Taxi! What Consultants Can Learn From Cab Drivers
Cab drivers have had to develop a strong mind and the ability to think on the fly, which makes them great at solving problems. Hailing a cab is one of life’s simple pleasures. But beware: you can never guarantee what will happen when you get inside.
You could be dealing with an angry driver or an endless conversation about sports; you might even find yourself in the middle of a heated debate with some drunk passengers fighting over who’ll pay for the ride. Whatever it is, these encounters teach us valuable lessons about how to take care of business in any situation—and especially when it comes to clients.
1 - Always be ready to settle
"I have taken a number of meetings trying to sell my consulting services and find that I have been interrupted in the middle of process, or caught off guard with questions and concerns. My answer is always, 'I am sorry for the confusion and can start over, but before we do, let me address one thing you should be asking . . .' " - John W. Moulds Jr., President In-to-Lead Consulting Services
2 - Be clear about what you're getting paid for and clear about what's included in your service
"I wished they would remember that I was working with them to get paid. They don't." - Anonymous
- Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself if you feel your driver is taking advantage of that and not giving you the service promised.
- Invest in your income by buying a GPS (Global Positioning System) and take cab drivers' advice more often.
3 - Always be paying attention to how fast and efficiently you can get customers to where they need to go.
4 - Be ready for anything!
It was very clear to me that whether I lived or died in that moment, it was going to happen in a matter of seconds, so I felt pretty calm about the whole situation. - taxi driver recounting an incident where he and his passengers were robbed at gunpoint
5 - Always be open to new ways of doing business.
- Always remember that your customer is the most important part of your business.
- Use important incidents as a chance to learn something new.
6 - Listen, observe, and then use what you've learned when you need it most.
7 - And finally, don't rely on any other company or individual to get you where you need to go. Be responsible for your own success!
"Now that I have been behind the wheel for six years, I feel like I can do almost anything. I can drive and talk on the phone, read books, and work on my computer. I'm more focused than I have ever been in my life. And if you manage to find a job that makes you smart . . . well, you've done something pretty amazing." - Anonymous
- Learn everything about the business of your industry so that you have an understanding of what's happening.
- Keep up with what's new and happening in your field.
8 - Take care of what's important.
"It's not always easy, but in the end you will be glad you did it. It is all about how you handle the situation and how quickly you can react to it." - Anonymous
- Don't let anyone else drive your business into a ditch.
9 - Understand what your clients really need and deliver it to them over and over again.
"What has helped with my driving is that I know exactly where I am going and what I am doing, so if clients have questions about their business strategy or a marketing plan, I can answer their questions just by listening to them. I see myself as being part of the whole process." - Anonymous
- Get to know your clients and their businesses inside and out.
- Be attentive and responsive to a client's needs.
10 - Adapt to any situation that comes up and make it work in your favor.
- Don't be afraid to call in reinforcements from other parts of your business if you feel you're lacking in some area, whether it's technology or personal skills. Once you find a way to make it work for you, then do what comes naturally, which is taking care of the customer.
11 - Be persistent and persistent and persistent, because that's what you need to be.
12 - Be sure to understand the element of time in your work.
"The first rule of survival is to always account for it." - Anonymous
13- When you're on the road, your success will depend on how everything comes together.
14 - Know that you are a valued member of your community.
"Most people feel a sense of responsibility when they drive a taxi, so I try to do my part by carrying extra change if I see someone standing outside." - Anonymous
15- Don't leave anything out in the rain or snow.
- Don't allow anything, even bad weather, to stop you from doing what you need to do.
16 - Always be ready for a challenge.
"I was trained at Metro Taxi Academy in Vancouver . . . and then came to New York City." - Anonymous
17 - And finally: if something goes wrong, apologize and move on.
"I set my GPS phone to call my boyfriend when I get close to the exchange point so that he knows where I am. I usually find that I'll spend a half an hour or so back at the airport waiting for a passenger to finish up. So I try to make sure that when they ask me to give them a tip, I wait until they've finished their business with me. Then I make sure everything is right and call him, telling him what time and where I am."
- Always be courteous and never engage in negative behavior with any of your passengers.
18- Everything has its price, especially when you're on the road.
"I think that it is one of the hardest things that everyone has to do at some point in their lives, but it certainly helps if you have the right attitude. I think it helps to be a people person and to be an outgoing, friendly type of character." - Anonymous
19- Be honest, trustworthy and reliable.
"I try to be as honest with each passenger as I can. If I have a big fare and a little fare nearby, I always give the big one priority. So far it has worked for me, so I just keep doing what I do." - Anonymous
20- Know that your passengers will never forget you if you provide excellent service.
"I drive myself really hard because I want people to remember me, not just my cab number . . . Besides, the only opinion of my work that really matters is the feedback from my passengers.
Conclusion
- Be attentive and focus on each customer as an individual.
- Put yourself in a position to succeed, but don't be afraid to fail too.
- Be a part of the community and serve that community in whatever way you can. That is what sets you apart from your competitors, and will ultimately make you successful in any business.
- Keep learning something new every day.
- Take care of what's important to you by being honest and responsible for your actions.
- Keep up with the times and learn about new technologies or advances.
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