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Are You Piloting Your Business With this Same Steely Resolve?
By Leah Swearingen, APR
Aviate.
Navigate.
Communicate.
Her emergency training kicked in as commercial airline pilot and retired naval aviator, Captain Tammie Jo Shults, worked to save Southwest Airlines flight 1380 as it suffered catastrophic engine failure. Captain Shults’ steely cool and razor focus steadied the crippled aircraft, leading it through a dramatic descent from 30,000 feet. Although there was one tragic loss of life, the remaining 148 souls aboard survived.
Her display of competence and heroism in the face of disaster is inspiring in itself. But it also got me thinking: How many of us share the same professional clarity and determination as Captain Shults? To what degree do we aviate-navigate-communicateour way to successful, long-term careers?
- Aviate: Are we are at the top of our game professionally? Do we know our craft, inside and out? Are we constantly learning and growing? Do we push ourselves to acquire new skills, adapt to industry changes, and strive to be best-in-class?
- Navigate: Are we crystal-clear about where we’re heading? Do we need to change course? Have unexpected developments created a make-or-break situation? Are we willing to alter our flight plan and move toward an unscheduled destination?
- Communicate: Are we keeping others informed of what we’re doing? Do they understand our actions? When problems or failure loom, do we explain the situation calmly and with reassurance? Are we providing regular updates?
As one of the first female F/A-18 Hornet pilots in the United States Navy, Captain Shults is a rousing role model for women and men alike. Her impeccable standards and personal bravery inspire all of us who strive to deliver the best possible results to our clients.
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