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Now, whatever your personal opinion of United Airlines is, there are two ultra-cool things about UA that cannot be denied: 1) They serve Starbucks on board, and... 2) ...if you tune in to channel 9 on their in-flight audio system, you can listen to air traffic control (aka "ATC") in real time.
While cruising at 38,000 feet, overhearing the Ft. Worth Area Control Center hand off to Kansas City Center is admittedly not the most exciting thing in the world.
But when initial approach into ORD would begin, I found myself utterly fascinated by the flawless choreography necessary on the part of air traffic controllers to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow into and out of one of the busiest airports on the planet.
"...United 6092, descend and maintain 3500. Turn left, heading 030 for three-two left. Contact O'Hare tower 132.7, good day. United 298, maintain at or above 4000. Observe company traffic, 7-5 at 2:00. Lufthansa 430 heavy, descend and maintain 5000..."
The flight crews trying to land jets at O'Hare fully understand that it's a really good idea to take whatever ATC tells them seriously. After all, there's seldom any doubt that those manning the radar screens are utterly competent. And to deviate from their guidance could spell out disaster.
And it's not like there's a power struggle or anything. The pilots are doing their job, which is a pretty cool gig in its own right, and the guys in the tower at London Gatwick, on the job at Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control, or at the Boise Center are doing theirs.
It's not like ATC is saying "my way or the highway". Believe me, if Iberia 27 Heavy happens to blow an engine in ORD airspace, priorities will be gladly adjusted accordingly.
And the pilots? Their number one concern is arriving safely and soundly on terra firma. They're all about getting their part of the plan done without any drama. For them, attempting to create order out of chaos in the skies would be unthinkable--they've GOT to be freed up to go about the business of flying.
Relationship management is, in many ways, not unlike air traffic control.
Granted, we as men probably do well not to issue an emotionless stream of rapid-fire commands to a woman if we want to get anywhere with her.
But we as guys must have a PLAN. We need to be able to confidently assert what's best for everyone involved in any given scenario. And what's best for our significant others should take precedence over our own selfish needs, within reason. That should be by our own choice.
This means putting ego aside and making decisions based on a clear knowledge of what a woman's hopes and dreams are vis-à-vis what is both feasible and reasonable...and executing based on that vision.
But this doesn't mean we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of by an opportunistic woman. If we're in jeopardy of quickly becoming someone's "doormat", all bets are off.
Make no mistake. In such a case a great woman will not be demanding and selfish. Similarly, she won't make unreasonable demands at the expense of common sense.
Just like a pilot theoretically could veer from course, summarily ignoring ATC's solid plan of action, she could do her own thing. But if your leadership example smacks of confidence and benevolence, that won't happen--whether you are an air traffic controller or one half of a great relationship.
What's more, as men being able to see the "big picture" regarding what's on the radar screen both now and in the future is a must. Without that kind of field vision, potential snags will seemingly arise out of nowhere and bite us where the sun don't shine.
And lets face it, were a pilot suddenly to find him or herself on a visual collision course with a 777 he or she would consider that an unwelcome surprise. And trust in air traffic control would probably degenerate quickly, and rightly so.
So yes, as there is in the skies, there's a careful balance to be attained when practicing solid relationship management.
It's not so much about "control", per se, as it is "leadership" when you get right down to it.
Women respond to the leadership of a great man. It's hard-wired. But the man must be both confident and competent as a leader in order for this to function according to design.
If you assert your way without regard for the woman, either out of selfishness or foolish arrogance, unfortunate disasters are likely to happen. Such is the behavior of a control-freak I/J ("idiot/jerk").
But if you carry yourself in an almost regal manner that inspires confidence in a woman, your ability to maintain that all-important sense of order in a world of chaos is a crucial--and welcome--component of what gives the woman in your life freedom to fly.
And this is a good thing, because someday there may even be passengers on the flight, and you'll need to be ready.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!