In this blog Tom Ingram (Owner of BIG TOM Driving School) expands on the subject raised in his new ebook about customer expectations. This is an important aspect for any PDI to be aware of as it potentially impacts on customer satisfaction.
Anyone born around 1984 is termed as a "Millennial" and are significant for their approach to expectations. However, concerns are being raised in the workplace about the unrealistic expectations of this current young adult generation regarding terms of employment and aspirations. It is a difficult issue because as Simon Sinek raises in this informative video, the root cause for this situation is being laid at the door of the parents.
It is a contentious subject and seemingly fuelled by the apparent unwillingness by many to even contemplate the prospect of being blameworthy or criticised in any manner (google the term "Snowflake Generation" for more on that one).
Why am I mentioning this here in this blog? Well, in my experience of dealing with young adults, I would have to agree that there certainly is often an unrealistic expectation regarding the earning of a full driving licence. Young adults can often come in to learning to drive with an inability to either learn, or manage the obstacles of learning. Why that is the case will undoubtedly be complex. I rather suspect it will have much to do with home life and schooling. What this means to us driving instructors is that often we will have a pupil sat next to us with an unhelpful combination of high expectations and low ability to learn.
I do emphasise (as I do in my ebook), the fault of this situation is not with the pupil, the fault most certainly is with the causes that create this attitude. But it is real, it is out there, there is no benefit to any PDI in not mentioning this subject through fear of causing ill feeling to the reader.
I personally find that very clear, thorough communication of expectations of how the training is conducted is time well spent. Unit 6.3.1 of our Driving Standard is very helpful in this regard. Fail to deal with this issue and you potentially have a ticking time bomb due to unrealistic expectations and failure to take responsibility for personalised, effective learning.
Taking the amateurish option of simply telling a pupil how to drive so as to bypass this problem, and you further exacerbate this problem, not to mention work outside of the DVSA Driving Standard.
Tom Ingram provides PDI training on a PAYG basis 0775 607 1464
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