Clearing Mental Turbulence - Five Hazardous Attitudes That Crash Projects and Planes
In aviation, human error is one of the leading causes of accidents. To help pilots recognize and counter the thought patterns that often precede poor decisions, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified five hazardous attitudes and paired each with a tested antidote. While these ideas were born in the cockpit, they reach far beyond the runway. Make it a part of your organizational culture to recognize, verbalize, and help people overcome them through the antidotes prescribed by FAA.
1. Anti-Authority
The Attitude: "Don’t tell me what to do." This is the mindset that rules and procedures are nuisances rather than safeguards. A pilot might skip a checklist because "I know this plane like the back of my hand." At work, it shows up as ignoring policies, brushing off training, or resisting feedback.
The Antidote: "Follow the rules. They are usually right." Rules exist to protect, standardize, and ensure fairness. In any job, policies are the result of lessons learned—sometimes at great cost. The professional recognizes that rules aren’t chains; they're guardrails. The antidote reminds us to pause and ask: Why was this rule put in place? What risk do I create by ignoring it?
2. Impulsivity
The Attitude: "Do something-anything-fast." In aviation, an impulsive pilot might react without assessing the situation-yank the controls, push buttons, or change course prematurely. In the workplace, impulsivity might mean sending that email without thinking, approving a project without due diligence, or jumping into a decision because silence feels uncomfortable.
The Antidote- "Not so fast. Think first." The discipline of slowing down is deceptively powerful. In medicine, they call it a "pause." In project management, it’s a "review." In customer service, it's taking one deep breath before responding to an angry client. By resisting the urge to act immediately, we make room for reflection, collaboration, and better outcomes.
3. Invulnerability
The Attitude- "It won’t happen to me." Pilots who think they’re immune to accidents often take risks, like flying in poor weather or pushing fuel limits. At work, this attitude appears when someone skips safety gear because "I've done this a hundred times" or when a leader assumes burnout won't affect them.
The Antidote - "It could happen to me." Recognizing personal vulnerability is not weakness; it's wisdom. The antidote grounds us in humility - every one of us can make mistakes, get sick, or miss details. By accepting that risk applies to us, we make more cautious, sustainable choices that protect ourselves and those around us.
4. Macho
The Attitude- "I can do it—no matter what." This is the compulsion to prove one's toughness or competence. In aviation, it could mean flying into storms to show skill. At work, it's the employee who refuses help, takes on too many projects, or pushes through exhaustion just to demonstrate capability.
The Antidote - "Taking chances is foolish." Real strength is knowing when to say no. The antidote reframes courage: it is not bravado, but the judgment to avoid unnecessary risk. In any field, the professional who admits limits and asks for support often saves both time and reputation.
5. Resignation
The Attitude - "What’s the use? I can’t make a difference." A pilot with this mindset might abdicate responsibility - "If the engine quits, it’s out of my hands." At work, resignation takes the form of apathy - employees who don't speak up in meetings, workers who ignore problems because "management won’t listen," or leaders who let challenges fester because "that’s just the way it is."
The Antidote - "I can make a difference. Any difference is made by humans like you." Ownership is empowering. Even when circumstances are difficult, individuals have agency-whether it's reporting a safety hazard, suggesting a new idea, or encouraging a colleague. The antidote restores motivation and reminds us that small actions accumulate into meaningful change.
Why These Lessons Matter Beyond Aviation
The genius of these hazardous attitudes and antidotes is their universality. Every job involves decisions under pressure, imperfect information, and human tendencies that skew judgment. By naming these thought patterns, we make them visible—and by practicing their antidotes, we build cultures of accountability, reflection, and resilience.
In the end, whether piloting an aircraft or managing a project, safety and success come not just from technical skill but from mindset. The five hazardous attitudes are like hidden turbulence - dangerous if unnoticed, manageable if recognized. The antidotes are the instruments that keep us level, steady, and on course - not just in the sky, but in every team and every career.