*We talk to Milton Keynes-based Chris McDonald about why being a people person is critical to making it as an ADI.*How long have you been an ADI?
I was in the motor trade before I made the leap three and a half years ago. Truthfully, it wasn’t a struggle to get started – I’ve been one of the fortunate ones with my driving school as I have always been busy. I believe if you offer a good service, you will get the work. Nothing is ever handed to you on to a plate.
What motivated you to become an instructor?
My kids are my main priority. I am very family-orientated and the job gives me the freedom to spend time with them – I work in the evenings and I can be with the children during the day when they are on their hols.
How have you found instructing?
I love it. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. Don’t get me wrong, I still love fixing cars but the job satisfaction is huge as an ADI. And I always say if you don’t enjoy your job, don’t do it. You only have one life so live it the way you want to.
What’s your favourite part of the profession?
It’s when you see that light bulb click on in the pupil’s mind when you’re talking about something in the lesson, and then see them do it for themselves on the road. That penny-dropping moment is priceless.
What’s your least favourite part?
The first is the drive home after a fail – my pupils’ results are all that matter to me and I feel sorry for the student. The second is pupils with low confidence – not in their driving ability but their self-confidence in general. I sometimes say to them, “Let’s forget about driving for a moment – where has your confidence issue come from?”. Most of the time, it’s down to school life. I think it’s important to be there for them and listen as a person more than an instructor sometimes.
What one essential skill should all ADIs have?
Ultimately, you need to be a people person. Anyone can teach someone to drive but as an ADI, you need to be able to connect to people and understand how they learn. It’s vital to realise how different people can be and adapt your teaching style accordingly.
It’s essential to work out in the first half an hour of meeting the pupil what type of person they are too. I’ve got students who will quite happily sit in a lesson and not speak for the entire session or you get the opposite – those who will talk constantly! With them, you do need to occasionally tell them to quieten down because there is, you know, a truck coming towards us!
What’s been your biggest professional learning experience and why?
That everyone is different. When ADIs are training to be instructors, they are not told that – they are far too focused on passing their test, whereas my focus has always been on the customer because of my previous job. I have always known that with any service you offer, it should always be about the person paying your wages, i.e. the student.
As a longterm user of Theory Test Pro, how do you find the system?
The service is fantastic and I would say about 95% of my students go on to pass the theory test first time because of it. The five percent who don’t are the ones who don’t study.
What advice would you give to someone starting out on a career in driving instruction?
Don’t make it about you. If you head to online instructor forums, some ADIs can be very self-indulgent. They make the job too much about themselves, but the job isn’t about you – it’s about your pupils.
