Distractions

The news over the weekend about two Northwest Airlines pilots who missed the Minneapolis airport by over 100 miles and had to double back has had the news media abuzz. What does this have to do with leadership?

It turns out they claim they failed to do their most important task - Pilot the airplane because they were distracted by a discussion about the new software system that determines when they would pilot airplanes.

This reminds me of the parable of the lifesaving station that has been made into a video here. Here is the text version

Do we sometimes lose focus of MAKING MORE AND BETTER FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST because we get distracted by "getting through the lesson" or "finishing the chapter"? Sometimes our format gets in the way of transformation. Sometimes our activities get in the way of our obedience. Sometimes our training gets in the way of our mission.

The news reports that the two pilots will lose their jobs and most likely their commercial licenses to fly. But fortunately there was no loss of life, but those passengers will never get back the time wasted by the mistake of these two pilots.

Somebody reminded me that it is wise to learn from one's experience, it is wiser to learn from somebody else's. I hope we will be able to gain wisdom from the experience of these two pilots.