The Instructor Podcast #1 - Bob Morton on coaching.

You can find the audio version on Apple, Spotify, Anchor, Google and more. 

When I decided to create The Instructor Podcast, I had a selection of topics in mind that I wanted to cover, one of which was coaching. The fabulous Bob Morton was my first and only consideration. 

Bob first became an ADI in 1989, but fully qualified in 1990. Initially starting alone, but then joining the LDC in 1991, working his way up through the company until becoming director of training. Bob now plans to retire at the end of 2021. 

In this first episode of show, Bob recalls how coaching was first introduced into the driving instructor industry and how he initially thought it was just another fad and tells a story about how he witnessed an ADI put a student into a dangerous situation and explains why he thinks that was what made the DVSA stick the course this time.

He explains how we shouldn’t be just letting the learner do whatever they want to do, but we should be encouraging them to take an active role in their learning.

There’s stories and examples of instructors on standard checks who failed for not putting the needs of the student first.

When asking a student what they want to practice on that lesson and the student replies with “You’re the instructor, you tell me!” you’ll find tips on how to handle that situation while remaining client centred and using coaching.

How to avoid using judgemental language such as “What can we do to make that better?” and instead talk about outcomes or asking what could be done different.

You might be a good instructor, but that doesn’t mean you’re good at coaching.

Bob also goes in depth into how the word why generates a defensive response and what we can use in its place.

Other topics we cover include:

• The old part 3 test and how the new standards check differs.
• How the driving test is still a fault based system, but we shouldn’t be coaching that way.
• Appropriate words.
• Alan Shearer.
• Lesson prices.
• How to interact with potential customers.

 
Coaching is essentially about getting the learning out, rather than getting the learning in. Most learners will already have a knowledge of how to drive. They spend time in taxi’s, with parents and on public transport.

Yes, some of their ideas may need a bit of a nudge, but let them learn.
It was great talking to Bob on this first episode of The Instructor podcast. Many thanks to him for joining me.

You can follow Bob on Facebook and YouTube or check out his subscription course: Client Centred Learning – Driving Instructor Training 
You can also join Bob's Facebook group for driving instructors: The Driving Instructors Surgery. 

We'd love to hear your comments on this episode. Did Bob Sway you more towards the coaching side, or are you more against it than ever?