ATSSA’s 2021 Convention & Traffic Expo is nearly here and final touches are being put in place. For people who have never had the opportunity to attend, this year’s event is fully online so it’s the perfect opportunity to find out what you’ve been missing and take in activities that are new this year.

Registration is open for the event that runs Feb. 8-12 and 16-18. Check out the full schedule that includes two general sessions packed with panels addressing key industry information. Plus, nearly 50 education sessions await on topics from addressing personnel challenges to the latest on technology issues including connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and pavement markings.

Attendees can also take part in as many as six discussions with their colleagues about the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) in the Conversation Lounge within the online platform.

No matter what you do, you have to interact with people at some level. Whether these people are managers, co-workers, customers, or clients, they complicate what you do.

Would you like to understand human behavior at a whole new level, so you can clearly see what’s driving their behavior and how best to address them?  

Learn that and more during Kim Giles 's education session at ATSSA's 51st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. She's leading one of nearly 50 education sessions during the online event Feb. 8-12 and 16-18.

Influencing your employees and team members is one of the most important and challenging parts of being a leader, but it’s essential if you’re going to create safe and productive workplaces. Unfortunately, employees don’t always listen to or follow through on your guidance. Sometimes that’s because they really don’t know what they need to do. But it might also be that they’re unclear on what action to take and when. Or maybe there are obstacles in their way. However, the real reason might be deeper than that. Maybe the person you’re trying to influence thinks they know better than you or maybe they don’t like being told what to do. 

Often the inclination is to address all problems as knowledge problems which means providing your employees more information on what to do and when. But if it’s a deeper motivation, that isn’t going to help. It might even backfire. Even the best-intentioned leaders can unknowingly make the situation worse by using communication styles that trigger more resistance.

“But I Don’t Wanna” is one of nearly 50 education sessions offered at ATSSA’s 51st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, held online Feb. 8-12 and 16-18.

What has been holding you back from becoming the leader you are meant to be? If you could overcome that challenge, what would your life look like? Would it lead to a promotion, better job, pay raise?

Would it enable you to have more quality time with those you love or be a better provider for them? Perhaps you envision giving back to the community by leading a non-profit board, committee or fundraising event. What would it feel like to realize your true potential?

If any of these resonate with you, and you are ready to take the next step, then “Be Like Salt” is for you! This is one of nearly 50 education sessions included in ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, held online Feb. 8-12 and 16-18.

The first time Kathi Holst lost an employee in a work zone incident was decades ago but she vividly remembers the heartache and overwhelming desire to closet herself off from the world. Instead, she had to keep going and deal with the myriad issues that arise from such a tragedy.

Doug Dolinar is still reeling from the death of an employee just six months ago.

Those experiences motivated Holst, president & CEO of RCMS in Naperville, Ill., and Dolinar, president of Guidemark Inc. of Souderton, Pa., to take part in ATSSA’s Roadway Worker Protection Summit scheduled for Feb. 8 as the kickoff event for the Association’s 51st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo.