N.E.W.S.® Navigation’s Post

What do Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 and Air Florida Flight 90 have in common? In both tragic incidents, the flight crews failed to enforce a sterile cockpit during the final preflight checklist procedure, leading to devastating consequences. (As my dear friend and colleague Jeremy Grogono will surely know 😜). After learning about the concept of a “sterile cockpit” in aviation—a method designed to minimise distractions during crucial flight phases—I was inspired to adapt this idea into my coaching practice. The sterile cockpit creates an environment where unnecessary conversations and distractions are eliminated, allowing pilots to focus solely on what matters most. This principle is precisely what I aim to achieve in the "sterile coaching setting". I know it sounds basic—turning off your phone, closing your email—but creating a safe environment is paramount, as the aviation world teaches us. Based on my experience, the sterile coaching setting isn’t just a “nice-to-have”; it actively helps the brain focus on what matters most. It’s more than avoiding distractions that can sneak in when you least expect them. It’s about the clarity and emotional release that come from a focused, safe space. I can support authentic conversations and insights in this environment, empowering my audience to tackle challenges with renewed energy and perspective. So, the sterile coaching setting is not just about a “quiet time and space”—it’s a quiet time and space that speaks volumes about respect and safety. It’s about nurturing a unique state of focus and emotional safety tailored to my audience’s needs and energy flow. #leadership #mindfulLeadership #coachinginnovation #businessgrowth #executivecoaching #workplacewellness

🛫✨ In the wake of recent aviation incidents and the insights from Boeing's Expert Review Panel, we explore the pivotal role of communication, transparency, independence in investigations and centralised data in fostering robust safety cultures. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gz2cjwcd #AviationSafety #WorkplaceSafety #Boeing #Insights #RelyAndYourCall #SaferWorkplaces #Leadership #Communication #Transparency #whistleblowing #SpeakUp #WorkplaceCulture #AviationSafety

You know that sinking feeling when you realize you really messed up? Unfortunately, we've all been there. How do we respond to ourselves and others in those moments? How you answer is more powerful than you might imagine. Read more in this week's blog brought to us by The FOCUS Group CEO Brad Layland.

Leading in Mayday Moments   In aviation and in life, adaptability is everything. After the initial “OMG!” reaction to an in-flight emergency, you shift to “DWI: Deal With It.” Staying calm, assessing the situation, and taking decisive action is how you turn challenges into opportunities for growth. Looking for a speaker who's experienced leading under pressure? Check out FullThrottleLeadership.com   #LeadershipUnderPressure #CrisisLeadership #TurnChallengesIntoOpportunities

“The Optimist Invents the Airplane and the Pessimist the Parachute” - W. H. H. MacKellar. As we buckle up for takeoff, flight attendants meticulously guide us through safety protocols, from seatbelts to emergency exits, even detailing procedures for a water landing! Yet, they omit the reassuring statistics that deem flying safer than driving on highways 🙂 This ritual isn’t rooted in pessimism; it’s a well-crafted blueprint to mitigate the chance of potential failure. Shane Parrish’s “Clear Thinking” shines a light on the ‘Bad Outcome Principle’, advocating for a balanced perspective that neither dwells in pessimism nor flies blindly on optimism. In business, as in aviation, acknowledging potential pitfalls doesn’t dampen our drive—it equips us to soar higher and smarter. Let’s not shy away from asking, “What could go wrong?”  Instead, let’s embrace this mindset and have parachutes—ready to deploy to deal with such outcomes, ensuring a safe journey towards our ambitious destinations. #thinkingclearly #clearthinking #farnamstreet #leadership #Bookstoread #WhatIlearnedToday #Shaneparrish #TheKnowledgeProject

OUR CAPTAINS: LEADING WITH TRADITION, NAVIGATING THE FUTURE #teamRiverAdviceNautic Captains embody the perfect balance between honoring the timeless traditions of river navigation and embracing the innovations that shape the future of our industry. Each Captain brings deep knowledge and experience, rooted in the rich history of European waterways, while also guiding our ships with the latest in navigation technology and modern leadership. This is how we at #RiverAdvice continue to lead—by honoring the navigation traditions of old and boldly charting new courses, one cruise at a time. 🚢 Should you have more questions about #RiverAdvicePeople & Culture, feel free to drop us a line.

The recent flight groundings due to snow (and also my half marathon training run that turned into a brisk walk up a hill due to snow yesterday) remind me how unpredictable life can be. When things go wrong, leaders need to focus on what matters the most: staying calm, staying clear and staying focused. In aviation, the simple mantra is: “Keep the plane in the air” When a situation spirals, we don’t rush to fix the problem - we focus instead on stabilising and navigating to safety. The same applies to leadership crises. ✈️ Aviate - or Stabilise: What’s the immediate priority to keep things running? ✈️ Navigate: Where do you need to steer the team to regain control? ✈️ Communicate: Who needs to know what, and when? This isn’t about perfection - it’s about FOCUS 💡 Your turn: Have you ever had to lead in a crisis? How did you stay focused on what mattered the most? #groundedleadership #resilience #leadershipincrisis Photo is at London Luton Airport in March 2018 - it took a while to clear the snow off the windshield! (We did fly eventually!)

If someone spends time thinking about the best way to present information, it's worth giving them space to present it. Most senior leaders in the Air Force allowed me to finish my briefing before diving into questions. They would ask clarifying questions during the presentation, but usually waited to see if the deeper questions got answered first. I tried to do the same thing when junior pilots were briefing a flight plan to me…it felt disrespectful to jump in right away with "what abouts" when they were probably going to get to it eventually. I took this for granted until I got to the private sector. It may feel like a waste of time to give the presenter some space, but it helps build a culture of respect which will save time in the long run. Form100Consulting

Bold decisions under pressure foster a risk-taking culture—here’s how we navigated one such moment. As Chief Engineer aboard naval ships, I've encountered my fair share of trials, but few as tense as what we faced during one critical mission. Just as we were gearing up for departure, we hit a major snag during pre-sailing checks—a critical engine control was malfunctioning. This left us with just one working engine on a single shaft system, a scenario ripe with the risk of losing propulsion altogether. With a strict deadline looming and mission success hanging in the balance, the pressure was immense. The task was clear but daunting: ensure the ship could safely complete its mission despite the defect. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, we devised thorough contingency plans and assured the Captain we could proceed safely with specific SOPs in place. As we headed out to sea, I rallied a core team to dive into the vessel's complex control system, a labyrinth of thousands of connections, drawing confidence from my master's degree in automation. For the next 48 hours, our core team focused entirely on defect rectification while my deputy managed the seamless functioning of other operations. We worked with relentless focus, pausing only briefly to regroup and strategize. The breakthrough came unexpectedly—a team member stumbled upon a broken connection in a remote part of the system. It was a eureka moment that came just in time. Fixing that connection restored full functionality to our propulsion system, sparking cheers of relief and triumph from the team. This mission was more than a test of our technical skills; it was a crucible for our resolve. We met our mission objectives and sailed back with our ship fully operational and our spirits high. This experience reinforced the crew's confidence in their abilities and cemented a bold, calculated risk-taking culture supported by vigilant problem-solving. Reflecting on this, I'm reminded of the power of leadership that trusts, empowers, and innovates in the face of uncertainty. How are you encouraging your team to take bold risks and drive innovation? Share your thoughts below! PS: This picture shows me editing my subordinate's draft—proof that bold decisions sometimes need bolder punctuation before senior management sees them! #Innovation #Leadership #Culture #RiskManagement #veteran