Pilots call these checklists "Critical Action Procedures" or CAP's for short. A while back I discovered that leaders need CAP's - whether they know it or not.
For military pilots, CAP's are the steps that must be taken, in perfect order and without delay, when the safety of an aircraft is in jeopardy. When pilots undergo the periodic simulator evaluations required to be rated to operate specific aircraft, the Instructor Pilot running the show always tests all the CAP's for that particular jet. Mistakes are not tolerated. No exceptions.
How seriously do pilots take these CAP's? Beyond the simulator evaluations, Air Force F-16 pilots are required to write out their CAP's – in ink, perfectly – at least once a month or they are grounded pending additional training. When the experience level of a squadron is relatively low, commanders routinely require completion of a written CAP's test every week. Failure to speak or perform the CAP's perfectly in a simulator evaluation results in a permanent black spot on the pilot's record and reputation.
As the Commander of a fighter outfit, I gave my leaders another set of CAP's – Leadership CAP's. My Leadership CAP's were adapted from an idea on loan from the book The Leadership Challenge. There are dozens of qualities that can be valuable to a leader. But exhaustive, worldwide, cross-cultural research has clearly identified four qualities every human being wants in a leader they will follow willingly. Those four qualities became my Leadership CAP's.
- Honest
- Competent
- Inspiring
- Forward Looking
Kouzes and Posner (the authors of The Leadership Challenge) elaborate on those four qualities and many other valuable insights. Their findings are profound.
May I make a suggestion? Study the life of Jesus of Nazareth in light of these leadership qualities. He employed them perfectly.
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