In this Q+A series, we’ve asked our Coaches to share their insights into the work they do and how our services can support you. Whether you’re looking for guidance on Leadership, Succession Planning, or Business & Strategy, this series will give you a deeper understanding of how we help Rural New Zealanders navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Our goal? To provide the knowledge, tools, and support you need to move forward with clarity, confidence, and a strong network behind you.
Read Scott Neeley, Partner in Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and the Manawatu's Q+A below.
Who are your typical clients?
I typically work with privately owned ‘family businesses.’ My clients are usually a married couple or a surviving partner (widow) who have adult children between the ages of 20 and 45. The businesses they own and operate are involved in the primary industries, such as farming or growing. They are open to and looking for ways to make progress and move forward with certainty, but do not necessarily know how to do this.
Which Rural Coach services are most popular with your clients?
Over half of my work with Rural Coach focuses on family Succession Planning. I am passionate about this field and truly enjoy it. These relationships often evolve into ongoing engagements where, after the initial phase, we address communication, structure, governance processes, and progress toward the family’s and business’s desired future state. Families see the value of having someone independent to support them in navigating the conversations they need to have.
What are the most common challenges you see your clients facing?
Communication and aligning our thoughts can be challenging. Having open, honest conversations about important issues is difficult because human nature often interferes. We tend to move on or struggle to understand someone else’s perspective as well as we believe we do. This can lead to assumptions being made, which can be unhelpful; we need to change ‘I think’ into ‘I know’.
Getting to a position where a family actually understands each other and what matters most can be a challenge, but it's awesome when they find their way.
How do you get the clients’ good ideas out of their heads?
With no download button to get all of the good ideas out of people’s heads, we have processes to help people build a picture of ‘where they want to be’. We use our discovery process and provide people with things to work through in their own time. Then, we spend time together getting all these good ideas out of their heads and actually onto paper. Patience and good questions are what we bring to the table.
What factors do you see commonly preventing clients from achieving their dreams/objective
Uncertainty amongst themselves about what they want for themselves/family/business.
Not spending enough time stepping back and getting on the same page means that all the good ideas they have in their heads are unavailable for discussion and collaboration.
Farmers and growers are great at getting on with their operations, but they often don’t allocate time to look further ahead formally as a team.
What gives you the most joy when working with your clients?
I enjoy seeing people, families, and businesses overcome the roadblocks they have put in front of themselves. Often, our roadblocks are self-imposed, and we have the answers on how to remove them, but need support to achieve this. The family team that is built through the process and the relief the family feels when they work through the first family meeting leaves them optimistic about the future.
Tell us about any recent client wins.
Here's some recent feedback that I received from a couple of Succession Planning clients:
"Thank you Scott so much for Friday’s Succession Planning meeting. I felt there was real value in sharing the history of our business with our children and the financial viability also. I have had such positive feedback from our children after the meeting as well. There is a lot for them to take in but they now realise that there are no questions barred and we are keen for them to get involved in any way. I felt very proud to sit in the room and listen to my children speak about their aspirations and values. It is an exciting future for us, with two of the children keen to get involved in the family business. We look forward to working with you to guide some of those discussions and decisions. Thanks again." - Iain and Leanne
If you're ready to take the next step— whether it's gaining clarity on Leadership, tackling Succession Planning, or setting a long-term vision—we're here to help. Click here to find a Coach in your region.
