Leadership Book
 

Hey all,

Looking for solid leadership books for airline captains, especially around working with the newer generation of FOs.

Cockpit dynamics have shifted—more collaborative, more questioning (good for safety), but also different expectations around communication and authority. Trying to get better at balancing approachability with clear command.

Interested in books that actually translate to the flight deck, like:

• Encouraging input without losing authority
• Managing over/underconfidence
• Setting tone in the briefing

So far I’ve looked at things like Flight Discipline, Turn the Ship Around!, and Verbal Judo.

Any recommendations that actually worked for you in the left seat?

If you're going to do a Tony Kern book, I recommend "Redefining Airmanship" over "Flight Discipline". I read both and found the former to cover all the content of the latter plus much more. "Flight Discipline" felt like a long drawn out chapter and IMO doesn't really warrant it's own book. I also enjoyed "Aircraft Command Techniques" by Sal Fallucco.

dude youre already overthinking it lol. Just be chill, no politics/religeon, dont micro manage, dont push your technique, and let people fly the way they want to fly. Unless the jet is departing a safe flight path just shut up and let them do what they want. Yes vertical speed or boards are ok. Its ok to drop the gear too soon etc…

go slow, dont be a d1ck, safety first. Easy peesy.

drop the captain hammer as a last recourse. Never as your first tool to resolve an “issue”. And once your off airport property you’re just 2 people on a work trip. Your authority does not exist other than dont be a bad example on how to behave.

Just do the opposite of every bad captain youve ever had and call it a day. Pay for beer.

Leadership in a nutshell. It's amazing how many guys can't figure this out.

If you're gonna be weird, be weird in a cool/fun way.

If someone were to write a book about this topic, this should be the only thing in it, with the added section titled "it's ok to have quite". We don't have to fill every moment of a trip with conversation.

It's really not that hard of a job, and it certainly doesn't require, except under rare circumstances, an entire book to do it right.

Very good start.

The real trick is knowing when and how to drop the hammer.

Surprising that in 2026 there are still a few out there. All the ones I recall were foreigners who grew up with different expectations and understanding of the role of Airline Captain in society (high power distance in some cultures). Still laugh thinking about the French dude back at the regionals who wanted the crew (all 2-3 of them) to follow him through the terminal like ducklings. Great fun trying to pass him on the way to the gate.

"Hey man, I'm going to hit up this great brothel tonight if you want to come along." In fairness it was in rural NV, so legal.

Well yes, sort of. That’s my general approach. What about when you have a difficult FO that we frequently have at SWA because of the long upgrade, single fleet type and repetitive flying nature of our airline. I’ve experienced a larger percentage of A-holes in the right seat than the left. The OP has a legitimate concern.

yesssss^^^

The quickest route to adventure is pairing with a cohort. End chapter 1.

There was a Dakar trip where all 3 of us rented dirtbikes and went on a 3 day desert safari. I miss the old 6 day Dakar trip.

Easy reads to start, and among the books I've gifted the most:

Sinek, Leaders Eat Last
Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

What is it about long upgrade and single fleet that makes for jerk FO's? They bitter that they didn't go to AA?

Every airline has them; it's you; it's them. Multiple things can be true at the same time. I hardly think this is a Southwest-only issue. I am not saying it's you, but sometimes when people say everyone around them is an ass, perhaps the problem is the person saying it, and everyone is just reacting to their energy.

In my case most around me are normal. Which makes me the weird captain.

The best book I've ever read on leadership was "The Caine Mutiny" by Herman Wouk (1951).

More bangers in that book about leadership (not the movie, which was fun, but it was not the book) than anything else I've ever read.


“You can’t understand command till you’ve had it. It’s the loneliest, most oppressive job in the whole world. It’s a nightmare, unless you’re an ox. You’re forever teetering along a tiny path of correct decisions and good luck that meanders through an infinite gloom of possible mistakes.”

(My favorite quote is about spurious radio transmissions from junior officers, but there are plenty of great ones.)

Depends, are they buying? 😂

Books schmooks, all you need to kmow

https://youtu.be/ZnrTq9Y-uJY?si=g01nqLyKImWvxfQA

Just watch classic Star Trek.

Be Kirk.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

I don't know about that in this day and age, don't think HR would appreciate his "leadership" technique with some of the staff...

Always send Red Shirts for the walkaround.

“Let’s beam down to the planet so I can find an alien to fall in love with before the program is over.”

Also: “Speed limitations are more of loose guidelines, not hard limits.”

These are the voyages of the star…holy crap Sulu, you got the light pole.

Not aviation books per se but leadership:

Extreme Ownership by Willink

Wearing the “C” about Hockeys best Captains.

An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth by Hadfield

Or Zapp Brannigan :D