Being Coachable is a Key to Success in Trucking School!
When you make the decision to go to trucking school, you do it expecting to learn the driving skills that you will need in order to get your AZ license . But one of the keys to learning this “hard skill” is to bring to the classroom and you in-cab sessions the “soft skill” of being humble and coach-able.
What does this mean exactly? It means that you are ready to learn, improve and excel through absorbing as much knowledge and wisdom from your instructors as possible. Students who are negative, not open to instruction, and who cannot take constructive criticism well are unlikely to succeed in trucking school, let alone in a trucking career.
Coach-able students on the other hand, are more likely to succeed in all aspects of life and often become the person that other students look to for inspiration.
A diverse trucking community
One of the unique things about the trucking industry is how diverse it is. In trucking, there is an incredible range of ages, races and religions. It is difficult – if not impossible – to find another industry that is so diverse. In a semester of trucking school , it is not uncommon to find young men and women in their 20s learning alongside of people in their 50s who are preparing for their second (or third) career.
The personalities of the instructors and other students may be quite different from your own as well, and you will undoubtedly like the teaching styles of some instructors better than others. But there is something to learn from everyone and being receptive to what each instructor has to offer will help to set you up for success.
Focus on your goal
When you enroll in trucking school , you will be inundated with a lot of new information and while the prospect of a new career can be quite exciting, there may be times when it feels like you are overloaded and stressed. During these times, it is more important than ever to remember why you are there.
You don’t need “will power”. You need “why power.”
Remembering why would want to be a truck driver in the first place will help you keep your focus. It will help you remain coach-able. Resist the temptation to complain or be distracted when you find that something is difficult.
Remember, in terms of your trucking career, the time you spend in school is very short. But if you approach it with the right mindset, it can have a big impact on your future success.
