In this article FCN volunteers Alex Cotterill (left) and Will Sanders (right) detail the importance of ‘human skills’ and why they deserve far greater recognition within contemporary UK agriculture.
Alex Cotterill:
FCN’s values and image are rooted in supporting farmers, farming families and rural communities through periods of hardship and demanding changes. Among its many avenues of support services, FCN is particularly regarded for its work around mental health and wellbeing.
But what do these areas have in common?
They are all fundamental expressions of what makes a person, human.
They are what make you, you.
Will Sanders:
As a dairy farmer, I am aware of the constant shifts, imbalances and levels of stress on a modern UK farm. Yet of equal importance, is the sense of belonging within a team – feeling supported, heard and never isolated. In today’s agricultural landscape, the human side of farming is too often overshadowed by the scale of machinery fleets and the sophistication of modern technology. But as I state, “a £250,000 machine is only as productive as the person operating it”.
The personal qualities that define us as individuals are frequently dismissed as ‘soft’ skills – perceived as secondary to productivity and output. In reality, without trust, strong communication and cohesive teamwork, no farm can realistically remain financially or emotionally sustainable. Empathy, support, communication and positive outlooks are not optional extras – they are, as I indicate, “the most difficult, non-intuitive and crucial skills to run a successful farm team and business”.
It is naturally far easier to justify the purchase of a new piece of machinery than to invest time and energy in emotional intelligence or guiding someone through personal hardship. But why is that so often the case?
Is it the fear of admitting vulnerability?
Is it the concern over missing KPIs, losing face or questioning the return on investment?
Farming is driven by measurable KPIs that track physical assets – yet return on investment can also be seen in the time spent listening to your team, understanding their challenges and supporting their wellbeing. If a conversation or piece of guidance leads to improved morale or performance, then that is a SIGNIFICANT return in itself.
As you are aware, FCN stands for belonging, support and inclusion. As farms grow in size and workforces shrink, isolation and invisibility can become embedded within the industry. If the person in the cab does not feel heard, does not understand the “why” behind their task, or operates within a culture of “just get on with it”, then that machine will never run at full capacity. This is where the hidden costs of farming truly exist. I summarise these impacts through four key components:
The “Silent” Breakdowns, the “Friction” Loss, the “Structural” Failure and Trading “Invisible” for “Invaluable”. Each reflects how undervaluing people leads to reduced efficiency, high turnover and long term emotional and financial instability.
We proudly pay technicians to diagnose faults through a laptop – but are we willing to “plug in” to our teams? Listening, communication and feedback may feel invisible at first, but over time they create stable teams, scalable businesses and leaders who are no longer constantly “putting out fires”.
It is time we stopped treating ‘human skills’ as ‘soft’ and ‘optional extras’ but rather recognised them as the engine of long-term success.
Alex Cotterill:
My recent volunteering with FCN – from frontline support roles at agricultural shows to published articles on Kat Thorne’s positive wellbeing tips and my opinions on mental health connections with attending shows and markets – has been guided by one consistent theme: the importance of community, being heard and building healthy mindsets both individually and collectively. These so-called ‘soft’ skills must now be recognised as ‘essential’ skills.
With increasing political and financial pressures across the UK agricultural industry, recent months have seen powerful demonstrations of unity across shows, events and rallies. These displays reflect the resilience, strength and camaraderie that define the industry – and are all rooted in our human side.
Mental strength, community spirit and collective voice are not mechanical functions. They are human ones.
So, without these ‘soft’ human skills – where would UK agriculture be today??