Since the onset of 2020, managers across all industries have faced unique and long-lasting challenges. The fuel management industry is no exception. With soaring fuel prices and the ongoing driver shortage, fuel distributors are facing new challenges from their client base.
Embrace change
Being able to embrace change is a top quality of an effective leader in any industry. Now more than ever before, the fuel industry is experiencing major change. With sustainability goals pushing electrification to the forefront of fleet strategy and rapidly advancing technology creating more data than ever before, today’s fuel distributors must embrace change to lead the way towards a new future of fleet.
Embracing change means more than setting a strategy. Effective leaders must be able to rally their teams, support change management processes, accept criticism, and adjust priorities as needed. Being a good fleet manager isn’t just about change—it’s about leading your team through change towards a brighter future.
Champion your organization’s vision
Members of a fuel distribution team will not blindly follow the manager. Each employee needs to understand the direction and vision of the department in order to see how they impact overall operations. A good leader will share their vision with their teams often and work to maintain visibility into the decisions that impact the organization in both the short- and long-term.
Learn from mistakes
How a leader handles failure directly impacts company performance. No leader will make the right calls 100% of the time, but it is when the leader handles mistakes or strategic missteps with humility and accountability that positive changes can be made. When faced with challenges, good fleet managers should take responsibility for the part they played, identify what should have been done differently, and make a plan to move forward. Be sure to communicate openly and honestly with the teams involved.
Ask why
In any industry, burnout is a real challenge. When leaders experience burnout, or career-related fatigue, it can be helpful to go back to basics. Why do you do the work that you do? Fuel distribution organizations are vital to communities. They keep vehicles and the people inside them safe. They keep our supply chain moving. If you begin to feel fatigue in your role as a leader, take a few moments to consider why your work matters.
At FuelDrive, we build software and hardware solutions. But why? If we stop to ask ourselves why we do the work that we do, our ultimate goals are easy to identify. Our ‘why’: we build software and hardware solutions that keep our customers and the people they serve safe, happy, and on-the-move.
