b'PARTNER CONTENTFrom Crisis to Clarity: Making Leadershipa Strategic Priority in AgBy: Aaron Locker, Managing Director, Kincannon & ReedT he leadership conversation in agriculture hasteams that lead well together because, like professional sports teams, even the shifted. Its no longer surprising that executivemost talented individuals wont win championships without a shared culture of talent is in short supplyorganizations areleadership and cohesion. feeling the impact daily. The real question now is: What comes next? The Role of Leadership AssessmentThe companies shaping the future of ag arentThe most successful companies start by assessing what they have and then just filling roles. Theyre building leadership teamsdetermine the skill sets needed that align with their vision.Leadership with the right mix of capability, cohesion and vision,assessments bring clarity. These diagnostic tools uncover team strengths, gaps, and making talent a core part of business strategy.and dynamics, helping answer key questions:Its not just about who leads, but how leadership isDo we have the right mix of strategy, execution, andstructured for long-term success. influence? Where are collaboration or communication breaking down? Why Leadership Belongs in Business Strategy Which behaviors support or undermine team performance?Executive talent drives operational execution,Armed with this insight, companies can make smarter decisions about innovation, culture and succession. Yet too often,succession, development, team structure, and culture.talent planning remains disconnected from broader strategy, costing companies agility andThe Measurable Impact of Leadership Assessmentsperformance. Major transitionswhether growth, succession, or transformationare Organizations that treat leadership as a strategichigh-stakes. According to McKinsey, 55% of a transformations value loss occurs asset, integrating it into boardroom conversationsduring and after implementation, often due to leadership misalignment or lack and growth plans, consistently outperform theirof accountability.peers. Leadership is too important to leave onLeadership assessments help mitigate this risk by providing clarity around autopilot. team dynamics, decision-making styles, and leadership gaps. When used strategically, they: Align teams before and during major transitions Accelerate onboarding and execution Improve succession and promotion decisions Strengthen communication and cohesion at the topIn short, assessments create the visibility organizations need to protect value and drive performance, especially when it matters most.A Living, Strategic System Leadership assessments shouldnt just happen when a role opens; theyre a strategic tool for building stronger teams, shaping better decisions, and driving sustained success. Like margins or machinery, leadership requires ongoing attention and investment. Closing the leadership gap in Aligned Teams Drive Results agriculture will require intentional strategy and Todays most effective leadership teams arent builttools that turn insight into action, not reactive around individual stars. Theyre built for alignment:hiring.collaboration, complementary strengths, andFor over 40 years, Kincannon & Reed has worked exclusively in food and shared priorities. agriculture, helping organizations identify, recruit, and support the leaders who Even experienced executives can slow progress ifwill shape the industrys future. If youre thinking about your leadership needs, we their goals or working styles clash. Misalignment atwelcome the conversation.the top leads to poor decisions and lost momentum. The goal isnt just to hire great leaders, its to buildAaron Locker, K&R Managing Director, alocker@krsearch.com | 1-302-354-5709OCTOBER 2025SEEDWORLD.COM /37'