Description

Episode 5: BRIDGING THE LEADERSHIP “GAPS” IN THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY 

"Emotional intelligence is the linchpin... If you can't manage self, then you won't be able to handle that $10,000 worth of stress that's coming your way.” ~Billy Terry 

This week on the People-Forward Leadership™ Podcast, I talk with the former Executive Director of the National Transit Institute about the critical leadership skills missing in today's transportation industry. Discover what transportation CEOs say about their leadership challenges, how emotional intelligence is necessary in reshaping technical workplaces, and practical approaches to developing people-forward leader™s in highly regulated environments. Whether in transportation or another technical field, you'll gain valuable insights on addressing leadership gaps in your organization. 

About the Guest: 

Billy Terry is the current Vice President for the Northeast Region for AtkinsRéalis and the former Executive Director of the National Transit Institute at Rutgers University. His extensive career includes senior roles at the American Public Transportation Association, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the District Department of Transportation. 

Key Takeaways for Leaders: 

• Technical Expertise ≠ Leadership Ability: Organizations often promote individuals based on technical skills without providing proper leadership training. Recognize this gap and implement structured development programs to help technical experts transition successfully into leadership roles. 
• Mid-Level Managers Are Your Critical Link: As Billy notes, mid-level managers represent the largest volume of leaders in most organizations and can become efficiency bottlenecks when not properly equipped with communication, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence skills. 
• Make Learning Accessible: When NTI shifted to virtual training during the pandemic, they unexpectedly reached a more diverse audience, including smaller rural agencies that couldn't afford travel expenses. Consider how your leadership development approach might unintentionally exclude valuable talent. 
• Tiered Learning Works Better Than One-Size-Fits-All: Develop different levels of training for varying experience levels rather than "shoehorning" everyone into the same curriculum. This approach dramatically improves engagement and learning outcomes. 
• Micro-Learning Can Bridge the Gap: If comprehensive programs aren't feasible, implement shorter, focused training sessions. As Billy said, "My grandmother used to say something better than nothing" – even partial development is better than none at all."

Resources & Links 

• Learn more about the People-Forward Leadership™ framework  

• Recommended reading on building trust and collaboration in teams. 
•  Get the 3 Pillars of People-Forward Leadership™  

Call to Action 

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