Episode 30 - Insights on Leadership and Life from Former Airline Pilot Chris Smith
Do you think a humble leader who prioritises their people can be an effective leader?
In Episode 30 of It’s a Mindset, I am honoured to welcome Chris Smith, a former airline pilot, seasoned manager, lecturer, counsellor, and author of Leadership at 43,000 Feet: Real Leaders Don’t Need a Title. After a distinguished career in the aviation industry spanning over 44 years, Chris now focuses on leadership and mental health, helping companies and individuals enhance staff engagement and manager-staff relations.
In this episode, we dive into Chris’s wealth of experience in leadership and explore how he helps others navigate challenges by embracing a mindset of resilience and possibility. He shares valuable insights on the importance of being a humble leader, prioritising people, and using failures as opportunities for learning.
Key Episode Takeaways:
- Discover how the influence of Chris's mother instilled an "anything is possible" mentality in him, shaping his approach to overcoming challenges.
- Learn about the significance of having a literal “plane view” to understand the bigger picture, particularly regarding environmental changes like overfishing in some parts of the world.
- Understand the critical role of humility in leadership and the necessity of making your team a priority.
- Gain insight into the value of shortening your timeframe when navigating stressful periods, which allows for quicker recovery and adaptation.
I am deeply inspired by Chris's perspective on leadership, discipline and resilience. His stories remind us that with the right mindset and support, we can turn challenges into valuable lessons and lead with authenticity, compassion and optimism.
About the Guest:
Chris Smith is a former Airline Pilot, Senior Manager, Lecturer, Counsellor.
Author of ‘Leadership at 43000 Feet. Real leaders don’t need a title’
After a lifetime in the aviation industry, Chris now dedicates his time to working with companies, organisations, and individuals on matters of leadership and mental health, with a particular focus on staff engagement and manager - staff relations, as well as lecturing, counselling, and writing. He has held numerous senior managerial positions throughout his 44 year career, including Flight Operations Manager and Chief Pilot, Head of Standards, Flying Operations Development Manager, and Wellness Manager, spent 20 years in airline Check Captain roles, has test flown and introduced airline and business aircraft types to Australia and PNG, founded his own aviation consultancy, and works extensively with international corporations across multiple industries.
He has established the Trust Peer Support Programs in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam for Jetstar Airways and has consulted in Ireland and Germany. He is a regular corporate speaker on the psychology, legal, medical, safety and aviation conference circuit in Australia and overseas (Singapore, Japan, France, USA).
His signature presentations include:
- Staff On Side - Where Management, Engagement and Mental Health Intersect
- Emotional Intelligence at Work
- Unspoken Man, Unheard Woman
- Where Emotional Intelligence and Resilience Meet. Oscar and Cynthia - Resilient but too tolerant?
- So what is true leadership, really?
- You want engagement? Do this first.
- Flight Deck lessons - the true ‘big picture
He is a regular presenter on radio, is a contributing writer for the Sunday Mail Newspaper and numerous Leadership Magazines, and authored ‘Leadership at 43000 Feet, Real leaders don’t need a title’, his autobiographical leadership book, through which he imparts experiences and leadership lessons from the flight deck to head office.
In 2012, he was awarded the Master Air Pilot Certificate by the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators, through Buckingham Palace, London, for services to the aviation industry. He holds a Master’s Degree in Aviation Management, a Diploma of Counselling and is shortly to take up an adjunct position with the University of Southern Queensland where has been lecturing part time for the past 5 years.
He lives in Brisbane, Australia.
Show Resources:
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn - HERE
Check out Chris's website - HERE
Follow Emma, the podcast host on Instagram - HERE
If you loved this episode or know someone who could benefit from Chris’s insights, please share it with them! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @emmalagerlow to spread the inspiration!
Tune in to Episode 30 and let Chris's journey motivate you to embrace your own leadership challenges in work and life.
Yours in Humility, Emma. X.
