Introduction to Crew Resource Management — Page 336, Lesson 558

I want to walk you through how we make decisions and how our personality traits affect the way we operate on the flight deck. This is part of Crew Resource Management, and it starts with understanding ourselves. Let's begin with Thinking and Feeling — these are two different approaches to decision-making. People who lean toward Thinking tend to make decisions objectively. They are logical, analytical, and task-oriented. On the flight deck, that means they are generally good at making sound decisions. But there's a catch: they should remember and appreciate another person's point of view and feelings. So if you're a Thinking type, your strength is clear-headed analysis, but you need to actively consider the human element around you. On the other side, Feeling people make decisions based on person-centred values. They are appreciative, tactful, and sympathetic — they value harmony. On the flight deck, they will work toward keeping the crew harmonious. But the warning here is that they need to recognize the importance of the task itself. Harmony is valuable, but not at the expense of getting the job done safely. Now, let's look at how people live their lives — this is about Judging versus Perceiving. These aren't about being judgmental; they're about how you structure your life. Judging people like to live in a planned and orderly way. They prefer to regulate and control their life. They like structure in their day and tend to be punctual. They enjoy organizing and planning. On the flight deck, they prefer the operation to run to plan and they dislike changes. They like to make decisions — but once they reach a decision, they do not tend to reflect and review it. That's a potential blind spot: you make a good call, but you might not revisit it when conditions change. Perceiving people are the opposite. They like to live in a flexible, spontaneous way. They are flexible and spontaneous by nature. They prefer to keep their options open, continuing to gather information. They seek to understand life rather than control it. On the flight deck, they tend to adapt to changing situations readily. They are less affected by delays and departures from standard. However, they tend to delay making a decision and keep looking for further information. They do review decisions taken — which is good — but the risk is that they may not decide in time. Now, here's a key point: although people have a relatively constant personality, it is our behaviour that determines how others perceive us. And the critical thing to remember is this: we choose our behaviour. Personality is stable, but behaviour is a choice. Pilots are constantly meeting fellow crew members — flight deck and rear crew — as well as company representatives, airport representatives, and passengers for the first time. A bad first impression can take a lot of time and effort to undo. So make a habit of considering your behaviour before you meet people. Finally, let's talk about modes of behaviour. Remember the three modes available to you: Parent, Adult, and Child Modes. The key is that by staying in Adult Mode, you can avoid reacting to inappropriate behaviour. Adult Mode is the rational, present, problem-solving mode. To achieve effective behaviour, try to focus on the outcome of your meeting. Listen to each other and use reflective statements to show the "agitated" person that you are listening. Talk about the issues — avoid personalities and avoid the word "YOU". Remember that the aim is to achieve mutual understanding.