One of the hardest things for a chauffeur to handle is discretion. Discretion is defined, very simply, as keeping your mouth shut!
Wise Teacher
My high school French teacher, Mrs. Sachs, once told me something so wise that I don’t think I will ever forget it. She said, “It is wiser to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” I often think about this before opening my mouth to speak, and most times I choose to remain silent.
Many times, a passenger will be saying something, and I want to add my two cents. The problem is, the customer / passenger is not asking for my words of wisdom, so I remain silent.
Football Hero
In early May, I picked up Phil Simms and his wife, and drove them to Newark Airport. Phil Simms was and is a huge hero to me, having been the quarterback of two Super Bowl winning teams.
When I picked up Mr. Simms and his wife, I was calm, confident and polite, as I always am. I treated him like I treat all my passengers. I didn’t talk football; I showed discretion. He showed me he appreciated my discretion with a $20 tip!
Dinner Date
A few years ago, I picked up a gentleman from an office building in Manhattan and drove him to a restaurant. I overheard the man say on his phone, “Hi honey. I have to work late again tonight. I’ll be home after midnight.”
A few seconds later, I heard the same man on his phone say, “Hi darling. I’ll see you at the restaurant in 15 minutes. We have a room at the hotel for us to enjoy dessert after dinner.”
I said nothing; I just kept my eyes on the road and drove the man safely to the restaurant.
I felt badly for the man’s wife, but I knew the importance of keeping the man’s private affairs private. Keeping confidence is key.
Sick Day
One day, a chauffeur was driving a customer to an office building. The next day the same chauffeur drove two people from the same company. The chauffeur, feeling like it was OK to speak freely, said, “I just drove one of your colleagues to a meeting yesterday.”
The first customer had called in sick the day before and was going to a job interview. The chauffeur inadvertently spilled the beans about the passenger.
Accounts have been lost because a chauffeur spoke when not spoken to and uncovered a confidential subject. Customers don’t like chatty chauffeurs who talk too much!
The old saying goes, “Loose lips sink ships.” Divulging a confidentiality might not sink a ship, but it can sink a hard-won and valued business relationship.
The moral of this Street Story is that discretion is critical when driving passengers. They may see your vehicle as a safe haven for them to escape from the crazy world and have 30 minutes of uninterrupted peace and privacy. This is a valuable service that we offer.
