The Why Behind the What

By Kitty Holt, CCEP

Ah, the joys of children! Their first step, their first day of school, their first time behind the wheel as they put in their required driving hours before going for their license test…

In my state, a student is required to take 30+ hours of in-classroom education in order to get their driver’s permit. Once they have their permit, they must drive 50 hours with an adult (at least 10 of which is at night), before they can go for their license.

If you have sat in the passenger seat while a teenager has control over your vehicle (and your life), you know it can be a bit stressful.  What makes it even more stressful are the responses of people who do not like the fact that your child is driving the speed limit, obeying stop signs (as in, a full three-second stop!), and other acts of obedience to the law, which inconvenience others who are trying to get places fast.

After coming home from yet another round of driving with my child, where we were tailgated, beeped at, and received a one-finger salute, I realized there had to be a better way. And there was.  For about $10, I purchased three, very visible (even at night) magnetic “Student Driver” signs online.  After affixing the signs to the sides and back of our car, off we went.  We only had one tailgater after that, and no drivers beeping or rudely saluting us. People were cautious and gave us space as my child was driving. Stress levels were down, and the license test was passed on the first attempt!

The signs we affixed to our car were the “why” behind our behavior: she is driving this way because she is a new driver and she is trying to follow the law. Her doing so will help keep herself — and you — alive. You should follow the law too!  (Without the signs, perhaps her behavior was translated as follows: I don’t really know what I’m doing, I should not be on the road, and I am making you late to your appointment!)

“Why’s” are important.  You may have sat through training and asked yourself why you were there – if someone explained it to you, it may have helped you to understand the relevance to you.

So let’s give people the “why” behind what we are counseling: why can’t they use that particular language in their email? Why can’t they post what they want on social media? Why can’t they share their password? Why can’t they ask whatever they want in an interview?

Sometimes the “why” is obvious to us as compliance professionals, but let’s make sure we are conveying that to others.  It can make all the difference at getting others on board.  (And, it can even save lives!)

[clickToTweet tweet=”The Why behind the What” quote=”The Why behind the What” theme=”style3″]