10 Business Driving Lessons

The business requires qualified and certified drivers just like a vehicle. For a driver to qualify to sit behind the wheel and control the movement, speed, and direction of the vehicle, they must receive training, a certificate, and eventually a deployment. Major catastrophes occur on the roads, sometimes resulting in death and serious injury due to the driver’s lack of knowledge of the machine in charge. Just as it has management classes, there are business classes ranging from sole trader, informal sector, small or medium business or entrepreneur (SME), large company to multinational conglomerate. In each level as you progress, the quality of driving is more strenuous, the level of responsibility increases, and the expectations and results are more participatory. If we were to kick a freshman out of college to run a publicly traded multinational company, we can easily shorten the person’s career to such an extent that they would hate the idea of ​​being in the driver’s seat and at the helm. a business. It’s important to gradually promote people as they gain relevant experience at the lower end of business driving classes. While driving on the roads, he has road signs that help him know the nature of the area he is in to determine how he drives. I’m going to give you a parallel of driving a business and driving a vehicle.

Driving lessons:

1. The trainee driver requires a coach – People pay money to get a few minutes of training a day from an experienced and qualified tutor. However, it is tragic that there are a number of people who clamor for positions of power in organizations without having taken business driving lessons with the help of a qualified tutor. Some people think that because their father was a businessman, genetically speaking, they become entrepreneurs too. This is a fantasy that must be erased from the mind of every potential entrepreneur. You need to put in hours of training, get guidance on best business practices, learn business principles and models. You cannot become a business person genetically or by osmosis.

2. Check the condition of the car daily before driving – You can’t rush to turn on your car’s ignition before checking the oils and water, check under the car so there are no pets or children playing there. In business, it is important to check the status of a company before taking office. What is the financial strength, HR skill base, production capacity, earning potential? Daily as you start your work day check yesterday’s performance in all areas, before you can safely run your business today, the health of your employees is important as it affects the wealth creation drive you have. In the same way that you check fuel and oil levels, also check petty cash and bank balance levels. You need these scales to make decisions throughout the day. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and have to ask every passerby for some fuel to get you back home.

3. Plan your trips to avoid wasting fuel – At the start of each day, you need to know where you’re going to be driving so you can schedule your trips accordingly. You don’t want to go to the same area four times in one day because you lacked planning. This results in wasted fuel and increased wear and tear on the vehicle. Similarly, your business day starts with a plan, how will you drive the business forward today? In which direction, with which roadmap, with which vehicle or business tool, who will you be running the business with, who will be the passengers, who are some of the co-drivers with you? What meetings should you attend and at what time? Driving is all about planning. If it is not conducted according to the business plan, the objectives of the organization will not be met.

4. Beware of danger warning signs – one category of traffic signs is the hazard warning sign. In most countries it is marked with a triangle and has an inscription about which danger to watch out for in the respective area. As you drive in that area, you exercise a high degree of caution and care on the road to prevent the perceived hazard from being placed upon you and the vehicle. In business, there should be plenty of warning signs to watch out for. Other companies release cautionary statements to shareholders, economic leaders typically give warning signs in terms of how the economy in which you are driving your business is performing. Performance statistics are published in the media from time to time. Driving the business blindly by ignoring all the warning signs given is detrimental to the success and growth of the business. You will drive on dead ends, potholes and slippery paths which will damage your car unnecessarily. Some of the blunders in business can be avoided if leaders become literate, keeping abreast of the law in the environment in which they operate.

5. Pay attention to informative traffic signs – Information is important while driving. You will receive information about where the nearest police station is, the distance you have traveled so far, how far is the next town, where to refuel, where to rest, etc. Information is power and the sooner you get it, the better you can drive. In business there is information everywhere. Stock exchanges publish the performance of companies in which you can buy shares, you get information about trade shows and exhibitions in which you can participate or attend, you get information on the Internet about best practices and inflation indicators. As an effective business driver, pay attention to the information you have. What you don’t know can affect you. You can only take the business to a place of influence based on the level of information to which you have access. University signs are also part of the informative signs. As a manager, you need to obtain all the knowledge and information necessary for your role. An informed business driver is the best driver there is.

6. Regulatory signs are crucial for you – As you drive your vehicle, there are road signs that regulate the speed at which you drive your vehicle. You are told to slow down, speed up, stop, yield to other vehicles, etc. Without regulation, there is chaos on the way. In business, there are legal authorities that regulate your conduct. These authorities analyze aspects of health, taxes, pensions, health insurance, etc. There are also industry specific authorities that regulate their level of quality. They can tell you to stop a certain product and give way to other new players in the market, they can tell you to reduce or increase production. Sometimes on the highway your speed is pushed by those behind you who may want to reach the destination ahead. In business, there are also regulators looking to clean up the market and flood it with their product. It requires vigilance and determination.

7. The most important mile is the one ahead of you – While driving you need to be careful how you handle the next mile ahead. While it’s good to remember the last 1200 miles driven, the good, the bad and the ugly, it doesn’t change anything but remains a reflection. What is more crucial is what he will face in the mile ahead. As a driver you remain alert and pay attention to every detail that the mile presents. In business, it’s important to have historical performance so we can see where we’ve come from. However, it is important to project and work towards the next quarter, the next five years, etc. You need to have vision and foresight so you can anticipate what lies ahead and take corrective action now to avoid the impact.

8. Before embarking on a trip count the cost – It is important that you budget for every aspect of your trip to ensure you get to where you are going and return. Budget for incidentals, fuel, oil and snacks on the road. If you think it would be expensive to drive, look for an alternative that you think can achieve the same result within your budget. In business, you cannot ignore the issue of the financial budget in all the projects that you propose to undertake. It’s a waste of time to start something and then feel like you can’t keep spending millions of dollars on the project and still be 45% in terms of completion. The value of your money that has been invested in the project continues to lose value, since you could have used that money elsewhere for a better return. Count the cost as you set out to build that business park, count the cost as you offer employees greater benefits that weren’t normally in the budget. You need to start what you plan and finish everything you have started. You are the driver who finishes the race without stopping half way.

9. Every make and model of car is different – ​​be situationally sensitive – You may have the same make of car as your neighbor, but sometimes the same features you are used to are now digital instead of manual, eg automatic gearbox, power windows, power mirrors, etc. Each car should be treated differently in keeping with its manufacturer’s original design and the car’s original vision and intent. Likewise, as you run the business, you may not necessarily be the original visionary and architect behind the vision, so you need guidance from whoever created the initial project. The same Holding Company can have a transportation business, a lumber plant, an oil refinery and a hotel entity. In all of those businesses there are specific business dynamics that you need if you’re told to go and run or run the divisions. Take the time to establish how you will drive, even if you have driving experience. Learn the new environment and its processes. If it’s a hotel, for example, take time with the chef, take time with the room cleaners; understand registration processes, revenue collection and all systems related to the specific business. Get oriented with the whole business. After all, you will be responsible for driving it even if you have co-drivers, assistants, etc.

10. Exercise defensive driving techniques – The safety of your passengers is extremely important. If you can avoid an accident, do whatever it takes to exercise caution. Don’t kill people because you have the right of way. Drive your car and also drive those around you. Think on behalf of others. In business, the safety and life of employees is ahead of production and objectives. Provide the necessary protective clothing; provide training on safety, evacuation procedures, etc. Invest in issues related to Health and the Environment. They have an impact on the well-being of your employees and the well-being of your business environment. Avoid danger at all costs.