July in Review: Proactive Leadership in Action
A look back at this month’s leadership stories—and a new series shaped by your feedback launches in August
As we wrap up July, the month’s articles tackled a range of challenges transportation leaders are facing—from service recovery to operational consistency to emergency response. While each story stood on its own, a clear throughline emerged: success favors those who are prepared. Whether managing daily operations or navigating the unexpected, the strongest teams are led by those who act early, not just react fast.
Here’s a quick recap of this month’s featured pieces:
Fix the Failure, Win the Customer
In this piece, also published on the ABA Blog, I explored how companies can turn service failures into loyalty-building moments—if they lead with transparency, accountability, and a sense of urgency.
Six Ways to Sunday – or Six Ways to Undermine a Great Operation
This article examines how well-intentioned but inconsistent leadership decisions can gradually erode even the best-run operations, and offers guidance on how to address this issue.
Lead Before the Alert
Using the recent Texas floods as a case study, this article highlighted the critical importance of practicing emergency plans and exercising leadership before the crisis begins.
Standardization + Differentiation = Sustainable Growth
This piece breaks down the tension between creating consistent processes and offering unique value, and why companies that master both will position themselves for long-term success.
Looking Ahead to August
Next month, I’ll continue to explore leadership-focused themes with articles including:
A Walk, A Geyser, and a Leadership Lesson
Great Companies Make It Easy for Customers
I’ll also debut a series based on responses from a recent reader poll, where I asked:
“What’s the biggest operational challenge facing your transportation business today?”
Top responses included:
Driver recruitment & retention
Lack of real-time performance data
Out-of-control variable costs
Rising insurance costs & safety risks
Thank you for reading and for continuing to be part of this community. If a particular topic resonated with you—or if there’s something you'd like to see explored in a future article—feel free to reach out or leave a comment.
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Here’s to staying ahead of the curve.
—Brian