Video 2 Know your Customer

 

Working with your head, heart and hands

One of the exciting aspects of being a driving instructor is the balance of skills required to do the job effectively.   Consider the following roles, for example:

Website developer - head, hands

Sales - head, heart

Management - head

Doctor - head, heart

Chef - hands, head

Teacher - head, heart

Mechanic - head, hands

It's crude, but you get a general idea?

One realisation that I think is going to emerge in my series of pre-Christmas vlogs is how interesting it is that a driving instructor works with their head, occasionally their hands, but very much with their heart.   Or not.  It's not a given.  I think the qualification process for being an effective driving instructor connects with the head and hands in the same way that "pitch and putt" could be said to connect with golf; superficially.  Our heart, however, is an underrated asset.  It is the invisible powerhouse behind our minute by minute work with pupils.  Without it, you run the risk of harming the working relationship. 

I am in no doubt that many existing driving instructors would reject this involvement of the heart, perhaps being far more pragmatic about our duties, and I would not care to debate it with them.  As I say, it is possible to 'go through the motions' as a driving instructor without any involvement of the heart.  All I would say though is that it is a vital characteristic of a BIG TOM driving instructor, far more critical than a DVSA Standards Check grade, for example.  (If you don't know what that is, follow the vlog series and all will be revealed in good time).

The reason why I place such emphasis on the heart is that it will consciously or not, affect the quality of the interaction with our pupils.  I will go on to show in the vlogs to come how important that point is to outcomes.  There is a synergy here with learning to drive having practical outcomes and the quality of our working relationships with pupils - the two are interdependent.

If you haven't got it already, pop on to Amazon and buy yourself The Driving Instructor's Handbook by John Miller.  Once it arrives in a day or two, flick to page 22 where it lists the qualities of an instructor:

Responsibility

Concentration

Anticipation

Patience

Confidence

Knowledge

Communication

Awareness

And I would like to add: Trust

The path our pupils tread when learning is not standard.  Should anyone underestimate that point, then they are in for a surprise.  To build an effective working relationship requires more than being a mentor.  I would argue that it is more akin to being a confidant because it is a deeply personal experience to recognise one's weaknesses and openly discuss them with another person.  Pupils come to us for our assistance, and some human behaviours can relate to feelings and beliefs that might take some courage to unearth.  Being able to work politely, professionally and with an ability to acknowledge personal strengths/weaknesses in ourselves will help to build trust with our pupils.  

More will be revealed in the vlogs.  

  

Video 1 Introduction from Tom Ingram

Welcome.

This vlog is an introductory piece by owner of BIG TOM Driving School Franchise, Tom Ingram.  It describes a few of the key elements that will be highlighted in this series that is due to run up to Christmas 2020.  Primarily the series is aimed at anyone who is facing a career change in the coming weeks and would like more information about being a BIG TOM driving instructor.  Existing instructors who are considering changing their franchise are welcome to view as well.

I hope you enjoy the video, any feedback is always very welcome. 

Should you have any questions please feel free to comment in this blog, that way, any other viewers can benefit from the answer given to you and also, it will help me to understand what topics you are most interested in.

Five month waiting lists for driving tests

 

The first signs of civil unrest are beginning to show in the north.  It seems that a Mayor objects to being used as a kind of government experiment to test out their '3 tier' theory.  As if we don't already know by now.  We are always, only ever in, a moment of time.  Whether the government puts its people into lockdown or form of restraint now, or later, it will represent a consequence just for that moment.  The virus doesn't go; it just re-surfaces when the restraint(s) is lifted.  But we know all that.  That's not news.

For the first time that I've seen as these miserable months have passed, a doctor on a daytime news channel was prepared to provide some perspective to the nation about the adverse consequences of the government strategy.  She has been brave because up until now the government has justified all of its actions by taking the lead from SAGE (comprising of representatives from public health, science and academia).  A little chink of reason, critical thinking, perspective and rationale is creeping into the arena.  A lone voice that speaks against the notion that we must do, what we have previously done, but just more.  A strategy that hasn't served our younger generation well in education for decades.

The DVSA has announced that it currently is taking no action on testing centres within these three tiers across the UK.  Test slots are becoming very difficult to come by.  One of my test centres is now providing test slots for February 2021.

It is appreciating how this pandemic fits into our history, and the enormous sacrifices that are being made, in order to accommodate this aversion to any level of death.  This has been missing throughout mainstream media and opposition benches.  It probably goes some way to explaining the high levels of unhappiness and dis-satisfaction within society in general.  People generally don't appreciate what a remarkable period in time right now, it is to be living.  The fear of infection and death this SAGE group has managed to stoke up, and reinforced, of course by a more than willing Health Secretary who is desperate to keep his job.  "Let's all cover our arses, assume the worst, tolerate no disease or death and therefore, whatever happens, it can't be our fault."

There is no end game to this strategy, of course.  The only way you stand any chance of achieving no excess death due to a disease is to continue putting everyone, everyone in house arrest.  The prospect of ending up there again is beginning to show to be unbearable it seems.

How long will the test centres continue to run for?  I think what isn't a good sign is the illegality of refusing to provide shelter, warmth and basic toilet facilities when a public service such as a driving test is being operated.  That goes some way to demonstrating how fragile a situation we are in; I don't think it would take much to just tip the scales towards "risk aversion" once again.  Re-stock your bookshelves, pre-order your garden project materials, it looks like we are going for another deep dive.

Meanwhile, in the CEO's office of "Yellow"

 

He brought back the clubhead, paused, but annoyingly the Skype incoming ring tone completely put him off his stroke, so to speak, and he missed the putt by a good 6 inches.  Ben stood up straight, looked up at his ceiling, Lord, give me strength, he said.

He ambled over to the laptop on his desk, in his work shirt and tie, and boxers, the ring tone continuing, yes, yes, I'm coming.  Pressed the screen and Jenny popped up looking pristine, as normal.

Uuuuugh, Ben, put your nads away!

Eh?

I can see your meat and two veg for God's sake!

Ben suddenly realised that as he was standing up, the camera was pointing directly towards his boxers, and his penis was poking out the unbuttoned opening.  

Oh, I'm so sorry Jenny!, he fumbled around his groin while also swinging the seat around at the same time as trying to sit down.  It all went horribly wrong.  He mistimed and found himself sprawled across the floor with his Amazon "Luxury Executive" seat swivelling around almost laughing at the state of him.

Ben?  Are you alright?

Jenny, his PA was attempting to keep a straight face having just seen her boss's tiny member.  She wishes now that she had set 'record' on the Skype call - that would be worth a pay rise.  

No.  No, I'm not bloody, alright!

Ben was trying to get his 20 stone body off the floor.  

Christ, Christ, and bloody Christ again!  Jenny, why are you calling me so bloody early?

It's 10 in the morning, Ben.

Precisely, what's the urgency?

He managed to get seated and tried to make his appearance look something more appropriate for a business call.  He has been struggling with this technological advancement since the lockdown.  At 55, he really wasn't expecting things to turn out this way.  Ben had always found in his working life that face to face contact in business was far more effective than staring at screens.  But Jenny insisted that there was no alternative.

It's John.  

What's John?

You know, the driving instructor from Boston.

Ben looked down only to see his manhood still peeping through an opening in his boxers. Christ, what is wrong with his cock? Could this morning get any worse he thought to himself?

You ok Ben?

Ben looked up to see Jenny with a slightly concerned look, staring at him.

Please don't tell me it's "Needy John from Bost on".  This blokes taking the piss, isn't he?

I've just had an earful from him, to go with the eyeful I've just had from you.  Well, when I say eyeful...

Yes, thank you, Jenny.  When God was handing out the dicks, shall we say that I wasn't quite first in the queue?

Were you in the queue at all?

Yes, thank you.

I mean, I've got a 6-month-old grandson and his....

Yes, thank you, Jenny, if it's ok with you, can we move on, please?

Jenny raised her hands, palms towards the camera.  

Ben, your secret is safe with me.  For now.

For now?!  What do you mean for now?

You're my boss Ben.  I'm pretty sure that exposing your tiny cock to your employees is not part of their job role.

Ben didn't quite know how to take that.  He couldn't work out if the use of the word "tiny" was worse than the veiled threat.

He's still banging on about his diary Ben.

Can we not just buy him a bloody diary?  Christ, let's get him one for Christmas.  Fuck me, get him a fancy one Jenny, that will shut him up.

I'm not sure it's the actual diary that's the issue.  More the fact that he has very few appointments in it.  He's saying we aren't handing him enough work.

Well, he should see my diary then Jenny.  Show him mine.

Your what? 

Jenny smiled.  How she wished she had set record.

This is no time for doodle ontond avez voos Jenny.  Weren't you able to bat him off?

Well, we managed to have a good chat about his rats.

His rats?

Yes, he's having an awful time of rats, gnawing his house down by all accounts.

What do you mean?

He's got rats, Ben, in his house.  The thought of it is disgusting.

Well, aren't you supposed to pop down B and Q and get some mouse traps, that's what most people do.  Fuck me, why doesn't he put that appointment in his fucking empty diary?

Well, she said in the tone teachers like to use, that's mistake number one you see.

Ben looked at her, not quite believing the way the discussion was going.  

Rats are a lot smarter than mice Ben.  You have to have a far more sophisticated approach with rats.

Frankly, Jenny, I'd just kill the bastard things...

But how Ben, how? That's the problem.

The only problem as far as I can tell right now Jenny is that my golf practice is being interrupted because of "John from Bost on".

Anyway; Jenny felt the need for a cup of tea and mid-morning biscuit, I've arranged for him to call you direct.

Why?

Because it's serious.

At this point, Ben leaned back in his chair.  Well, there's a thing he thought to himself.  It's 'serious'.  He looked around his office.  This is the office that he had built on to his house when he divorced his wife.  He wanted there to be something positive to mark the occasion.  He momentarily stared at his photo on the desk, of him with his arm around his local M.P. at their secret society annual club gala.  

I'll tell you what's serious Jenny, and feel free to relay to this to "Boston John"; another fucking lockdown is serious.  Where I've got four fucking hundred instructors sitting around with their finger up their arse, complaining to me that they can't earn any money.  Perhaps our friend needs to start smelling his breath and discovering why he's got no appointments considering the whole bloody nation is wanting to learn to drive at the moment!

Calm down, Ben, calm down.  

Ben looked at Jenny and sighed. 

I don't know what they do in Boston Jenny, but I imagine it involves driving to places.

I think it's near the sea.

What is?

Boston.

God give me strength, Ben thought.  

Well, perhaps he should think of getting his boat fucking licence because if this government gets its way, we are going to be needing a lot more fucking fishing boats in the not too distant!

Ben leaned over to terminate the Skype, just at that very moment, his little nob fell out of his boxers.

Heavy workload for driving instructors

 

The DVSA have just released the latest driving instructor statistics for the industry in the UK.  The register has declined by just shy of 1000 from March 2020 to June 2020.  The actual numbers are 39,531 registered ADI's in March compared to 38,690 in June.  

In times like these (not that we've had times like these before), perhaps it would be better to say, in times of economic downturn, perhaps there will be a natural decline of instructors who were thinking of retiring and this slump has 'sealed the deal' for them.  It is tricky because there is a great opportunity for earning right now, the earnings potential is extremely high.  But the concern for all is the potential for a future lockdown.  How much of this talk relates to social restraint as opposed to work restraint?  There has been introduced fines for the lack of mask wearing in taxi's by passengers but not the taxi drivers, so it might be the case that mask wearing on driving lessons becomes mandatory.  This is especially relevant to us as examiners are conducting driving tests with the use of seat covers, masks, plastic shields, gloves and plenty of disinfectant.  It should be said, the ladies and gents conducting these tests are doing a fine job and are a great credit to their organisation.  

The ultimate decider for us will inevitably be the announcements from the DVSA.  The threat of being struck off the register should driving training be taking place without masks being worn, is simply too great for many ADI's to risk.  

BIG TOM Driving School has had no issues to date (long may it continue).  We have adopted a thorough set of protocols and our customers are complying with them 100%.  There has not been a single cancelled session since the re-opening from lockdown on 04/07/2020; almost three months now.  But this is no time to be complacent, and our covid-safe practices remain in place.

Crossroads

A natural development from emerging and turning at T junctions is to show your pupil some crossroads.  They come in all types of sizes and complexity.  Sometimes the crossroads that an instructor will naturally identify immediately, for a pupil, it may not be quite so straight forward if the roads concerned don't strictly follow the 'symbol' of a plus sign.  Is it obvious to a pupil that there is a major road with two opposing minors?  Would a pupil realise the traffic light phases and what that means to them while they wait at a red light?  What to do if there are no white lines or perhaps the traffic lights are temporarily out?  How to position the vehicles when our car and the opposing vehicle are both wanting to turn right?   One of the beauties about the BIG TOM courses is that pupils do get the opportunity to travel to other towns and cities, so they get a chance to see a variety of different crossroads.  The KFC crossroads in Grantham, for example.  The Job Centre crossroads in the city centre of Peterborough, or the British Sugar crossroads in Peterborough.  The humped bridge crossroads in Boston.  

Whether your pupil likes to see you demonstrate things prior to having a go is something that is worth asking.  There are the extra observations needed as well as the positional aspect to consider.  You will also need to explain to them about priority - who goes first from a technical point of view.  This subject is a good opportunity to refer to theory resources, emphasise to your pupil the necessity of theory knowledge and applying it in real-life examples.  They need to appreciate the nuance of theory vs practical situations: the Little London crossroads in Spalding being a case in point.  Attempt to develop in your pupils the subtleties of knowing the knowledge about who goes first, but being able to read the intentions of other road users, and how they might make decisions that sometimes bear no relation to theory knowledge e.g. using flashing headlights, waving other drivers across, the incorrect sequence of priority, poor position.  This is an opportunity to broaden the mind of our pupil, to think beyond technical theory, and appreciate the complexity of human behaviour.  Pupils are often sorely disappointed, for example, when drivers don't put on a left signal to exit a roundabout.  It's probably best they develop a sense of tolerance for such things, or they might end up being bitterly disappointed drivers for years to come.   We want to instil upon them the technically correct way of doing things (pg 221 of DES) but also help them to still read situations when a driver is doing something unorthodox.  Our pupils' attitudes to other road users are important to pay attention to, signs of anger in these early days can increase post-training and may well affect their emotional state and driving actions for a long time afterwards (pg 37 of Better Driving).  Equally, faded road markings and obstructed signs can hamper the efforts of our learners, and we need to develop tolerance and perhaps, more importantly, the ability to accommodate these issues and still keep things safe.

When pupils are coming on with their crossroads, it is then time to introduce them to some of the more technically challenging.  The inclined approach to turn right at the Stamford crossroads shown here is a great example:

See 3m30s-5m30s on this video of turning right at that junction.

Take care with setting goals that are realistic.  One of the most common mistakes I see driving instructors make is putting a pupil in the wrong location for their ability.  In other words, the G in GROW is not being thought through properly; it must be achievable.  Effective learning occurs when we encourage our pupils to take responsibility for their development and sometimes our help in facilitating that is key.  Give them timely, accurate feedback, allow them to reflect on their experiences and offer them options of what to do next.  But do take care because if you allow them to practice in the wrong place at the wrong time, it can harm not just their confidence levels but also your working relationship with them.