New research into forwarding and logistics has found that businesses need to give more attention to the human side of the industry.
The novosensus report, which involved researchers speaking with 1,007 people working in the forwarding and logistics industry, found that overall, employees in in the sector rate their companies slightly above the average.
However, the ratings of “key critical leadership behaviours” are significantly below average.
“To a certain degree, it seems that people in the industry at times feel overlooked by their companies and leaders,” the report states.
“That is not good enough, and it creates many opportunities for companies to significantly improve.”
The research found that leaders need to improve their soft leadership capabilities, that the company vision is not clear enough, that the level of collaboration is mediocre and the level of “silo mentality” is disturbing company culture and employees.
On a more positive note, the industry scored above average in how employees experience their colleagues, how they experience personal resources and how they experience their company.
In order to improve the situation in terms of leadership, the report identified five areas of improvement.
Companies should create a clear company vision and mission and engage both the hearts and minds of their employees.
They should make sure employees feel valued, appreciated and recognised. Leadership qualities must improve and leaders must become better at building esteem, giving constructive feedback, inspire, be emphatic and appreciate employees.
Elsewhere, internal collaboration must improve in order to avoid increases in silo mentality and there should be structured career development.
“People can no longer be overlooked,” the report concludes. “Leaders have to become more collaborative and tuned in with their employees and their needs. They must be enablers of their people.
“Company visions must engage both the hearts and minds of their employees. It must be fun, purposeful and fulfilling to be a logistician or freight forwarder.”
