 Moving Out of the Comfort Zone
Robyn L. Louderback recently made transitions between office and field work. She was a national account manager in Norfolk Southern’s marketing organization before joining operations as assistant terminal superintendent in Chicago. Today, she’s a business development manager in Roanoke.
What’s it like to move from an office position to a field position?
It was challenging yet rewarding. The move took me out of my comfort zone and exposed me to areas in which I didn’t have training. While working in sales, I struggled to talk with my customers about our service with any degree of certainty. I knew that if I wanted a future with this company, I’d better understand what it is we actually do. Our product is our service – to sell it, I have to understand it.
What are the similarities between the two that people might not think of?
The two environments are as similar as they are different. Each department in this organization has a mission, a focus and a set of products to deliver. Each has schedules, deadlines, metrics and reports. Each is accountable for a budget, for asset utilization and for growth goals. The key to working well together includes empathy, respect and communication. Departments need to speak the same language.
How does diversity help us in operations?
Diversity is the foundation of the strong operation we run today. Diversity is so much more than the obvious. We are diverse because of our backgrounds, education, training and experiences -- not just sex, skin color or religion. Diversity is about being knowledgeable, willing to try, willing to learn and making decisions in the interest of progress. Chicago is a great example of how diversity is taking this company forward.
How does cross-training promote diversity?
Each hard-working Norfolk Southern employee should know there are opportunities in this company to enhance their existing skills and learn new ones, to diversify their experiences and to enrich their chances for a successful future. I am proud to work side by side with my teammates, overcoming obstacles and sharing in successes. Teaching each other about our own strengths allows everyone to grow. I am a changed manager and person because of this opportunity and my teammates. Thank you, Team Chicago. |
