As pilots, it’s our job to make quick, effective decisions in the face of adversity. Because flying can sometimes put us in sticky situations, a competent aviator must have a strong sense of confidence. If you’re trying to improve how you approach situations in life, whether at home or the office, try some of the following self-confidence strategies used by pilots every day.
1) Master Fight or Flight
Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Confidence is ultimately about how well you stand up to situations that would normally make you uncomfortable. With enough practice, you can approach any situation with your head held high. Try this in your everyday life with some small tasks, since science shows that big goals start with small steps. Start a conversation with a new co-worker, cook an exotic recipe, try out for an intramural sports team, or take-on any other activity that’s appealing to you. Self-confidence can be practiced and mastered, just like any other skill.
2) Take Steps to Improve Motivation
The work of a pilot is fun and rewarding but it takes willpower to stay alert, attentive and smart in the air. As such, we use many strategies to improve motivation that you can try. From meditation to changing your thinking patterns to picking up a new hobby, these help you retain a positive attitude. After all, the level of self-motivation you have directly contributes to how confident you are in your day-to-day life.
3) Pay Attention to “Self-Talk”
This is easier said than done for some, however, it’s crucial that you at least learn to listen to the way you talk to yourself. The thoughts you have about yourself and the tasks at hand will have a huge impact on your performance in life, work and hobbies. Positivity helps you stay on target to meet your goals.
4) Take Yourself off Auto-Pilot
We’re no strangers to flying a plane on auto-pilot. But, when you’re on “auto-pilot” mentally, it can be a drag on your personal happiness and job performance. Making deliberate decisions is important in building your ideal lifestyle. For instance, if you are having productivity problems at work, it may be best to take a vacation day, so you can hit the reset button and come back stronger down the road.
5) Spend Time Giving Back
The aviation community is close knit — pilots will often help their fellow flyers out with whatever they need. You’ll be surprised at what an amazing feeling it is if you can find time to give back and spread happiness around a common goal. Helping others while making yourself feel good is a surefire way to boost your self confidence.
6) Write it Down
Pilots are obsessive about writing things down. We carry our flight logs everywhere we go, scrawling notes in the margins. And, not just technical information about trip times or wind strength, but personal notes about flight performance, mentality over long-distance travels and other important criteria that pilots need to keep track of. You can try the same strategy when things are making you upset, or there are certain objectives you want to accomplish. Putting it down on paper, seeing it visually and reading it back will help you sort through thoughts and feelings.
8) Dress the Part
Take a lesson from a professional pilot — don’t be afraid to dress up, slip on a nice watch or other jewelry, do your hair, groom yourself, etc. Looking good plays a large part in how you feel, which in turn affects your confidence. If you’re confident in what you’re wearing, comfortable in your own skin, that’s the vibe you’ll give off.
9) Show Up Early
An aviator’s job is all about time management. As such, when flights are running ahead of schedule, it makes us feel better about our job performance. Try to show up early for your commitments. Think: five minutes early is on time and on time is too late. For something like a business meeting or parent-teacher conference it gives you a few extra minutes to mentally prepare for the situation at hand.
10) Set Measurable Goals
A pilot sets goals that are measured in miles per hour, certain altitudes, new maneuvers and hours in the sky. This helps us “check things off the list”, so to speak. If you can apply that type of thinking to your everyday life, you’ll be better attuned to the progress you make toward those goals. Whether you want to finish a book, save a certain amount of money for something special or learn to fly, setting goals with tangible results will drive you to bigger and better pursuits in the future.
Become a confident, competent pilot with our help
Are you looking for a new way to get out of your comfort zone and test your limits? Consider signing up for flying lessons. Succeeding in a new hobby may be just the thing that pushes you past your self-confidence limits and into a new, improved lifestyle.
If you’re interested in learning more about Inflight training programs, contact us today or call (952) 698-3000.