I was once a young pilot in the Air Force. As the saying goes, “Flying is hours and hours of boredom with moments of sheer terror.”

But flying was also a school of management. I learned much of what I know from those early years. Here are some examples.

1. Leaders must make decisions and decisions won’t wait.

You are forced to make decisions when you are the pilot in command. You cannot pull over to the side of the road and think about what is going on. You cannot call for help and have a tow truck show up to pull you out of the ditch or fix your flat tire. Things just keep happening. If you stop what you are doing to think about it or to wait for help, you will come to a very bad end. You must make decisions and you must take action without physical intervention (read “help”) from outside your aircraft.

2. Leaders should not make decisions alone.

Most of my aircraft had more than one crew member. The crew was made up of highly skilled, experienced people. I always consulted with them on key decisions. And I listened. But, just like the Cincpac1 (Francot Tone) of In Harm’s Way, I still had to make the decision.

I really value the advice of my Executive Directors and the other Board Members. I select board members for passion first, competence second, then for the willingness to tell me when the Emperor has no clothes. Tactfully, if possibly. Assertively, if necessary. I cannot count the number of times listening to advice has saved me from making a bad decision.

3. When in a crisis, the first step is to maintain control.

That’s control of the aircraft and of yourself. Air Force Training Flash Cards give a generic procedure for every emergency:

1. Maintain aircraft control
2. Analyze the situation
3. Take the proper action.

The first step is critical. If you don’t maintain control, you cannot take the other steps.

Most people think that panic means running and screaming. But most panic is just being frozen into immobility, unable to think or act.

Once you maintain control, pause a moment and analyze the situation. Pilots are told to wind the clock (all Air Force aircraft have a mechanical clock). This keeps you from taking rash action.

Then do what you have to do.

I once saw and Emergency Room doctor who was overseeing a very painful procedure. The patient was crying out in pain. The doctor just looked at the camera and said, “I never saw an emergency that was improved by screaming.” Neither have I.

Grieve…later. Cry…later. Let it all out…later. But get the job done now, so there will be a later.