Why Management by Driving Around (MBDA) Matters More Than Ever

For years, Management by Walking Around (MBWA) reminded leaders of something simple yet powerful: presence builds trust.
But organizations have changed. Workforces are dispersed, meetings are virtual, and many companies are now urging employees to return to the office even as digital distance remains.

In this environment, leadership presence needs a new expression.

That is where Management by Driving Around (MBDA) enters the conversation.

MBDA builds on the essence of MBWA, but adds mobility, flexibility, and a wider field of vision. It brings leaders into the places where real work happens and where the truth of the organization often reveals itself long before it appears in a dashboard or a virtual meeting.

We have seen its impact in practice.
Steve Gordon’s transformation of the California DMV is a standout example: 180 locations visited, 50,000 miles traveled, and reforms that dramatically improved customer experience. Earlier pioneers like Jan Aalberts (Aalberts Industries) and Ton Risseeuw (Getronics, KPN) demonstrated the same principle in the mid-90s, showing how hands-on leadership uncovers insights remote oversight simply cannot.

Today, the gap between leaders and frontline realities is widening again.
Hybrid work, virtual communication, and layers of digital reporting often create an illusion of clarity while masking nuance, culture, and friction.

MBDA restores what organizations are losing: context, connection, and unfiltered insight.

And within that, there is a significant opportunity for coaching and Intelligent Leadership.

MBDA naturally creates moments of reflection. As leaders move from one site to another, they process what they observe, challenge assumptions, and begin to see new patterns form. These transitions become ideal settings for deeper conversations — the kind that strengthen inner-core clarity and translate outer-core intentions into meaningful action.

This is also where my own approach, the Executive Hitchhiker, becomes especially powerful. The moments between site visits, the conversations in the car, and the quiet reflection while shifting from one context to the next often lead to the clearest insights. Observations turn into meaning, meaning turns into direction, and direction becomes action. It is leadership grounded in reality, curiosity, and genuine connection.

MBDA is more than mobility. It is a way of staying close to the organization while staying true to oneself — exactly the space where Intelligent Leadership grows.

If you’re exploring how presence, reflection, and real-world insight can strengthen your leadership, I’m always open to a conversation — whether at a desk or, perhaps, on the road.