593: Kim "Killer Chick" Campbell - Contingency Planning, Responding to Adversity, Earning Trust & Respect, Flying in the Face of Fear, and How To Run a Debrief
Jul 28, 2024
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Kim Campbell, a retired Air Force Colonel, shares her compelling journey from rejection to becoming a fighter pilot. She emphasizes the importance of contingency planning and preparation, particularly in crisis situations. Kim recalls a poignant experience of writing letters to loved ones during the Iraq War, highlighting vulnerability in leadership. She also discusses the critical role of debriefing to foster trust and growth within teams, and shares insights on handling fear and making choices under pressure, advocating for thoughtful leadership.
Kim Campbell's journey illustrates the power of resilience and determination, highlighting her persistence in overcoming initial setbacks to achieve her dreams.
Emphasizing preparation and contingency planning, Kim advocates for a mindset of always being ready to handle high-pressure situations effectively.
The concept of a 'wingman culture' promotes trust and vulnerability among team members, fostering an environment of collective learning and support.
Deep dives
Overcoming Rejection and Building Resilience
Facing rejection from the Air Force Academy was a devastating moment for Kim Campbell, highlighting her initial feelings of inadequacy and disappointment. However, supported by friends and mentors, she chose to persist rather than give up, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity. She took the initiative to send weekly letters to the Academy, expressing her continued interest and efforts to improve her qualifications. Ultimately, her determination paid off when she received a late acceptance offer, which motivated her to excel and graduate at the top of her class.
Preparation and Performance Under Pressure
The importance of preparation is emphasized by Kim's approach to both her military missions and her leadership roles. She advocates for a mindset of being always ready by focusing on preparation, practice, and contingency planning to handle high-pressure situations effectively. Reflections on her near-fatal mission over Baghdad illustrate how her training and quick decision-making allowed her to control a severely damaged aircraft successfully. This experience underscored that task-focused responses, honed through preparation, are crucial in life-and-death scenarios.
Creating a Culture of Trust and Vulnerability
Kim Campbell emphasizes the significance of establishing a 'wingman culture' that prioritizes trust, vulnerability, and mutual support among team members. This concept encourages individuals to share their mistakes openly, enabling collective learning and growth rather than fostering a culture of blame. Leaders are called upon to model this behavior, demonstrating humility by admitting errors and being approachable for feedback. By fostering a supportive environment where team members feel safe to share their thoughts and concerns, organizations can significantly improve overall performance and morale.
Aviate, Navigate, Communicate: A Framework for Leadership
The motto 'aviate, navigate, communicate' serves as a vital framework not only in aviation but also in leadership during challenging times. This approach highlights the importance of prioritizing fundamental tasks, remaining aware of one's surroundings, and effectively conveying information to others. Kim shares how applying this mindset aids leaders in managing stress and complexity when crises arise, guiding them to focus on what truly matters. This principle encourages leaders to simplify overwhelming situations by concentrating on critical priorities, ultimately leading to better decision-making.
Humble, Approachable, Credible: The Core of Effective Leadership
Kim Campbell discusses the essence of being a great leader through the principles of being humble, approachable, and credible. These qualities foster strong connections and build trust within teams, allowing leaders to engage meaningfully with their organizations. She reflects on the importance of being open to learning from all team members, regardless of rank, which promotes innovation and cooperative problem-solving. Ultimately, these traits empower leaders to cultivate an environment where everyone feels valued and equipped to contribute to the mission's success.
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Episode #593: Kim Campbell - Contingency Planning, Responding to Adversity, Earning Trust & Respect, Flying in the Face of Fear, and How To Run a Debrief
Aviate, Navigate, Communicate - "Aviate, navigate, communicate" is a fundamental principle in aviation that pilots learn early in flight training. It's a priority order that helps pilots stay focused and in control, even when they're under pressure or distracted:
Aviate: Keep the plane flying
Navigate: Figure out where you are and where you're going
Communicate: Talk to air traffic control (ATC) or someone else as needed
On March 20, 2003, Kim wrote letters to her loved ones in case she died in battle.
Prepare, practice, and plan for contingencies. My college football coach, the late great, Terry Hoeppner used to always say, have a plan, work the plan, plan for the unexpected. As leaders, it’s on us to prepare, practice, and plan for contingencies. You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.
I love the way Kim’s dad helped support her dream to be a fighter pilot. If you want to do this, you have to put in the work. Run hills, and do pull-ups every time you go to the bathroom. He didn’t just tell her you can do whatever you want… He created opportunities for Kim to do the necessary work to achieve what she wanted.
Kim’s telling of the story of how she was hit and how she responded. An amazing example of responding in the face of fear, dealing with adversity in a calm, poised manner, and making a tough decision. Kim’s training and her attitude is what set her apart and saved her life.
Response to Rejection: Initially Kim was rejected by the Air Force Academy because of a low SAT score. In response, instead of quitting and moving on, she wrote a letter to them every week stating why they should accept her… Which they eventually did.
Dealing with fear: What's most important is what we do in the face of fear. We can't freeze. We must take action.
The Debrief:
Check your rank and ego at the door.
Write all the objectives down. Next to each one, grade it a plus or a minus. Find the root causes of each mistake.
What lessons can we learn from our mistakes?
What will we change for our next mission based on what we learned?
Share lessons learned beyond that room.
Johnny Bravo - Be humble, approachable, and credible. That's how you earn trust and respect and inspire others to follow.
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