Page 46 - Never Fly Solo

CHAIR FLYING | 19
Practice Under Pressure

Every unforeseen event brings on some anxiety and stress.
That’s normal. When a missile comes at you, you undergo
what is known as a fight-or-flight response mechanism. Chair
flying prepares you to fight to the best of your ability, know-
ing that no great achievement comes without a fierce battle.
Imagine an executive vice president taking the podium in
front of 150 coworkers and going blank, or not knowing
what to do when his PowerPoint presentation goes out during
a crucial product demonstration for a big client.
While it’s almost impossible to duplicate the exact envi-
ronment of a given contingency, it is possible to simulate some
of the pressures. And the truth is that it’s more often the pres-
sure of performing, not the act itself, that gets to us. For me,
taking off was the toughest part of every combat mission.
After I was airborne, 99 percent of the mission was already
over, because I had done most of my work (and worrying) on
the ground.
I challenge you to put some pressure on yourself by ask-
ing a wingman to challenge you with unplanned questions or
what-if problems out of the blue. Or ask for a critique from
a coworker or supervisor you trust. Consider practicing a new
product presentation or sales pitch on a loyal customer whom
you respect and with whom you already have a relationship.
Implore the customer to be brutally honest with her feedback.
You always learn the most from your customers, especially if
they care about you and respect the relationship.
Finally, practice with distractions going on. Many people
say it’s best to study in a quiet room where there are no dis-
turbances. But I say, not if disturbances can reach you in the
real work arena. Think about it. In combat, distractions are
always present. The cockpit can be quite noisy, with people