1. Positioning Yourself for Change
Ten Steps to Success in your Transportation Department
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

2. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Purpose
The goal for today is that you will leave with a tangible plan to take steps to improve your operation. Key points include:
Vision - Focus - Values
Plan of Action - Goals - Timelines
Measuring Progress
Developing people
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

3. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step One
Dream and Imagine
What do you want in your department?
What do you want personally?
What do you want for others?
Think
What is it you want to accomplish?
Where will you start?
Who will join you?
Analyze and examine
What information is provided in historical data?
What trends exist? Financially, materially, personnel, enrollment, buildings, buses, special education
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

4. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Two
Ask questions of others in your department and in your district.
Examine your organizational structure.
Create a Vision.
Can you see it in your mind?
Physical assets - New buses or facility, equipment
Personal characteristics - everyone getting along, having fun together, yearning to learn more, etc.
Cast the Vision.
Will others join you in your quest?
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

5. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Three
Develop the vision in writing.
Common Values – Establish your Foundation
Develop a vision statement based on common values.
Find ways to brainstorm and identify the most important through some numerical ranking.
Create a five-year action plan.
Take responses gathered in Steps One and Two and categorize and quantify into subject areas.
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

6. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Four
Determine who is involved in moving forward.
The more the merrier
Team leaders or facilitators
Training
Trust, small group dynamics, generational differences, personality types
Means and methods to accomplish action plans
Team assignments, road maps, time lines
Begin with the end in mind and work backwards.
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

7. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Five
Set the example, model the way, take the lead
Encourage others, provide feedback and recognition
“Give ’em the Pickle,” notes, cards
Challenge the process if it isn’t working.
FTE, Budget (credit/debit), Job descriptions
Communicate, keep folks informed
Projected messages, Dialogue with the Director
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

8. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Six
Define your outcomes.
Guide your teams to measure areas that support the vision and mission.
Ensure the first measurements are easy enough to ensure success.
Post your progress on data walls.
Refine policies, develop procedures, and clarify expectations through work instructions.
Know your teams – stay in touch.
Visit the drivers’ room, be in the shop, etc.
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

9. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Seven
Planning Cycle
Follow through and follow up.
Partnerships
Union leadership, other departments, get involved
Administrator group, associations
Tough love – be kind, be firm, be friendly
Positive discipline/coaching
Couching, second chances, journaling
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

10. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Eight
Take risks to improve.
Babies walking, people skiing, learning to golf or cook, or riding a bicycle… You will fail before you improve.
Focus on the customer with constraints.
Established service levels
Scheduled PMs, ratio of spares dictates trips, number of mechanics per bus, distance between stops
Within resources
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

11. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Nine
Hire right
Create a culture.
Relationships, efficiency, effectiveness, respected, professional image, caring attitude, “the best!”
Tell your story.
Leadership means you are not a passenger.
On a long trip you cannot drive the bus by yourself.
Leaders are patient.
Bus plan, fleet software, new property
No excuses
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J

12. Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Step Ten
Continuous improvement means you are always on a journey and never seem to arrive.
Take time to celebrate.
BBQ
THE END……………….
Revised 6/7/2011
Michael Shields, Salem-Keizer School District 24J