As the long, lazy days of summer (if you could call what we here in Ireland got as ‘summer’) give way to the hustle and bustle of a new school year, our roads are once again filled with the familiar sights and sounds of school runs. For parents, the daily ritual of dropping off and picking up their children involves navigating a web of logistical challenges. However, it’s critical not to overlook an essential aspect amidst all this – road safety.
The increase in road traffic post-summer recess is substantial. With school buses back on the roads and parents hurrying to drop off or pick up their children, the risk of accidents escalates. Now, more than ever, focusing on safety measures is essential. But how do we go about this? The answer may lie closer than we think – in our own decisions. However, these decisions don’t exist in isolation. Our present motivations play a crucial role in driving these decisions, and understanding this relationship can empower us to create a safer environment for our children’s school commute.
Enter Ingenium’s StyleUs model, a framework that categorises human decision-making into four types: Directive, Analytical, Conceptual, and Behavioural. Understanding our dominant decision-making style traits can empower us to create an environment of safety around our children’s school commute.
Directive – Individuals with a directive style have a low tolerance for ambiguity and are orientated toward task and technical concerns when making decisions. They are efficient, logical, practical and systematic in their problem-solving approach. Individuals with this style are action-oriented, decisive, and like to focus on facts. Your inner drive to overcome challenges can help you adapt to changing circumstances quickly and ensure the safety of your children during the school run.
Analytical – this style has a much higher tolerance for ambiguity and is characterised by the tendency to overanalyse a situation—individuals like to consider more information and alternatives that do directives. Analytic individuals are careful decision-makers who take longer to make decisions but who also respond well to new or uncertain situations. Your motivation to get things right and ensure quality drives your meticulous approach to identifying potential safety hazards. This can help devise more efficient safety plans, ensuring no stone is left unturned when it comes to safety.
Conceptual – individuals with a conceptual style have a high tolerance for ambiguity and tend to focus on a work situation’s people or social aspects. They take a broad perspective on problem-solving and like to consider many options and future possibilities; they rely on intuition and discussion with others to acquire information. Your motivation to maintain stability and harmony drives your steady adherence to traffic rules and safe driving practices. This consistency can set an example for others to follow, enhancing road safety.
Behavioural – this is the most people-oriented of the four styles. Individuals with this style work well with others and enjoy social interactions in which opinions are openly exchanged. Behavioural types are supportive, receptive to suggestions, show warmth, and prefer verbal to written information. Your enthusiasm and communication skills can educate your children and the wider community about the importance of safety during the school run.
Your Turn: Leverage Your Decision-Making for Safety
As we embark on a new school year, I encourage you to reflect on your decision-making style. Understanding how our decisions influence our approach to road safety can empower us to create safer environments for our children. Whether you’re a Directive, Analytical, Conceptual or Behavioural parent, your actions can contribute to safer school runs.
Ultimately, understanding our decisions is not just about making the school run safer. It’s about setting an example for our children, teaching them the importance of safety, and empowering them to make safe choices. Let’s start this school year right – with safety at the forefront!