You know the types. Been around for 40 years and want you to know it. Know more that you and want the group to know. Feel the meeting is a complete waste of time and want everyone to know they’re fed up.
So here’s a story to show you how to deal with them.
It was either points plus fine or attending a driving awareness course. I took the latter and so did 30 or so people rocking up at the Hilton Hotel in Newbury that November day. It soon became apparent that 95% of the group didn’t want to be there and began to vent their feelings.
The instructor had been there before. He:
- Asked us to switch off phones
- Told us that he had a device which would signify to the police that we had arrived and left at the end
- Vented our feelings early by asking how we felt being there
- Brought in humour to diffuse
- Made the class interactive and interesting
- Told us we would have coffee shortly
- Finally told us that if we cooperated fully and engaged we would get away 25 minutes early.
He had our attention.
So next time you find yourself with a group that don’t want to be there follow the example of the experienced speed awareness instructor. It worked – I learnt loads that day and still use the tips he gave us.
