Learning to Drive: Skills that make a good Driving Instructor

Not all drivers have the ability to also become a driving instructor, like my husband! Either he has no patience to teach me how to drive or he’ll disappear off elsewhere when look like I'll ask. Maybe I should just go to a learners driving courses and ask another friend to teach me afterwards. However, when I thought about it I realized that it is not as easy and simple as it seems to sit in the car beside someone and teach them what to do and at the same time be in control of the situation if something arises.

A great deal is involved in becoming a professional driving instructor, one that I know my hubby has no talent for. Knowing how to drive and how to relate with different types of people are just the first few requirements in becoming a driving instructor.

The profession of a driving instructor will involve more than just driving. In fact, if you are a driving instructor, it is not driving which you will mostly do. Instead you’ll be on the car’s passenger seat with your attention on the student who is doing the driving task. If the session is inside the classroom, again it is not just about you driving but it's the correct safety discussion and procedures, the details, rules and techniques which you need to teach your students to help they understand how to avoid accidents.

Also, you will need to relate to people with varying personalities. There are students who are fast learners; there are also students who seem not to get hold of the idea of proper driving. It might even be frustrating when the driving student seems scatterbrained and tensed that he or she cannot find which indicators to switch or when he or she suddenly steps on the brake. That reminds me about a TV series for kids, SpongeBob Squarepants. Mrs. Puff, the driving instructor, always ends up in a hospital because of the stress she experiences in teaching SpongeBob how to drive.

As a driving instructor, you should have various skills such as verbal, interpersonal, cognitive and motor skills. As the driving teacher, you should remain calm when faced in a dangerous situation on the road. Not all students are likeable at all yet you have to be patient in dealing with them. You should be professional in handling a student who seem stubborn and would not follow your instructions properly.

If you are the owner of the driving school, there are additional abilities which you should obtain in order to run your business properly. One is Mathematical skills. As an entrepreneur, you will be handling money; you need to keep and record your accounts; you need to compute and pay for your business tax as well as insurance. You would also have to set a working budget for business-related requirements such as advertisements, training, etc.

Of course good communication skills is an fundamental ability you need in any teaching profession. Communicating clearly in both written and verbal manners is important when corresponding with the various government offices where you need to file application and licenses for your business. You will be socializing with a diverse set of people within the age range of 17-70 like accountants, examiners, parents, students and others. Interaction may be through written letters, emails, fax messages, telephone or personal meetings. Having your own driving school also requires you to have satisfactory organizational skills. There are paper works which needs to be filed and important documents which must be prepared.

Safety first! Goodluck with learning to drive.

Aside from knowing how to drive, an aspirant driving instructor must also have the will and patience to teach others how to operate responsibly a vehicle. He should undergo training then pass required examinations in order to become a licensed driving instructor. Continuous adjustment and familiarization are essential in this profession as there will always be times that a driving instructor would need to deal with different personalities. Some are so easy to teach and relate to while others are just the opposite. Of course, in order to have many students once with a license to teach, should know of marketing strategies to promote the driving school business. He should also know how to organize important files and finances related to the business.