One of the greatest lessons in efficiency can be learned from farmers. Farmer George does not pay his farmhands for hours spent leaning on shovels or chatting by the barn, however scorching the sun might be; he pays for the harvest—the tangible results of their hard work.

In today’s workplaces, the focus is fixed on hours logged, meetings attended, and tasks ticked off to-do lists. But here’s the kicker: corn doesn’t grow faster just because one or more farmers spent extra time staring at it—and told their version of a manager that they did. The same goes for organizational productivity—effort without results is wasted energy.

By adopting the farmer’s approach, businesses can move beyond “busy for busy’s sake” and prioritize what truly matters: paying for value, not time.

Corn doesn’t grow faster just because one or more farmers spent extra time staring at it.

The Farmer’s Method: A Focus on Results

Farmers have one clear goal: harvest. Every decision they make—when to plant, how much water to use, or which fertilizer to apply—is aimed at maximizing their yield. This is why only effort that directly contributes to the outcome is rewarded. 

On the other hand, modern workplaces often fall into the trap of rewarding presence over performance. Employees clock long hours, attend back-to-back meetings, and fill out endless reports, leaving tangible outcomes almost non-existent. 

This disconnect between effort and value creates inefficiencies like: 

• Employees being focused on appearing busy rather than being productive.
• Time being wasted on low-priority or completely unnecessary tasks. 
• Motivation declining when there’s no clear link between effort and reward. 

Apart from these, workplace inefficiencies, such as unnecessary meetings and rigid time tracking, reward activity over impact, which undermines both your employees’ potential and organizational success. 

What to Sow: Efficiency Lessons from the Field 

In the course of our research for this article, we have found out that farmers are, in fact, experts at getting the most value out of limited resources. Here are a few lessons we learned, and what you can do: 

1. Prioritize results over effort

Farmers don’t expend their energy on tasks that do not affect the harvest. Similarly, in your workplace, you should focus on meaningful outcomes. It’s the only way to cause some form of change. 

What you should do: Streamline unnecessary tasks and automate repetitive processes so that your employees can spend more time doing the tasks with high stakes. 

2. Reward performance, not hours 

In farming, workers get paid for what they actually produce—whether it’s the number of bushels they gather or the acres they harvest. It’s a straightforward system that pushes them to focus on getting things done efficiently rather than just putting in their hours. 

What you should do: Build reward systems that tie pay or recognition to actual results. For instance, you can celebrate innovation or strong teamwork instead of just keeping tabs on who clocked the most hours. 

What gets measured gets managed.

3. Strategically allocate resources 

Farmers plan their work by listening to what the land and seasons need. They don’t waste water, labor, or time on activities that won’t make a difference—they put their resources where they’ll have the biggest impact. They’re masters at allocating their resources. Taking the same approach in your organization will do you a world of good.

What you should do: Slow down, and take a look at how you’re using your resources, like employee time, budgets, and tools. Are they focused on the right things? You need to ensure your resources are focused on the projects or goals that bring the most value.

Reaping the Rewards of Change

Adopting the farmer’s mindset doesn’t only afford you the chance to cut out inefficiencies—it also opens your workplace up to culture reshaping. Rewarding employees for meaningful contributions creates this sense of purpose that merely clocking in hours doesn’t give them. It drives motivation. 

As for the managers who are now free from micromanaging employees, they can now shift their energy toward strategy and innovation. The result? A workplace that operates smarter, not harder.

Now imagine this: meetings that matter, time spent wisely, and employees who know their efforts are making a real difference. That’s not just a productive workplace—it’s a thriving one. 

Like a well-tended field, your organization will yield results that speak for themselves.

Focus on Value, Not Time

The lesson from farmers is simple but deep: efficiency is about results, not just effort. When you prioritize value over hours, you unlock the full potential of your workforce. It’s time to rethink outdated practices and build a culture that’s driven by outcomes, not appearances.

Be productive instead of just busy.

So, here’s the real question: Are you paying for results or routines? The answer might just redefine how your organization operates. 

Just like farming, the goal isn’t to count the hours spent—it’s to deliver a harvest worth celebrating.

What do you think?

Are these lessons worth learning? Do you see all this in a different light? Let’s discuss this in the comments!

We’re laying the groundwork for more workplaces to adopt the farmer’s mindset. Want to know how? Look at our talent pool and tell us what you noticed.