Darren Goebel: Clear Goal-Orientated Plans Yields Intentional Leadership

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Darren Goebel is an agronomist and director of Global Agronomy and Farm Solutions at AGCO Corporation, a position he has held since February of 2018. In this role Darren leads AGCO’s agronomy and farm solutions team, a global team of agronomists whose goal is to prove ROI and effectiveness of advanced decision agriculture solutions and existing AGCO machinery on test farms throughout the world leading to commercialization of products and services that bring enhanced value to AGCO customers. Darren has been a crop consultant and agronomist throughout his career, with work encompassing virtually all crops and geographies including Southeast Asia, China, India, Eastern Europe, Brazil Mexico, U.S., and Canada.

Darren applies his unique combination of technical agronomy, precision farming, research, sales, marketing and business experience to ensure AGCO’s Agronomy and Farm Solutions team effectively evaluates the impact of equipment design, technology and use on crop production and performance.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast, host Mark Jewell is joined by Darren Goebel from AGCO. Darren sheds light on the significance of intentionality in leadership and agribusiness, sharing insights on setting clear goals, leveraging team strengths, and driving innovation to enhance farm profitability.

The conversation delves deep into the practical aspects of being intentional, with Darren elaborating on the processes and steps necessary for successful execution of plans. He explains the importance of coaching and continuous communication to align team members with overarching goals. They discuss the North Star of helping farmers improve profitability and the methods Darren’s team employs, including on-field observations and scientific approaches.

Furthermore, the episode tackles the critical issue of talent attraction and retention within large corporations like AGCO. Darren emphasizes the role of culture, integrity, and leadership that trickles down from the top management. He shares strategies used by AGCO to ensure a supportive and high-integrity work environment that retains talent. The conversation wraps up with Darren’s take on driving team compliance, handling resistance, and instilling productive habits, punctuated by thought-provoking quotes and actionable advice.

Key Takeaways:

• Setting clear, goal-oriented plans is essential for intentional leadership.
• Effective communication and coaching are key to aligning teams with company goals.
• Observational research on farms can highlight unseen profit-limiting factors.
• Building a strong, integrity-driven culture from the top down aids in talent retention.
• Implementing regular feedback and goal review sessions fosters accountability and progress.

Notable Quotes:

1. Darren Goebel: "When you're intentional, you say, you know, this is my lighthouse. This is where I'm headed."
2. Darren Goebel: "Whatever the data shows, that's what it is. Whether it helps us sell a piece of equipment or not."
3. Mark Jewell: "Cognitive dissonance plays a huge role in both personal growth and professional development."
4. Darren Goebel: "You need to learn it for yourselves. They need to go through the pain too, because you just can't tell people stuff."
5. Darren Goebel: "From a leadership perspective, you need to recognize them and make them feel good about what they've done."

For a deeper dive into these topics and more, make sure to listen to the full episode!