This is the first of a series of articles which will look at Command Judgement and Decision Making.
Each part needs to be read in the sequential order presented as this is the way I believe you mentally go about using your judgement to make a decision. There is no point in reading Part 2 before Part 1.
Introduction
One of your primary tasks as a Captain is to be a Decision Maker.
Pretty simple really, isn’t it?
Well no it’s not! There are a lot of things rattling around your brain during the Judgement process that results in your eventual decision.
Bear in mind also that the eventual decision you make is the output result of a complex Judgement process that you (usually unknowingly and sub-consciously) go through. The decision you make is normally the only thing that others can “see” – they don’t get to “see” how you arrived at that final output decision.
Realise also that your decision is only the eventual outcome of that entire process. You usually have a number of options that you can choose from, which will result in a number of different decisions that you can choose from and it’s your job to choose the best one to suit the situation that you find yourself in.
So in the entire Judgement and Decision Making process there are essentially two parts to consider; the “hidden”, often unconscious and unobservable Judgement component, which eventually leads into the observable Decision Making element (that you will be judged by).
For that reason I prefer to use the term JUDGEMENT rather than Decision Making to describe the entire process, as you have to use your good Judgement to choose the best option and then make your final decision (and implement it, but more of that in later articles).
Decision Making is one area that some Command Trainees have great difficulty with (the correct decision – anybody can make a crap decision). This may be because they have no idea of how they arrive at a decision (the Judgement process) and Trainers have difficulty in teaching this extremely essential and valuable skill. Most of your Judgement and Decision Making is hidden and not “visible” for others to “see” so it is very difficult to analyse and even harder to debrief (good or bad Judgement).
Another reason may be that Command Trainees are thinking like an F/O.
As the Captain you WILL have to make numerous decisions. As an F/O you usually don’t get to make the final decision. You have an opinion, but you don’t have to make a decision. There is a big difference between having an opinion and making a decision. And some people just don’t get it.
Poor flight crew decisions (the output and observable part of the Judgement process) are estimated to be a causal factor in 50%-70% of all aircraft accidents (it depends on who you read and believe). So it is in your best interests to possess good Judgement and be a good Decision Maker.
So now that I’ve got your attention, read on and learn how to improve your Judgement and Decision Making skills.
Judgement and Decision Making (Part 2 - Senses).
This is only MY attempt at analysing Judgement and Decision Making – I’m just a professional aviator, not a psychologist so my thoughts may not conform with academia, but it is based on a real pilot’s perspective. What would you rather have; a psychologist explaining aviation or an aviator explaining psychology?
I welcome any feedback about this article. Please add YOUR pilot input (or if any psychologists read this, your thoughts) by using the COMMENTS link below.
Each part needs to be read in the sequential order presented as this is the way I believe you mentally go about using your judgement to make a decision. There is no point in reading Part 2 before Part 1.
One of your primary tasks as a Captain is to be a Decision Maker.
Pretty simple really, isn’t it?
Well no it’s not! There are a lot of things rattling around your brain during the Judgement process that results in your eventual decision.
Bear in mind also that the eventual decision you make is the output result of a complex Judgement process that you (usually unknowingly and sub-consciously) go through. The decision you make is normally the only thing that others can “see” – they don’t get to “see” how you arrived at that final output decision.
Realise also that your decision is only the eventual outcome of that entire process. You usually have a number of options that you can choose from, which will result in a number of different decisions that you can choose from and it’s your job to choose the best one to suit the situation that you find yourself in.
So in the entire Judgement and Decision Making process there are essentially two parts to consider; the “hidden”, often unconscious and unobservable Judgement component, which eventually leads into the observable Decision Making element (that you will be judged by).
For that reason I prefer to use the term JUDGEMENT rather than Decision Making to describe the entire process, as you have to use your good Judgement to choose the best option and then make your final decision (and implement it, but more of that in later articles).
Decision Making is one area that some Command Trainees have great difficulty with (the correct decision – anybody can make a crap decision). This may be because they have no idea of how they arrive at a decision (the Judgement process) and Trainers have difficulty in teaching this extremely essential and valuable skill. Most of your Judgement and Decision Making is hidden and not “visible” for others to “see” so it is very difficult to analyse and even harder to debrief (good or bad Judgement).
Another reason may be that Command Trainees are thinking like an F/O.
As the Captain you WILL have to make numerous decisions. As an F/O you usually don’t get to make the final decision. You have an opinion, but you don’t have to make a decision. There is a big difference between having an opinion and making a decision. And some people just don’t get it.
Poor flight crew decisions (the output and observable part of the Judgement process) are estimated to be a causal factor in 50%-70% of all aircraft accidents (it depends on who you read and believe). So it is in your best interests to possess good Judgement and be a good Decision Maker.
So now that I’ve got your attention, read on and learn how to improve your Judgement and Decision Making skills.
Judgement and Decision Making (Part 2 - Senses).
This is only MY attempt at analysing Judgement and Decision Making – I’m just a professional aviator, not a psychologist so my thoughts may not conform with academia, but it is based on a real pilot’s perspective. What would you rather have; a psychologist explaining aviation or an aviator explaining psychology?
I welcome any feedback about this article. Please add YOUR pilot input (or if any psychologists read this, your thoughts) by using the COMMENTS link below.
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