Leadership, much like aviation, begins with clear skies, steady progress, and a sense of confidence. On a flight many years ago over international waters, everything started with a perfectly smooth takeoff, calm passengers, and serene skies. It felt like an ideal journey until, about an hour in, something shifted.
At first, it was just a faint smell. Subtle, easily dismissed—perhaps some food slightly overcooked by the cabin crew. But soon, the smell intensified. Smoke—quietly alarming, gently unsettling, yet unmistakable.
Passengers exchanged nervous glances, but there were no announcements initially. Then, calmly and without panic, the captain's voice came over the speakers, announcing an unexpected landing. Murmurs spread through the cabin, but the crew remained composed, efficiently preparing passengers for an unscheduled descent.

Upon landing, the urgency became clearer.
From my window seat, I watched as fire trucks approached rapidly, their emergency lights flashing—a sobering realization that something serious had happened. Later, we discovered the actual cause: an electrical fire had started on board. Although it wasn't visible, it posed a real and immediate danger.
The pilot's decision to land swiftly and decisively, even without complete clarity for passengers, had potentially averted disaster.

Reflecting on this incident, I realized leadership is remarkably similar. As leaders, we often begin with clarity, momentum, and clear goals. But inevitably, we encounter unexpected turbulence—a subtle "smoke" of tension, burnout, or misalignment within our teams or organizations.

The real test isn’t merely keeping the plane airborne. Instead, true leadership is knowing precisely when to act—when to land, reassess, recalibrate, and ensure safety and clarity before resuming flight. Many leaders hesitate, waiting for complete clarity or hoping issues will resolve independently. However, just like a skilled pilot, decisive leaders read the signs and prioritize action over hesitation.

Leaders don’t need flames to make critical decisions. Effective leadership is the art of proactive intervention, knowing instinctively when to pause, ground operations if necessary, and addressing underlying issues. It's recognizing that strategic "landings" are not a weakness but a necessary strength.

So, consider your own leadership flight. How do you recognize subtle warnings in your organization? Do you allow yourself and your team to pause and recalibrate when necessary?

Remember, the greatest leadership skill isn’t merely staying airborne—it’s mastering the art of strategic landings, ensuring safety, clarity, and preparedness for the next stage of the journey.

Dr. Calvin McDowall is a leadership strategist, international bestselling author, and executive with over three decades of experience in healthcare leadership, military service, and coaching. He empowers leaders to navigate change, lead with purpose, and transform challenges into opportunities. Through storytelling and relatable analogies, Dr. McDowall is on a mission to make leadership more digestible, relatable, impactful, and memorable for today’s world changers.

Flight Time: Navigating Leadership Through Turbulence and Emergency Landings

Leadership in the Waiting and the Winning: Reflections from Two Dreams