BNSF Railway’s People Leader Training (PLT) program began in 2001 and is sponsored by the company’s executive team. The purpose is to grow leadership capability while supporting the consistent implementation of the BNSF Leadership Model, which includes:
- Create a Compelling Vision
- Model the Way
- Lead More; Manage Less
- Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
- Make Development a Priority
Program Details
Every year, more than 5,200 BNSF people leaders attend PLT in target audience groups cascading from the executive team to individual contributors. This represents nearly 100 percent of BNSF’s exempt population, and100 percent attendance is achieved every year. The program focus is determined through a needs analysis. The Leadership Development Steering Team (LDST) sponsors the program content, and the program is always custom developed for BNSF.
Typically, PLT consists of facilitator-led training and one coach per table of five to six participants. The table coach provides group coaching to reinforce the content, facilitate learning practices, and ensure real-world application. BNSF leaders have supported the use of PLT coaches since the inception of the program. Every PLT consists of practical tools that can be used back on the job, assessment information, and a business update presented by a BNSF leader.
BNSF also supports a “teambuilding with a purpose” approach to leadership development. Examples of this include having PLT participants build bicycles for and with disadvantaged children and assembling mechanical hands for victims of landmines and earthquakes. By combining the purposeful exercises with learning content, BNSF achieves a dual purpose of developing leaders in a way that is consistent with its Vision, Values, and Leadership Model.
Results
BNSF’s Organization Effectiveness surveys demonstrate that consistent focus on leadership development has made a demonstrable difference. The “language” of the Leadership Model is prevalent at BNSF; the company knows PLT is a big part of the success equation. PLT participants have rated the overall program an average of 6.08 on a 7-point scale.
BNSF evaluates success in several ways: safety, productivity, customer satisfaction, and team engagement. The company has achieved significant improvement in numerous business metrics, including:
- Safety (68 percent reduction in employee injuries since 2000)
- Customer service (39-point improvement in overall customer experience since 2006)
- Retention (low turnover at 7.6 percent—including 4 percent of which is retirements; overall turnover is 6 percent below that of industry peers)
- Internal promotion/placement (90 percent of director and above roles filled internally).
While many factors contribute to success in these metrics, BNSF leaders frequently describe the leadership evolution at the company. In doing so, they always mention the impact of the BNSF Leadership Model and the annual People Leader Training.
