They are hectic, disorganized, and only react to what is happening around them.
How do you recognize overwhelmed leaders?
They are hectic, disorganized, and only react to what is happening around them.
According to the latest Gallup study, four out of five leaders feel permanently overwhelmed. In the cockpit, overload also leads to mistakes and team failure. That is why pilots learn a crucial rule already during flight training:
“Be ahead of the airplane!”
No matter what happens – always stay one step ahead of your aircraft.
In October 2002, I sat in a cockpit for the first time in my life in the Arizona desert. And I was completely “BEHIND the airplane.” Everything happens so fast – the instruments, navigation, radio communication – a disaster. When I stepped out of the single-engine Piper Archer in over 40°C heat, I barely remembered my own name. And the same again the next day.
Pilots are deliberately pushed to their limits throughout their entire careers – and beyond: in training, in simulators, during check flights. So that in real situations they do not react hectically, without a plan, or in an overwhelmed way.
Three steps to get “ahead of the airplane”
1. Preparation
“Perfect Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” is a well-known aviation phrase. In the corporate cockpit, many turbulences can also be avoided when the crew has a clear plan. When strategies and potential challenges along the route are played through in detail. And alternative routes are defined in advance. Those who are prepared step on board with confidence.
2. Focus
Pilots are not machines and not multitaskers. They are focused. Pilots learn to remain calm when things get loud around them. They mentally step back and ask themselves: What really matters right now? That is what they take care of – before it becomes a problem. Active prioritization means leaving out things that only demand attention and delegating tasks that are not immediately critical.
3. Trust
You only get ahead of the airplane if you create the necessary capacity. Preparation and focus require time and calmness. Leaders who constantly fight on the front line of day-to-day operations remain stuck in a hamster wheel. Pilots trust their crew. They often hand over the controls to sharpen their view toward the horizon.
Leading means shaping, not firefighting
Change what is necessary so you always stay one step ahead of your airplane.
Philip Keil is a commercial pilot, keynote speaker, and expert in leadership, teamwork, and change management. In his presentations, he applies insights from the cockpit to everyday business life and demonstrates how teams can make clear decisions, take responsibility, and collaborate effectively—even under pressure. His keynotes combine storytelling, real-world examples, and practical insights for leadership and corporate culture.
