STN EXPO Indy Keynote, trainer urges student transporters to discover their fair advantages
By Sylvie di Giusto
As a school transportation leader, have you ever stopped to think about what makes you truly unique? What sets you apart from your colleagues and competitors in the industry? Some common answers include having a specific skill, years of experience, or a strong work ethic. While these are all essential qualities to have, they don’t necessarily make you stand out in a crowded field.
So, what is it that truly makes you one-of-a-kind? It may be your ability to build strong relationships with students, parents, and staff members. You may have a natural talent for problem-solving and innovation and always look for ways to improve processes and procedures. Or, it could be that you have a deep understanding and passion for the safety and well-being of the students you transport.
But let’s dig even deeper. What personal values and beliefs do you possess that influence your approach to your work? Perhaps it’s a belief in the importance of reliability or a commitment to providing exceptional customer service. It could be a deep-rooted passion for education and a belief in its transformative power. Or, consider your origin and story. How have your personal experiences shaped your perspective and approach to transportation and logistics? What competencies have you developed over the years that make you unique in the industry? How often do you reflect on your accomplishments and achievements? And finally, think about your passions and obsessions outside of work: How do they contribute to your unique perspective and approach, and what did you learn from them?
It’s not just one quality that sets you apart from your competitors in the school transportation industry. It’s the combination of a unique set of abilities that make you one-of-a-kind and that you can leverage as your fair advantage.
By exploring your fair advantage, you can gain a greater sense of self-awareness and understanding of what makes you truly unique as a school transportation leader. This, in turn, can help you to develop your professional brand voice, build stronger relationships with stakeholders, make a lasting impact in the education community you serve, and it empowers you to stand out in a sea of sameness instantly.
“But why would I want to stand out, you ask?” Standing out from your peers and competitors is essential in the school transportation industry for several reasons. First, it helps you differentiate yourself from other transportation providers, which can be crucial when seeking new business opportunities or partnerships with other organizations.
Moreover, standing out can also help you to build and maintain strong relationships with your organization’s stakeholders. When you can clearly articulate what sets you apart, you instill confidence in your stakeholders that your organization is the best choice for their transportation needs. By demonstrating your unique qualities, you can build a loyal stakeholder base that is more likely to support your organization’s mission and vision.
But most importantly, standing out in the school transportation industry can positively impact the stakeholders you serve. When you have a fair advantage, you bring more than just transportation services to the table. You bring a unique perspective and set of qualities that can help to enhance the experience of the students, educators, and administrators alike.
By embracing your fair advantage and leveraging your unique qualities and traits, you can elevate yourself and your organization to new heights of success and impact. You can inspire others to follow your lead, attract new stakeholders who share your vision, and make a lasting difference in the lives of the people you serve.
In a field as critical and complex as school transportation, having a fair advantage is not just an advantage. It’s a necessity.
Sylvie di Giusto is an international keynote speaker, author and expert in the field of emotional intelligence. With years of experience working with leaders across various industries, she understands the critical importance of first impressions and the impact they have on personal, professional and organizational success. Di Giusto will be training at the Transportation Director Summit during the STN EXPO Indianapolis in June and that same week providing the opening keynote address.
