THOUGHT LEADER
Leading From the Front (Without Just Taking a Walk)
Written by Rosalyn Vann-Jackson, MBA, CDPT L
eadership is one of those words that has been defined, debated and dissect-
ed in every business book, training session and coffee shop conversation. At its core, leadership is about the ability to influence others toward achieving a common goal. But here’s something worth noting: The word leader contains the word lead. Lead means “first,” “ahead,” “top,” and yes, “followed.” That last one, followed, is important. John Maxwell puts it bluntly: “If you are leading and no one is following, then you are not actually leading; you are sim- ply taking a walk.” That quote captures the essence of leadership, espe- cially in pupil transportation. It is not just about the title, the office or the years of experi- ence. It is about whether your people are choosing to follow you. Because leadership, at its heart, is influence. And in our line of work, that influence can inspire the best in our teams or bring out the worst. Whether we realize it or not, we set the tone. How we
show up directly impacts how our drivers, aides, me- chanics, dispatchers, and office staff show up for each other and for the students we serve.
Leading vs. Managing: A Crucial Difference One of the most common misconceptions is that lead- ership and management are the same thing. They are
related, but they are not inter- changeable. Leaders lead people. They
Leadership, at its heart, is influence. And in our line of
work, that influence can inspire the best in our teams or bring out the worst.
inspire, influence and set the vision. Leadership is inherently strategic. It is about where we are going and why. Managers manage things: Tasks, sched- ules, projects and resources. Management is tactical. It is about how we are going to get there and making sure the wheels, literally and figuratively, keep turning. The best leaders in transpor-
tation know when to step into tactical operations. Yes, some- times you have to jump in and route a bus or cover a driver shortage. But their greatest value comes from thinking ahead, setting direction and enabling their teams to succeed without needing constant oversight.
The Influence Factor Here is the thing: People are influenced far more by what
you do than what you say. They are also quick to notice when what you do and what you say do not match up. If you talk about safety but routinely cut corners to
make a deadline, your team will notice. If you preach about work-life balance but send late-night emails that demand answers by morning, they will notice that, too. Influence is built or broken in the everyday moments—
how you handle stress, how you treat mistakes and how you acknowledge hard work. In transportation, this influence extends beyond your team to the students and families who depend on you.
Rosalyn Vann-Jackson was joined by Alexandra Robinson, Timothy Purvis and Pamela McDonald at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada to present the seminar, “So, You Want to be a Transportation Supervisor?” Read more about the annual learning experience at
stnonline.com/go/na.
24 School Transportation News • OCTOBER 2025
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