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Air Traffic Control vs Air Plane Passenger

The differences between an air traffic controller and a passenger on a commercial flight are numerous. One of the most important is that the controller has a perspective on the entire sector. As a passenger, there is little awareness about the actions and intentions of other aircraft. Passengers are afforded a spectacular view of the surrounding scenery, which the controller does not get from looking at their screens.

How might we amplify the strengths of each role we inhabit without trying to make them overlap?

But They Have Never Seen…

Last night as I was out a ridin’
graveyard shift, midnight ‘till dawn
the moon was as bright as a readin’ light
for a letter from an old friend back home

He asked me why do you ride for your money
Why do you rope for short pay
You ain’t getting’ nowhere
And you’re losin’ your share
Boy, you must have gone crazy out there
But he’s never seen the Northern Lights
Never seen a hawk on the wing
He’s never seen Spring hit the Great Divide
And never heard Ol’ Camp Cookie sing

Night Rider’s Lament is a classic song illuminating the paradox of a cowboy’s employment for minimal pay versus real-world working opportunities. The song’s refrain provides an insight into the benefits of enduring the challenging conditions; the beauty of nature and the comradery of those who join you in a unique pursuit.

How might we recognize that how we keep score is not universal? How might we remain curious about the motivations of those who take a different route?

Your Single Ride Ticket

Head to the polls, secure a ballot and vote. Vote on every issue. Vote for a single candidate. Or return a blank ballot. Participate in the process. Be heard, be present, be engaged, be unique.

You received a single-ride ticket; how do you choose to use it? It retains no value and cannot be redeemed after Election Day. Participation is your superpower.

Wayfinding
Orientation race in progress

There is not a prescribed route during an orientation race. There are checkpoints but the terrain in between is navigated in real-time with decisions made based on glances at a topographic map and assessing the geography encountered. Wayfinding is a skill that is applied to the expanses we occupy at the moment.

How might we be aligned to checkpoints but not prescriptive about the route? How might we recognize that real-time information is vital to timely decisions? How might we not try to forerun the course when the event is unique to us?

Speculation

Tickets for Game 7 of the 2024 World Series are on sale. You can commit to an experience that has a low percentage of taking place with the Dodgers leading 3 games to zero already. How often do we speculate? What resources are we willing to commit to an event that is unlikely to take place? What does this tell us about our priorities?

Icebreaker

Quick icebreaker activity for your team. Provide a timeframe (3 months, 1 year, duration of board service term, etc.) and ask each individual to write down an event, milestone, or moment that they are personally looking forward to reaching. Place these on an internal calendar (as best you can) and then acknowledge them as they are achieved, passed, or become evident.

The organization’s highlights are not always the same as those of the individual team members. Recognizing individual milestones helps add a shared sense of service and accomplishment. As an added bonus, it is a nice way to start a meeting and build deeper connections.