The attitude of an aircraft – its orientation relative to the earth – affects everything in flying. Roll slightly and the aircraft turns and changes course. Inch the nose up and the aircraft slows down and starts climbing. Allow the nose to drop and it’ll speed up and lose altitude.
For a pilot, maintaining the proper attitude is critical to maintaining control of the aircraft during flight. For those of us navigating our everyday lives here on the ground, maintaining a proper attitude is just as important.
Our attitude affects our authenticity, the first Element of Trustworthiness.
If we allow fear or worry to adversely effect our attitude – even slightly – we drift off course. A little too much self-doubt causes us to slow down and waste energy. Likewise, over-confidence might cause us to gain too much speed and lose perspective. So how do we maintain a proper attitude of authenticity?
Pilots have a nifty gauge called an attitude indicator to help them stay on top of the aircraft’s attitude. It’s quite handy – and essential when flying in the clouds or over the ocean at night.
Before a flight, pilots always “cage” their attitude indicators – a process that ensures the instrument starts off aligned with the earth’s actual horizon. This process of caging can also be applied in flight to reset the device if it starts to “tumble” due to severe aerobatic maneuvers.
I try to “cage” my attitude first thing every morning to make sure it’s aligned with my values—before I take off into the craziness of my day. If I don’t, I’m tossed about by whims and circumstances all day. When I’m successful, it’s much easier to navigate the day’s decisions.
This looks different for different people. For me, it’s a quick walk outside to get reacquainted with the big picture before I dive into the details of the day. For others, their “preflight” routine may include coffee, working out, or listening to music.
If, during the day, you sense your attitude start to tumble, take a quick time-out to “level your wings” and realign yourself with who you are, what you know, and what you can do.
This kind of consistent authenticity allows you to chart a steady flightpath through the turbulence of life. That steadiness attracts the trust of others.
For Reflection: How do you “cage” your attitude to maintain authenticity?
