Page 57 - Never Fly Solo

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altitude ejections very unsafe, but the unpiloted jet could
crash into a school, a home, a hospital, or a shopping mall.
His wingmen served as a chase ship, talked him down, and
checked his six, ensuring that his gear was down so that he
could stay focused on the most critical task at hand: landing
that jet. Lieutenant Colonel Shiban didn’t need to say, “You
look good.” But he had the situational awareness to realize
that in the heat of this emergency, giving his wingman some
encouragement was probably a good thing to do. With his
reassuring and comforting positive voice, Shiban was a “com-
rade of courage.” Rose knew that Shiban and the others had
his back and that everything was OK.
Remember, Shiban also communicated with another
unsung hero and key wingman, the tower controller, to make
sure that Rose was cleared to land and that no other aircraft
were on the runway.
In the business world, we all experience engine failures at
times and need to land our jets under extremely adverse con-
ditions. No one is immune—layoffs, budget cuts, extended
work hours, the relentless pressure to perform, constantly
changing technology, or a family emergency can trigger an
engine flameout at any time. If and when it happens, having
a wingman to check in with us and back us up can make all
the difference. Sometimes all it takes is a “check-in” on the
radio and perhaps a little encouragement to help us to land.
At other times, we may need a wingman to take over certain
responsibilities so we can focus on the challenge at hand. This
is the key to partnering at work.
As leaders on and off the job, we need to keep our visual
cross-check and communication consistent and not forget
about those who lock themselves in the office and become
“lost” at work. Sure, they may be doing a great, vitally impor-