Some advice from the outside looking in - Be Nice.

I have taken some time off from the work world to repurpose myself and regain a sense of balance back in my life before I step back into the fast paced world of global logistics. I am so grateful for this opportunity and thank those who helped make it possible.

I have spent the last month or so reconnecting back with the marketplace and going back in for some overdue tune-ups on my education. Having the luxury of seeing things from all perspectives I do have comments for those involved in the day-to-day processes of supplying the world the goods it needs every day.

Be Nice

Be nice to yourself and be nice to those you work with. Be nice to those who either buy or sell logistics services from each other. These are such turbulent times that some common courtesy will help all of us get through the day with our jobs intact. We often talk about how the pendulum swings so far in each direction in our industry. If a carrier takes care of you today you need to remember that when the day comes that they need your help. It will come back to a time where they do need your help.

The driver who is desperately trying to figure out how to best work with the new ELD in his or her truck needs your help. Stop punishing them for the smallest of infractions. Stop looking for reasons to send them to the back of the line. Be nice to them. Be grateful they are doing the tough job they are.

Logistics provider reps are clapping their hands together and excited to go sell their services in this new inflationary market. It really has become order taking these days. Many IT consulting firms were in the same place in 1999. Big smiles, big orders, and big rates. How many of them are still around almost 20 years later? Not many. Be nice and be reasonable. The customer you help take care of today should remember you in a couple years when you have to sell again.

Operations leaders got comfortable with simply throwing things over the wall to the warehouse and forcing the Logistics teams figure out how to deliver the order at the lowest costs. How many times do you release an order for shipment? How bad is the packaging now? The Logistics teams can’t overcome these right now. The market won’t let them. It’s time to take a demand channel view into consideration and not just the 4 walls of the plant.

Finance teams don’t like seeing costs go up. As Rick Harris (of Harris Lean Systems) would say… “I know you don’t like the number. That’s irrelevant. It’s the number.” If your organization won’t improve technology, upgrade talent, or correct the flaws in the Enterprise Value stream what do you think will happen in these inflationary times? On behalf of my brothers and sisters in Logistics PLEASE look to partner with them. Help them find improvements or effective methods of explaining what is happening. Turning them on a spit at monthly reviews won’t change anything.

It’s going to take common courtesy, common sense, and personal accountability to find improvement opportunities in these current market conditions. It’s easy to spend premium dollars but that doesn’t make it right. You can expect rate reductions but that won’t make it happen. You can receive an unwarranted rate increase but that won’t make it last past the next sales person calling on your customer.

From someone who will join you again in the marketplace; Be nice, work hard, work smart. I’ll see you soon!