4 Lethal, but Controllable, Threats to a Business Aviation Career

Author By Jim Lara

When a tennis player makes a blunder, it’s called an ‘unforced error.’ And when a team member in Business Aviation makes a blunder, it’s called a ‘resume error.’

Unfortunately, many professionals (in both sports and business) do not realize that these controllable errors can result in dramatic, career-altering events.

In this post, we’ll discuss four lethal, but controllable, career threats and how to overcome them:

  1. Misplaced ego,
  2. Poor cultural fit,
  3. Not understanding ‘Why,’and
  4. Lack of continuous professional development.

Sure, there are countless career blunders, but we at Gray Stone Advisors have identified four lethal threats that are totally controllable by YOU, the Business Aviation professional.

Keep your ego in check, make sure you’re a great fit, always know the strategic intent of Business Aviation within your company, and continue to grow and develop professionally.

1. Misplaced Ego

There’s no doubt about it, Business Aviation is a team sport. And, as has been said so often, there’s no ‘I’ in team. Yet, how many times have we witnessed talented individuals become completely compromised by a misplaced ego?

That ego may manifest in the form of a “What’s-in-it-for-me?” entitlement attitude (as opposed to “How can I support the team?”). Or, perhaps the ego is a barrier to asking for help when you’re overloaded with work. You cannot do it all yourself, so why not reach out to those who can assist?

Properly harnessing one’s ego and self-perceptions are keys to the enhancement of highly effective team-focused execution and service delivery. And, to deliver the highest quality Business Aviation travel experience to our passengers and clients, we absolutely need the entire team to be completely aligned with the intended direction of the organization.

2. Poor Cultural Fit

Two critically important keys to one’s organizational performance are ‘fit’ and ‘fitness.’ Fitness is about having the technical, educational and/or academic skills/ability to do the job. This is really the easy part.

However, becoming a cultural fit is not as easy. Fitting into (and aligning with) an organization’s culture, while performing your job, is where real trouble can develop.

For example, if an organization is a meritocracy, you need to know that at the onset. If you aren’t comfortable in a performance-based rewards system, don’t get involved with a firm where it’s fundamental to their belief system. You simply can’t fake ‘fit’.

Whether you’re an employer, potential team member or both, it’s a good idea to really understand an organization’s cultural values. Then being able to embrace those values is essential to your success.

3. Not Understanding ‘Why’

Why does the Business Aviation organization exist within your enterprise? What’s the flight department’s true purpose?

If you don’t know, how can you support (or align with) that corporate strategy?

While your main task may be scheduling trips, maintaining an aircraft or functioning as a flight crewmember, your main purpose is to help the enterprise become more successful. The inability to grasp and support the host organization’s strategic intent for Business Aviation is a lethal threat to any aviation career.

Understanding ‘Why’ will require some homework on your part.

Discuss the strategic intent with your Aviation Director.

Be mindful of what the trip profiles are telling you.

Pay close attention to each of the company’s press releases, articles in the business press, earnings reports and public filings. Your objective is to become familiar with the core business(es) of your parent company.

With this knowledge and understanding, you can better support the core functions of the Enterprise.

4. Lack of Continuous Professional Development

Speaking of personal initiative, what are you doing to prepare yourself for tomorrow’s opportunities?

Is your Individual Development Plan (IDP) realistic and relevant to you?

In the Business Aviation profession, we spend an enormous amount of time and resources devoted to training, ensuring competency to handle our current responsibilities. But, how about tomorrow’s opportunities?

That’s where ‘development’ comes in. If you’re not committed to your continuous professional growth and development, you will be left in the dust. And, who has the primary responsibility for your development? If you have any hesitation about answering that question, go have a look in the mirror. Yes, that person is YOU!

One skill that virtually every Business Aviation professional requires is the ability to effectively communicate with the executive traveler and/or corporate office in a professional, business-like manner. This means having a good command of the language of business.

You are providing requisite information and responding to inquiries and requests. This is not a social engagement. Additionally, the Business Aviation organization needs to ‘speak with one voice.’ Things can get very sticky if the executive traveler gets three different responses to the same question. You must ensure that your messaging is consistent, honest and complete.

Next Step: Creating Core Capabilities

Now, what would happen if you turned each one of these four lethal threats into your four personal core capabilities? Well, the answer is crystal clear … YOU will be an unstoppable superstar performer. It’s within your reach and totally up to YOU!

Your Turn

We’ve discussed four lethal threats, but there are more!

Which career blunders can you think of? Please share with us in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you.