Motorcycle Class offers Business Lessons

What have you done recently to develop your skill set, to expand your comfort zone or to overcome your fears? I decided to take a motorcycle safety class.

I know. You’re likely wondering “why?” About four years ago a college friend introduced me to motorcycle riding, as a passenger that is. For the first time in my life I experienced not having to be in control.

As a small business owner, twenty-four hours a day seven-days a week are consumed with managing, marketing and operating the business. So the experience of letting someone else: be in control, plan the route, manage the route and maneuver all the directions was exhilarating.

Determined to be a better passenger, I decided to take a class so that I could understand the mechanics and some of the techniques of riding. Here are some of the lessons learned and how I’ll apply the lessons.

When training someone to perform a new skill use these steps to ensure the best acquisition of the skill. Show how to perform the skill by using a video or a visual display. Talk through the details of performing the skill. Demonstrate the skill in person. Ask the learner to perform the skill. Offer feedback and coaching so that improvement and mastery can occur.

I’ll use this technique as I add staff and delegate some of the jobs I’ve been doing for eight years.

Decision-making for safety focused on the SIPDE model. This model applies to every day business decision-making as well. Whether considering staff, product, service, facility, growth or any business decision SIPDE can help. S is for scan the environment constantly so you know what is happening around you. I is for identify the potential hazards and P is for predict what might happen. D is for decide what to do based on your prediction of what will likely happen and E is for execute your decision.

I’ll use SIPDE to better monitor the marketplace and my approach to memorable marketing exposures.

3. “Be territorial about your space.” Motorcycles are less stable and more vulnerable than vehicles so more space-cushioning is needed for protection. This translates into being protective of your time, your activity and project load. Being protective of the team’s time and workload and of course protective about staying focused on the company goal. I’m already reviewing my activity load, looking for windows of time that are just for leisure so that I can be energized for all I want to do.

The twenty-hour course was intense. I’d never driven a motorcycle before. In one weekend I developed some of the mechanics and techniques of driving, expanded my comfort zone and overcame my fear of tipping over the motorcycle. And along the way discovered some business and life lessons that can be used to make better decisions every day, on the road, at work and in the enjoyment of life.

For more information about the motorcycle safety course Skills Training Advantage for Riders, contact the Idaho Motorcycle Safety Education Program at 208-332-6852.

About the Author

Jana M. Kemp, founder of Meeting & Management Essentials, facilitates meetings and speaks across the country on meeting management, time management and communication skills. Boise Police Detective Mike Barker contributed to this article. Detective Barker provides the Lessons from the Force segment on Jana's Momentum™ weekly business-news-talk radio show, every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. on KBOI 670am. Reach Jana via her website janakemp.com.

jana@janakemp.com
http://www.janakemp.com