Cultivating a Productive Team with Megan Schmit

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Megan Schmit is the Vice President of Northern Grain and Fertilizer for Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). Her background is focused on the Farm Gate with row crop producers throughout the USA in corn, soybeans, wheat, and specialty crops. She started in the Agriculture industry as a grain originator for an ethanol plant in Northern IL- since then her passion has centered around helping producers manage their risk and maximize their opportunity, while helping them stay relevant in an ever changing environment- including areas like regenerative agriculture and sustainability. In her current role she’s responsible for ADM’s grain tributary to the Pacific Northwest and all Wholesale and Farm-Direct Fertilizer in North America.

Episode Summary:

In this illuminating episode of the intentional agribusiness Leader podcast, Mark converses with Megan Schmit about the concept of intentional leadership within the realm of agribusiness. Kicking off with the pressing question of what it means to be intentional, Megan shares her thought-provoking perspective, highlighting purposeful action and clear expectations as foundational elements of intentional leadership.

The discussion delves deep into intentional leadership's impact on talent retention and creating a thriving work environment. Megan emphasizes the significance of understanding and meeting team members' needs, fostering a culture that values each person's contribution, and investing time in team support. She also shares practical insights into maintaining personal productivity and energy, suggesting strategies like thoughtful calendar management, self-care, and positive thinking.

Key Takeaways:

• Intentional leadership is about being purposeful and thoughtful in actions, steering away from randomness to achieve desired outcomes.
• The cultivation of company culture is crucial and should include all team members' input for it to be genuinely embraced and effective.
• Self-awareness and managing one's energy are key to staying productive as a leader.
• Vulnerability and openness in leadership can create an environment of trust and encourage stronger connections within a team.
• Personal development goals for leaders, like courage and confidence, are important areas to focus on for continued growth and effectiveness.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Being intentional is being thoughtful about things, being purposeful, and having a clear expectation of results." - Megan Schmit
2. "The key to me is building a culture around that helps them feel important and valuable and part of the big picture." - Megan Schmit
3. "For me, it's really been key around the calendar." - Megan Schmit, on maintaining productivity
4. "The biggest key is meeting people where they are having that relationship, that connection with them." - Megan Schmit
5. "Every single day, I find myself a little out of my comfort zone, and for a lot of people, not being in your comfort zone is scary." - Megan Schmit

Resources:

• Book Recommendation: "Energy Leadership" by Bruce Schneider
• Book Recommendation: "Mind Gym"
• Mention of Chat GPT for gathering insights

Encouraging listeners to delve into the full episode for a greater understanding of intentional leadership, tune in to learn how strategic planning and thoughtful leadership can profoundly influence an organization's culture and success. Stay connected with us for more enlightening content that will help you lead intentionally in your personal and professional life.