Do you have a career in logistics and want to be recognized as a leader? Whether you are an independent freight agent or part of a large company, your ability to lead the team can help you achieve your goals.
All leaders have something in common: people follow them. Freight agents managing teams are also leaders because they have employees following them. Leadership in logistics involves being able to monitor all logistics-related activities of a company, encouraging the team to deliver the best results, and constantly develop innovative solutions to optimize the supply chain strategy.
So, what does it mean to be a good logistics leader? Well, first off, you need to know how to motivate people and get them excited about their work. The best leaders can create an environment where everyone feels empowered at work—and they do this by leading by example and setting clear expectations through regular feedback sessions with their employees.
A good logistics leader needs to ensure that all processes run smoothly, as well as identify ways of gaining a competitive advantage in the market. Therefore, a professional with strong leadership in logistics is a key component of a company’s profit and success.
But, what skills should you have as a leader?
- See the big picture: As a leader in logistics, you need to be able to see the big picture of all operations. You must understand how each stage of the process fits together and how each stage impacts the next.
- Communicate properly: It is essential to maintain an open relationship with all your team, in which you are comfortable enough to express your opinion about the outcome of the operation and suggest improvements.
- Think forward: You should always be thinking forward. You need to anticipate what might be coming up next in your supply chain and come up with a solution before it even arises. This requires thorough planning and strategic thinking.
- Be competitive: A leader in logistics should constantly try to implement strategies that have a real impact on a company’s performance: improving their processes and differentiating them from the competition.
- Understand the market: As a leader, it is crucial to understand the market you are operating in. You should also be equipped with information about the logistics market as well as other company’s operations.
- Be a team player: No leader exists if they don’t have a team, right? So being a good logistics manager implies acknowledging that it is the group effort that makes every aspect of your industry success. Know your team: discover each employee’s strengths and work on them. Pay attention to your team efforts and commend on their good work!
- Pay attention to detail: Being organized and paying attention to the smallest things in a leader’s daily routine is essential to avoid any problems or complications.
- Always follow up with each step: While you are involved in each step of the process from start until finish, you should always follow up with each step so that if a difficulty arises, you can find solutions and avoid complications.
- Have good interpersonal skills: Good interpersonal skills are a must for a leader, as you’ll be interacting with people from all levels of the company. From operational workers to sales executives and directors to suppliers and clients, you’ll need to be able to relate with everyone and connect with them—face-to-face or written.
Successful freight brokers are ready and willing to adapt as leaders. You should understand success is accelerated when a team works together. As a freight broker, you could grow as a leader by communicating effectively, keeping up with current affairs, being opportunistic, focusing on relationships, listening, and embracing technology. Your ability to manage your team well leads to financial freedom and a life well-lived.
