Are You Safe to Challenge? A Leadership Lesson from the Cockpit
Sep 18, 2025
What One Flight Crew Got Wrong—and What Every Leader Should Learn
In 1978, United Airlines Flight 173 crashed just a few miles from Portland’s airport.
The plane didn’t go down because of weather, turbulence, or equipment failure.
It ran out of fuel.
The captain—an experienced and well-respected leader—was fixated on a landing gear issue.
Meanwhile, both his co-pilot and flight engineer knew fuel was running dangerously low.
But they didn’t challenge him directly or forcefully enough to shift his focus.
By the time the captain realised, it was too late.
This tragedy became a turning point in aviation history.
It led to the development of Crew Resource Management—a training method that encourages every crew member, regardless of rank, to speak up when something feels off.
The aim?
Flatten hierarchy. Empower voices. Avoid avoidable disasters.
What This Means for Leaders
Leadership isn’t just about making the right calls.
It’s about making sure your team feels safe enough to tell you when you might be about to make the wrong one.
Your style—how you communicate, handle pressure, and make decisions—sets the emotional tone for everyone around you.
If you're highly directive, you might unintentionally shut people down.
If you're too focused on one issue, you might miss critical input.
The Shift You Need to Make
Here’s what great leaders do differently:
✔️ They understand how their own style affects others—especially under pressure.
✔️ They create a culture where speaking up isn’t risky—it’s expected.
✔️ They invite challenge, seek feedback, and double-check their blind spots.
The best solutions often come from the quietest voices.
But only if they feel safe enough to speak.
This Is the Work I Do
In my work with executive teams and leadership groups, I help leaders become more aware of the emotional climate they create—and how that climate either fuels performance or holds it back.
Through building emotional intelligence, leaders learn how to:
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Recognise their blind spots
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Stay open under pressure
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Create safety in high-stakes conversations
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Make better decisions—with their team, not just for them
Are You Creating a Culture That Can Challenge You?
If you're leading a team where silence could cost you speed, trust, or impact—it's time to rewire how you lead.
đź”— Learn how I help leaders build high-performing, emotionally aware teams at hooper-rees.com
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