• Does your leadership inspire confidence and alignment among your team? 

 
Leadership isn’t just about making decisions; it’s about accountability, foresight, and driving performance.  
 
If you’re not fulfilling this role effectively, it might be time to reflect on whether you’re the leader your business truly needs. 
 
Are you steering your business towards the success you are after or are you holding your business back? 
 
The Role of the Follower 
 
Equally important is the role of the follower. Followers are the backbone of any business—they’re the ones who carry out the vision.  
 
However, following isn’t passive. It requires active engagement, trust, and a commitment to the leader’s direction. 
 
Brad emphasised a powerful idea: it’s okay to disagree but commit.  
 
In other words, you don’t have to agree with every decision, but once the decision is made, you need to back it 100%. This alignment is critical for any business to function smoothly. 
 
When to Get Out of the Way 
 
Then there’s the third option: getting out of the way. 
 
This doesn’t mean quitting or stepping aside entirely. It means recognising when you’re hindering progress—when your involvement is creating bottlenecks rather than adding value. 
 
In my corporate career, I often found myself frustrated by layers of management that second-guessed decisions made by those on the ground.  
 
It taught me an important lesson: sometimes, the best thing you can do as a leader or team member is to trust others to do their jobs and step back. 
 
When your team have a clear vision, they are working towards and have absolute role clarity. The best thing you can do is empower them to make the right decision with the information that they have. 
 
Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities 
 
To avoid these pitfalls, every farm business should have a clear org chart. This includes: 
 

• Clarifying the seats in the org chart – structure first and people second 

• Defining roles: What are each of the seats responsible for? 

• Establishing a chain of command: Who reports to whom? 

• Ensuring accountability: Who owns the outcomes? 

 
If your business lacks this clarity, it’s time to act. Start by mapping out an org chart and explicitly defining each role. If you need help with this, we have created the Smart Farm Team Handbook to help you. You can get your copy here. 
 
Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way 
 
At the heart of Brad’s wisdom is a call for decisiveness.  
 
Leadership isn’t about holding a title; it’s about driving your business forward.  
 
Following isn’t about blind obedience; it’s about commitment.  
 
And stepping aside isn’t about failure; it’s about putting the business’s needs above your ego. 
 
So, which role do you play in your business?  
 

• If you’re the leader, are you leading with purpose and direction? 

• If you’re a follower, are you fully supporting the vision and contributing to its success? 

• If neither, is it time to get out of the way and let someone else take charge? 

 
A Resource for Clarity 
 
If you’re struggling to figure out your role or how to structure your business, we’ve developed a free resource: the Smart Farm Team Handbook. It walks you through creating an org chart and defining roles in a top-performing farm business. 
 
Alternatively, join us at our Top Producers Two-Day Workshop to gain clarity and learn strategies to build a thriving farm business. 
 
Remember, success isn’t about doing it all yourself—it’s about playing your part, whether that’s leading, following, or stepping aside. 
 
Regards,  
Sam Johnsson – CEO, Farm Owners Academy  
 
P.S. Feeling stuck in the grind? Our FREE Ultimate 2025 Planning Guide is here to help you refocus, set meaningful goals, and build a clear plan for a more profitable, sustainable farm business. Start the year with clarity and purpose. Download your free guide now and turn your hard work into real progress! Click here.