FLEETDRIVE
Terry-John Dower
but in my ability to lead and support my team .”
Balancing both office and classroom desks , the classroom provided TJ with a different perspective . “ On-the-job learning is all about real-world experience [...] It ’ s fast-paced and practical , but it doesn ’ t always give you the space to step back and analyse why certain approaches work better than others .” he explained .
Given TJ ’ s vast experience in the fleet industry , the space to step back and re-orient their strategies isn ’ t usually afforded to those who are thoroughly immersed in what they ’ re doing . It ’ s crucial for leaders and professionals to be able to look at different perspectives and adjust along the completion of their goals .
“ The diploma gave me that space ,” TJ recalled . “ It allowed me to learn structured frameworks , best practices , and leadership theories that I could apply to my day-to-day work .”
Truthfully , there is no one method better than the other . Rather , TJ found that formal learning greatly complemented his hands-on experience . “ The course also gave me a deeper understanding of financial management and strategic planning — things I ’ ve worked with in practice but hadn ’ t had the opportunity to study in a structured way ,” he expounded .
The diploma course offers subjects such as “ Manage budgets and financial plans ,” “ Establish innovative work environments ,” and many more . Over the course of 6 modules and 13 subjects , TJ closely evaluated case studies and participated in discussions with other professionals as part of the programme .
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Leadership skills , while often emphasised , would suffer without complementary communication skills to support them . One of TJ ’ s key takeaways from the diploma course is the importance of communication , especially when dealing with people from across roles and organisations .
“[...] it ’ s not just about getting your point across but ensuring that what you ’ re saying resonates
ISSUE 51 FEBRUARY 2025 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 33