Three Leadership Development Lessons from the Aviation Industry
Heather Burright
I help nonprofits strengthen their teams and scale their impact by designing training that drives real behavior change and improves performance | Top 2.5% Podcast | Speaker | Community Builder
Two-thirds of new leaders fail within the first 18 months.
Why?
And what can we do to support them so they don't fail?
That's what leadership development expert Craig Coyle is discussing on episode 121 of the Learning for Good podcast.
Craig is a leadership development expert who focuses primarily on the manufacturing industry but uses lessons from aviation in his work. ?He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and a former U.S. Army Apache pilot.?
What can the aviation industry teach us about developing strong leaders?
Craig shares three essential components of leadership development that nonprofits can apply to build more effective, confident leaders.
Structure: Clear Leadership Expectations
Pilots don’t just hop into a cockpit and start flying—they follow a structured, repeatable training process. The same should apply to leadership development.
Instead of relying on one-off workshops, organizations should provide a clear learning journey with:
Defined leadership competencies
Interactive, scenario-based training
Step-by-step skill-building over time
Guidance: Intentional Leadership Support
Aviation training combines simulations, coaching, and real-world experience, ensuring pilots apply what they learn before flying solo.
Leadership development can do the same by:
Providing structured mentorship and coaching for real-time feedback
Encouraging peer learning to build confidence and problem-solving skills
Community: Ongoing Peer Support
Even experienced pilots train regularly to keep their skills sharp. Leadership isn’t a destination—it’s a continuous learning process.
Nonprofits can reinforce leadership growth by:
Creating a community of accountability
Providing ongoing feedback & development opportunities
Encouraging a culture of learning where leaders at all levels grow together
To learn more about these leadership development lessons from the aviation industry, tune into episode 121 of the Learning for Good podcast.
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