By Michelle L. Wahl, CAPP
Have you ever heard the saying “without change there is no future”? How about John F. Kennedy’s perspective, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” This is one of my favorite quotes personally and professionally.
I often share with parking employees we have to continue to change to meet the expectations of the future. Embracing change is hard for so many employees, but it is one thing that motivates me to seek out new parking innovations and sparks my creative side on how to improve the customer parking experience. How can I lead better? Do I need to change or does my operation need to do things differently to meet customer expectations?
I have been in two different arenas from a university parking environment to now the municipal side. While change may bring some angst or anxiety you get used to a certain response or non-response from administrators. Not only is the City of Bloomington getting a new mayor this year, it is also an electoral year. However, I believe a certain amount of change makes us better professionals, better service agents to our community at large and provides a different look on how we should be doing things differently if it is broken! I know clear directives and strong leadership ensures that we are on the same path to making our City better each year.
My hope not only for my staff but for all the parking professionals going through “the changing of the guard”, that you keep moving forward with your mission, listen, seek to understand first and give the new administration the opportunity to prove themselves. Always provide honest feedback to your department head about how the staff is transitioning. Ask questions for clarification if you don’t understand, don’t assume you have all the facts. Be open to see both sides. I am probably going to have to read this advice in the coming months as I go through the first administrative change in my professional career in the city.
Are you going through changing of the guard, administration and or leadership? How will approach your next administrative change? From John F. Kennedy’s perspective will you choose, growth or safety?
Michelle L. Wahl, CAPP, is the Parking Services Director for the City of Bloomington, IN. Michelle can be reached at michelle.wahl@bloomington.in.gov.