You may have a pre-judged perception of what a chauffeur looks like from watching Hollywood movies. In reality, being a great chauffeur is much more than wearing a sharp suit and sunglasses. Here we talk about what we think makes a great chauffeur and what skills are required to gain an excellent reputation for chauffeur services.
Experience
“You just drive people around all day, surely you don’t need any experience to do that?”
WRONG! An experienced chauffeur knows the local area, the restaurants, landmarks and other places of interest. What could be worse than a chauffeur having to stop and ask for directions from a member of the public? Knowledge of local traffic comes with experience and it’s the small “tricks of the trade” and shortcuts that can be the difference between a customer being late for an important meeting or not or making a dinner reservation on time. An experienced chauffeur will also know the best places to park and the local airport arrival and departure processes.
Customer Service
Along with local knowledge, a chauffeur should always offer great customer service. This is not a taxi ride and appropriate language and etiquette should be used at all times. A great chauffeur will aim to go the extra mile for their client and ensure all of their needs and requirements are met. “Are you comfortable enough?”, “Would you like me to turn the air conditioning on/off?”, “May I help you with your luggage?”. These are all examples of how to offer great customer service. It goes without saying a great chauffeur will always be polite, respectful and offer privacy where appropriate but is that enough? At The Executive Choice Chauffeur Company Ltd, we don’t think so. We always endeavour to go the extra mile, each and every time.
Safety
The safety of clients should always be at the top of a great chauffeurs’ list of priorities. An attentive and careful driver gives your customers peace of mind when they are on their journey, they absolutely do not want to be gripping the door handle for their lives! Drive safely, in a relaxed manner and your customers will come back again and again. Another faux pas that any great chauffeur would never be guilty of is looking over your shoulder to speak with your customer. This does not inspire confidence at all and would be uncomfortable for your passenger. There have been instances in the past of chauffeurs using their mobile phones whilst driving, an absolute no-no for a great chauffeur.
Reliability
This is a no-brainer. Any chauffeur worth their salt will always arrive at the correct destination in the requested timeframe. Your customer does not want to be stood waiting at the airport or station waiting for you to arrive. Do your planning in advance, check for local roadworks, temporary traffic lights and use tools at your disposal to determine if there could be any obstacles preventing you from being on time e.g local shows or events, school time traffic etc. Remember, it is always better to arrive early and ensure it is you that has to wait around and not your customer.
Confidence
Whilst nobody likes arrogance, some self-confidence within a chauffeur is very important. Your customer has to know they are in good hands and confidence in what you are doing and where you are going will put their mind at rest. Again, it goes back to preparation, in that you should always ensure that you know what you are doing and that will manifest itself to your customer.
Communication
Communicating effectively with your customer is something that many chauffeurs overlook. Each and every client is different and you should communicate with them in a way which they are comfortable with. For example, if you have one customer who likes to chat for the entire journey, then it’s perfectly reasonable to have a conversation when appropriate. However, not all customers welcome this and will expect privacy. It is therefore a good idea to simply be polite and courteous during interactions and treat each client with the same level of respect, whilst learning to read each one and behaving accordingly.
Offer Extra Services
A great chauffeur might do things an average chauffeur wouldn’t. It is common for some chauffeurs to offer customers complementary drinks and refreshments to enjoy on their journey. It may be a trip to the airport and they may not have any water with them, so offer them a bottle. This is especially important on a hot day. Always carry wet wipes, tissue, first aid kits and even spare change.
In Conclusion
It goes without saying that there are many more aspects to being a great chauffeur than some might think. Here at The Executive Choice Chauffeur Company Ltd, we aim to offer the perfect chauffeur experience to all of our valued customers. We offer airport transfers to and from all major airports, including Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick, as well as Chauffeurs Huntingdon. Get in touch for further information.
