The Importance of Rapport & Coaching across disciplines.

A little look into how i use reflection, to show me how i progress, and understand some key coaching skills outside of my work.And help me with my driving lessons around Banbury and Daventry

Let’s start with Rapport. My son is learning to swim at the moment and just had his 3 one. The first was with a guy called Luke. Just watching for the first 5 mins, told me he would do well with my son. His body language and the way he gave encouragement mad my own intuition say YES. Fast forward 1 week, and the coach changed, just her opening statement and her own body language screamed NO!!! Very traditional, with no enjoyment for the kids, more like BOOT camp. On the way home his whole attitude had gone from wow daddy that was cool to, I do not want to go swimming anymore! We missed a week due to illness, but I found out there would be a new coach there for the next session. Straight away the old intuition screamed YES she is very good indeed, my son completely relaxed and so did all of the other kids, she made the learning fun, therefore building a good rapport with them. He loved it and wants to go again, let hope she stays.

Now my own ADI style is coaching, I didn't realize this until I did my BTEC 3 with Kev Field. Nearly 1 year on since my course and journey into more coaching,

I have realized why I did well in the Scuba Diving/tourism industry, and have now realized my strongest areas. Empathy, Intuition, Patience without the three of these, I would have come unstuck under water with panicky divers, as an ADI they allow me to gauge the same things with panicky drivers, but just behind the wheel. I believe this is why people would come back to MALTA time and time again to dive with me and why I am starting to do well as an ADI My BTEC gave me more tools and help me enhance what I was already doing. It is my belief that this way of coaching in any industry that has learners would benefit from taking a second look at how they do it.

Lack of RESPECT!!!!

It’s no secret I love my job and have met some amazing people. But one thing keeps raising its ugly head. The complete lack of mutual respect, and I do not mean just giving a polite wave one the road.

I’m talking about certain people on Facebook forums! Over the last couple of week’s there have been a number of post, that for some of superior beings seemed blatantly stupid, and comments like are “are these people really teaching” or “sweet Jesus is this real” and more besides.

Now for all of you who seem to be some kind of super ADI or have complete mastery of everything, and do not need to ask any questions what so ever, because you are a proper smart ass, and even give God advice. The people asking these questions genuinely do not know the answer’s yes they may be just a little green or naive, but there is no reason to insult them, and make them feel stupid, as they may have another question of more importance but are afraid to ask.

Do you teach like this, if so god help the nervous ones. It would be more constructive just to say nothing at all. Let them ask the questions, there are some of us who are willing to help even if the answer is obvious, we help, give advice and stay supportive no matter what, above all we do not JUDGE them.

New tricks learnt for my driving lessons in Banbury and Davetry

I recently completed my BTEC3 course in driver coaching. I went in open minded and was not disappointed. I learnt more about myself than I thought. Plus I learned how to help my pupils in a more positive way, and some new teaching skills.

I have been teaching for over 10 years now, and I wish I had known more about coaching when I was teaching scuba diving.

It just goes to show you can never be too old to learn new tricks, and I am looking forward to developing my coaching skills as time goes on.

It has to be said that I have to thank aCCelerate for their BTEC3 course, and Kevin Field for delivering it in a fun and positive way. 

An old dog, new tricks.

There is allot to be said about teaching people who think they know about things, but really do not. I have only been an ADI for a couple of years, but i taught scuba diving for 10. The mechanisms for teaching both were very similar.


We all know that the standards check is coming, and some think they coach already, they may will do, but do they really understand how client centred works, it's not just about customer service, as i have just learnt on my recent BTEC3 course with aCCelerate. Its about knowing your pupils needs, helping them understand, and creating safe drivers after the test.

I am not going to go into it too deep as you can do the course yourself. @ aCCelerate

I will be useingmy new skills Iin my driving lessons, in Banbury,  and Daventry. 

Do you self-critique

Do we as Instructors coaches, self-critique, I certainly do, by taking feedback from other ADI’s, pupils, or even video footage from my in car cameras. I do for my driving lessons in Daventry and Banbury. 

I certainly believe that we can evolve as we go, plus taking courses to help us improve. This is not always the case, and I have witnessed comments like, I don’t need to do it different, it has worked for years, why change it now, or something similar, both on social media and in person at my local test centres.

My question is, how would they feel if Mother Nature didn't evolve them, and they we still in animal skins freezing, using flints to make a fire, while the rest of us enjoy the modern things we have learnt to do.

In short, why not give it a go, you never know you discover something that you’ll like.