General Leadership
  • Home
    • Home
    • Log-In or Register
    • Members Only
    • Sign-Up To Receive Our Newsletter!
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Register to become a contributor to GeneralLeadership.com
    • Let Us Publish You!
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Order of the Penguin
    • Featured Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Media
    • Media
    • The GL Team in Action!
    • Testimonials
  • Team
    • General Officer Authors
    • General John E. Michel
    • Matthew T Fritz
    • George H. Fritz
    • Catie Hargrove
    • Douglas VanWiggeren
    • Garth Sanginiti
    • Angela Maiers
    • Jean Michel
    • Jay Steven Levin
    • Chris R. Stricklin
    • Holly Michel
    • Kimberly Huth
    • Zach Stricklin
    • Taylor Fritz
  • Chats
  • Our Programs
    • MentorsMatter™
    • Vet2VetConnect™
    • LeaderView™

General Leadership

MailTwitter
Oct 2 2015

Top Gun Leadership Series – Part 5

Posted by Geno Redmon
Tweet

Top Gun 5 - GeneralLeadership.com”At that speed its too fast…It’s a little bit too aggressive”

Charlie lingers near Maverick as he is reviewing a combat maneuver. Like all fighter pilots do routinely, Maverick is gesturing with his hands simulating two airplanes. In the pilot community we say he was busy “shooting down his watch,” as his right hand is obviously maneuvering behind his left hand and aiming at his watch.

Charlie says, “A rolling reversal would work well in the situation.” Maverick replies with that cocky look, “But if I reversed on a hard cross, I could go immediately to guns.” And Charlie parries the thrust, ” At that speed its too fast, it’s a little too aggressive.” Oh the double entrendre is fascinating and the flirtation captivates us! Everyone in the room knows they aren’t talking about basic fighter maneuvers, but we don’t care. In the end, Maverick gets the invite to Charlie’s house, so maybe he really wins this engagement.

However, if we look beyond the flirting of these two lovebirds, the scene in the back ground shows not only Maverick moving his hands, but “Slider” flying two airplanes on sticks. These pilots are practicing what pilots for years have called “chair flying.” Other elite military outfits may call it a sand table exercise. In the civilian world we often call this a visualization technique. Elite athletes visualize themselves on the field or court. The highly vaunted Seal Team Six practiced their assault on Osama Bin Laden in an elaborately constructed realistic mock up of Bin Laden’s compound both to physically practice and to internally visualize their dangerous, no fail mission.

As a student pilot I spent many an hour in pilot training with my right hand on a potato masher simulating the stick of a jet trainer and my left hand around an empty beer can as the throttle. In retrospect I might have done better in pilot training if I had not drunk the beer before studying. But I would bet a month’s salary that there is no military pilot who has not flown many hours in a chair; eyes closed envisioning every maneuver they’ll make. Even with today’s great flight simulators, which nearly duplicate flight, there is really something to enhanced visualization.    We are simply preparing our brains to react better in the simulator or in the jet.

In the business world many a deal rests on the “pitch” or that ubiquitous power point presentation. But there is more to the visualization technique that simply practice makes perfect. In visualization we are training our mind to think beyond rote memory toward success. Just like an athlete may practice a swing, a serve, a shot at the hoop to enhance muscle memory, visualization is working on muscle memory of your brain. And visualization need not be limited to one power point presentation or physical training event, it is a technique that can be practiced every day as positive “self talk” about how you see your day unfold or how you are going to conduct your business that day.

In Part 5 on 16 October, I will share some techniques that I have actually used and have seen others use effectively.  Tune in for more of my #TopGunLeadership series and enjoy chair-flying until then!

How did you enjoy today’s post?
If you liked what you read, sign up for our frequent newsletter by clicking HERE — and you’ll also receive our handy Leader’s Reference List
as our free gift to you!
Geno Redmon
Geno Redmon
President, Young Tiger Consultants, LLC at Young Tiger Consultants, LLC
Edward Gene “Geno” Redmon is a storyteller, a humorist and a student of leadership. He believes that entertaining stories are the best way to communicate complex topics like leadership, management, and cross-cultural relations.

Geno retired from the US Air Force as a Colonel. He led organizations at the squadron, group and Headquarters level. In his transition to civilian life, he established a highly successful consulting practice primarily in international aviation, but also in economic and community development. He has served clients such as Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Pratt and Whitney, Lockheed Martin IT services, ACS Defense, Mason Technical Services and has done economic development for the Cities of Altus Oklahoma and Mascoutah Illinois.

He writes and lectures on topics related to leadership, management, and empowerment. He credits any modicum of success he has had in the Air Force or in business is due to good luck, a good sense of humor, and an the incredibly talented group of people he has had the chance to lead or be led by.

He is a Distinguished Graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College where he won the Commander’s Writing Award, and the Defense Language Institute. He speaks Thai, Japanese and English but none of them fluently. He is a published author, but is not ready to quit his day job yet.


He invites you to join him for a few laughs and an occasional nugget of wisdom on Facebook, follow him on Twitter, or simply ignore him.
Tags: Geno Redmon, Goose, Maverick, Top Gun, Visualization

Comments (1)

Add a comment Top
  1. Hickory Stonewall
    2Aug2016 (Tue) @ 0701CDT

    zippy

    Reply

Add a comment Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Log in

Our Authors

  • KevinBemel

    KevinBemel

    KevinBemel
    Total Post :0

  • tomdorl

    tomdorl

    tomdorl
    Total Post :1

    Recent Posts
    • Applying Leadership by the Numbers
  • philmorrison

    philmorrison

    philmorrison
    Total Post :0

  • GenPaulMcGillicuddy

    General Paul McGillicuddy

    GenPaulMcGillicuddy
    Total Post :1

    Recent Posts
    • Secret Traits Of Championship Teams
  • NikSanginiti

    NikSanginiti

    NikSanginiti
    Total Post :2

    Recent Posts
    • Intern Perspective: Overcoming Adversity
    • Intern Perspective: Enduring Excellence
  • ChristianKnutson

    ChristianKnutson

    ChristianKnutson
    Total Post :15

    Recent Posts
    • What Is Upward Leadership and Why You Need to Be Effective Doing It
    • Using Intelligence Theory to Lead and Unlock Creativity
    • How Mindset Can Affect Organizational Leadership
    • Sustaining High Performance In Your Teams
    • Embracing Stress To Lead Others Effectively
  • jkunkel

    jkunkel

    jkunkel
    Total Post :0

  • CroftEdwards

    CroftEdwards

    CroftEdwards
    Total Post :16

    Recent Posts
    • LeadershipFlow - Perfectly Square: A Story About Learning to Lead
    • Leadership: This AND That, Not This OR That
    • Can I Trust You As A Leader?
    • Hey Leader—What are You Fighting FOR?
    • Is It Time For A Leadership Break?
  • jscotheathman

    Scot

    jscotheathman
    Total Post :1

    Recent Posts
    • Authenticity Is The Secret Sauce
  • KenMcQuiston

    KenMcQuiston

    KenMcQuiston
    Total Post :0

  • JeffreySmith

    JeffreySmith

    JeffreySmith
    Total Post :1

    Recent Posts
    • Values-Based Leadership
  • BobGaylor

    BobGaylor

    BobGaylor
    Total Post :3

    Recent Posts
    • About Saying "I Love You"
    • I Like Hot French Fries
    • Cubs and Aspirations - Humor from Section 220
  • KimberlyHuth

    KimberlyHuth

    KimberlyHuth
    Total Post :1

    Recent Posts
    • Encourage TRUST in Your Workplace
  • DavidESpector

    DavidESpector

    DavidESpector
    Total Post :2

    Recent Posts
    • Are you Chewing Your Way Through Life?
    • Watch your Step
  • JoeThornell

    JoeThornell

    JoeThornell
    Total Post :29

    Recent Posts
    • It's Time for a Leadership Checkup!
    • Effective Leadership requires Key Ingredients
    • Leadership is Representation
    • Leadership in Stasis
    • Leadership Can Be Destructive
  • ColToddHirneisen

    ColToddHirneisen

    ColToddHirneisen
    Total Post :15

    Recent Posts
    • The Leadership Experience
    • It’s your stage, what do you do with it?
    • Opportunity: Don't Do Anything
    • Anarchy in the Workplace
    • Faking Your Way to Authenticity
  • CRStricklin

    CRStricklin

    CRStricklin
    Total Post :35

    Recent Posts
    • 3 Elements of A Shared Mental Model...The Thunderbird Way
    • The Passion of Leadership
    • Lead at the Speed of Trust
    • 4 All-Encompassing Effective Leadership Styles
    • Perfection Found in a Fighter Debrief
  • JasonMBrown

    JasonMBrown

    JasonMBrown
    Total Post :4

    Recent Posts
    • Creating a Problem-Solving Team
    • Every Team Needs A Coach
    • Think Twice Before Going Back to the Basics
    • The Two Most Important Questions In Leadership
  • kentlandreth

    kentlandreth

    kentlandreth
    Total Post :2

    Recent Posts
    • Train Your Replacement... Not Your Clone!
    • Lead with Your Feet
  • maddison

    Mickey Addison

    maddison
    Total Post :29

    Recent Posts
    • Leaders Are Readers
    • High Performing Leaders Live a Balanced Life
    • What is Synchronized Leadership?
    • Continuing the Mission - Your First 30 Days
    • Continuing the Mission - The First 100 Days
  • johnalbers

    johnalbers

    johnalbers
    Total Post :12

    Recent Posts
    • Credibility: Do you have it?
    • Experience - Is It Really the Best Teacher?
    • Passionate Leadership
    • Lessons on Leadership from Fishing (part II)
    • Lessons on Leadership from Fishing (part I)
  • SHIP

    SHIP

    SHIP
    Total Post :3

    Recent Posts
    • Priorities: A Different Approach
    • 6 Rules Learned in Afghanistan
    • Performance or Potential
  • dmcohen01

    Dave

    dmcohen01
    Total Post :2

    Recent Posts
    • Frozen Leadership
    • Forget Big and Flashy: Go For the Little Wow!
  • jokercarey

    jokercarey

    jokercarey
    Total Post :2

    Recent Posts
    • A Mother's Day Perspective
    • A Mother's Day Perspective
  • AngelaMaiers

    AngelaMaiers

    AngelaMaiers
    Total Post :4

    Recent Posts
    • The 5 C's of Passion Driven Leadership
    • A “To Be” List for Aspiring Leaders
    • Passion-Driven Leadership
    • Tactical Serendipity: Is Randomness Part of Your Leadership Strategy?
  • Geno Redmon

    Geno Redmon

    Geno Redmon
    Total Post :14

    Recent Posts
    • Lessons in Top Gun Leadership: The Fine Art of Delivering Corrective-Action
    • Top Gun Leadership: The Fine Art of Delivering Corrective Action.
    • Top Gun Leadership: Butt-Chewing 101 (pt 1 of 3)
    • Top Gun Leadership - Part 6
    • Top Gun Leadership Series - Part 5
  • ChrisPLevy

    Christopher P Levy

    ChrisPLevy
    Total Post :36

    Recent Posts
    • Construction or Demolition
    • Leading Leaders - How to be Successful
    • Go Ahead and Quit!
    • Self-Discipline, a Must for Team Success
    • Bridging the Divide
  • chrisrstricklin

    Chris_Stricklin

    chrisrstricklin
    Total Post :1

    Recent Posts
    • Monday Quote
  • dvanwig

    dvanwig

    dvanwig
    Total Post :4

    Recent Posts
    • You Are Free To Choose
    • Working For A Higher Purpose
    • Your Glass Can Be More Than Half Full
    • Prepare for the Future with a Completed Bucket List
  • khinparadise

    Mike Klintworth

    khinparadise
    Total Post :3

    Recent Posts
    • From Technical Expert to Successful Leader
    • 7 Essentials for Building a Dream Team
    • The Bridge To Your Big Dream
  • GenAllenJamerson

    General Allen Jamerson

    GenAllenJamerson
    Total Post :3

    Recent Posts
    • Social Media: A Professional’s Best Tool Used Wisely!
    • Leading with Moral Courage
    • Leading with Moral Courage
  • GenRogerBrady

    General Roger Brady

    GenRogerBrady
    Total Post :2

    Recent Posts
    • The One Reason Why We Still Insist on Honesty
    • The One Reason Why We Still Insist on Honesty
  • jslevin

    jslevin

    jslevin
    Total Post :15

    Recent Posts
    • Business Wisdom Learned From Bomb Squad Experts And Their Commanders
    • How Well Are You Leveraging The Different Thinking Styles Of Your Teams
    • Business Management Lessons from a San Francisco Bus Driver
    • DeCluttering - Your Way To Brilliance
    • Talent Stars - Don't Burn Your Shine!
  • GenGaryHughey

    General Gary Hughey

    GenGaryHughey
    Total Post :3

    Recent Posts
    • Any Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Right the First Time
    • Work is Honorable
    • Leadership and the Work Ethic
  • GarthStl

    GarthStl

    GarthStl
    Total Post :2

    Recent Posts
    • Time Waits for Nobody
    • Emotional Intelligence and A Call-Up to the Big Leagues
  • GenMichaelDiamond

    General Michael Diamond

    GenMichaelDiamond
    Total Post :4

    Recent Posts
    • What Happened to Long Term? - Pt 1
    • Leading the Right Team
    • Can Leaders be Heroes?
    • Generalship: 10 Traits Needed by Every Leader
  • GenJerryMartinez

    General Jerry Martinez

    GenJerryMartinez
    Total Post :2

    Recent Posts
    • Simulated Leadership
    • Simulated Leadership
  • GenJamesVechery

    General James Vechery

    GenJamesVechery
    Total Post :10

    Recent Posts
    • Passing the Baton: Leadership in Transition
    • Leadership Can Be Measured In Inches, Not Just Miles!
    • N is for Never Setting Your Goals Too Low
    • A Positive Attitude is Contagious
    • V is for Visionary Leadership: Move the Ball Down the Field
  • GenKathleenGainey

    General Kathleen Gainey

    GenKathleenGainey
    Total Post :1

    Recent Posts
    • The 3 Simple Rules of Effective Feedback
  • ColMattFritz

    Matthew Fritz

    ColMattFritz
    Total Post :15

    Recent Posts
    • A Tribute To Veterans - Solemnly Remember
    • A Day Short of Missing History
    • Why We Write...
    • Ask GeneralLeadership
    • Tune in Tonight! - 9pm Eastern - SiriusXM Patriot Channel 125!
  • GenJohnMichel

    General John Michel

    GenJohnMichel
    Total Post :92

    Recent Posts
    • Why Less is Best
    • Influence: Never Underestimate Your Impact
    • Seize the Moment
    • Vetrepreneur: Perpetual Payback
    • The Dual Pillars of Character: Strength & Honor