As Sain Associates has grown over the past 50 years, the ways that we lead have changed. The leaders of today must constantly evolve their thinking and leadership styles when it comes to working with the Gen Xers and Ys. This generation looks at careers from the perspective of an experience and they are not afraid to change jobs often. Managers must be conscientious of this and be flexible in the way they approach management. However, two leadership traits that have remained the same are good communication and being a role model. No matter how offices progress, open communication and setting an example for employees are two key leadership skills a good leader must possess.
I have been working with Sain for 24 years and as Transportation Team Leader/Associate, I have witnessed first-hand how leadership has transitioned over the years. Our approach has matured into more of a collaborative leadership style instead of leading from the top-down. Teams now evaluate the decisions that must be made and are empowered in the decision-making process.
In addition, leaders must be cognizant of ever-changing technology trends and be willing to adapt to change, be people-oriented rather than task-oriented, and they must be flexible when it comes to motivating employees to do their best. Sain’s approach to leadership defines the company’s culture by:
- Establishing and communicating clear expectations and vision in an inspiring way
- Committing to organizational goals
- Investing in people’s growth and individual goals
- Empowering people to make decisions while providing support
- Creating confidence in those that they lead
- Encouraging a professional and positive environment
Sain’s leadership program pairs mentors with mentees to show them how to lead by example. In addition, new managers and leaders are encouraged to participate in PSMJ “Bootcamp” training. Our leaders also develop their skills through training that focuses on topics that align with our strategic plan.
I look forward to what the next 50 years will bring as we lead Sain into the future. My prediction is that there will be a continued shift towards leading people over task-oriented leadership. I also believe that employee growth and team collaboration will be even more important in the future.