We are certainly living in a time of unknowns — many unknowns. Recently, a colleague asked me, “How do you navigate without visibility?”
My mind immediately went to aviation.
In aviation, pilots learn to fly by their instruments. When we begin our journey as aviators (and as leaders), we start with the basics: pre-flight, takeoff, straight-and-level flight, turns, stalls, and landings. We fly using visual references under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). We look outside the cockpit — at the horizon, the terrain, and other visual cues — to determine where we are and how our aircraft is positioned.
But as we grow in skill and experience, we learn something essential: one day, we will fly into weather where we can no longer rely on what we see out the cockpit.
In visual flying (VFR), outside cues guide you. In instrument flying (IFR), those cues disappear.
Flying by reference to instruments is not flying blind. It is learning to trust a different source of truth.
That transition requires training and practice — just as moving from individual contributor to leader requires development. When you enter the clouds and lose sight of the ground, you must rely on your instruments. You must treat the data they provide as ground truth, not your internal sensations or what “feels right.” In aviation, ignoring your instruments in favor of what “feels right” can be fatal.
The shift to instrument flying is more challenging than many pilots expect because it forces you to trust their instruments over your senses. It’s not just a technical adjustment; it’s a mental one.
Leadership demands a similar shift.
Early in your career, you may rely on intuition, direct observation, and personal execution. You see the “landmarks.” You do the work yourself. But as you move into leadership, visibility changes. The landscape becomes more complex. You must think more abstractly. You begin to “fly concepts” instead of navigating by familiar terrain.
And, you must delegate work you once did yourself.
And just as pilots rely on their instruments, leaders must rely on dashboards, data, and feedback from team leads. These become the instruments that guide decision-making. They may not always feel as concrete as hands-on experience, but they provide essential information when visibility is low.
Delegation becomes critical. Discipline becomes critical. Trust becomes essential.
Instrument flying isn’t about losing control. It is about gaining the skill to navigate when clarity disappears. Leadership is no different.
What instruments do you use?
Fly High,
Barbara
Need help developing your “instrument flying?” Connect with me at CaptainBarbaraBell.com and of course check out my book, Flight Lessons: Navigating Through Life’s Turbulence and Learning to Fly High. #coaching, #leadership, #leadershipdevelopment, #aviation, #instrumentflying, #veterans
Photo by Kyle Hinkson on Unsplash
