What an Airline Captain Taught Me About Building Team Cohesion

Our plane had just arrived late, making our departure likely to be delayed. Several passengers were going to miss their connecting flights. You could feel the tension in the air.

Then something unexpected happened.

The captain, a woman who clearly knew how to lead, came out to the gate, took the microphone, and calmly described the situation. There was no blame for the previous plane being late. She focused on the facts and what we could do about it.

What happened next was a masterclass in leadership that every team leader should pay attention to.

Three Leadership Moves That United an Entire Plane

1. She Set Clear Expectations and Invited Collaboration

With a positive tone, she explained how we as passengers could contribute to leaving on time through an efficient boarding process. She specifically mentioned checking overhead luggage due to limited space.

She didn’t command. She didn’t demand. She invited us to be part of the solution.

2. She Showed Appreciation Immediately

Once everyone had boarded, she took the microphone again and congratulated passengers for their timely boarding. She recognized our effort in real-time.

This wasn’t empty praise. It was a genuine acknowledgment that reinforced the behavior she wanted to see continue.

3. She Asked for Support, and Made It Easy to Give

She asked to see the hands of those who had connecting flights. Most hands went up in the back of the plane. Then she made a simple, specific request: when we land, would passengers without connecting flights be willing to step aside and allow those with tight connections to depart first?

The response was immediate. People nodded. They agreed.

The atmosphere of the plane shifted from anxious to collaborative. It became positive, friendly, and cooperative. Fellow passengers were helping one another, not because they had to, but because they wanted to.

The Application to Your Team

When leaders clearly explain the challenge and invite teams to be part of the solution by outlining specific ways they can help, the team comes together.

Think about your own workplace. Do your team members understand:

• What the project deadline is and why it matters?
• How long should it take to respond to an email or text message, an hour? A day?
• What are the expectations for evenings and weekends?
• How do their individual contributions impact the team’s success?

When people understand the challenge and are invited into the solution, there’s more buy-in to working together toward resolving the challenge.

What Bringing Your Team Together Looks Like in Practice

Be clear about the challenge. Don’t sugarcoat or avoid the issue. State it directly, just like the captain did. “We’re running late. Here’s why. Here’s what we can do about it.”

Invite collaboration. Show your team exactly how they can contribute to the solution. Be specific. Vague requests like “everyone needs to step up” don’t work. Clear actions like “check your luggage” or “respond to client emails within 24 hours” do.

Recognize effort immediately. Appreciation fuels momentum and reinforces the behavior you want to see. Don’t wait for the project to be complete. Acknowledge progress along the way.

Make requests that are easy to fulfill. The captain didn’t ask passengers to do anything complicated. She asked them to step aside for 30 seconds. Small, clear asks get big results.

The next time your team faces a challenge, ask yourself:

• Have I clearly explained what we’re facing and why it matters?
• Have I invited my team to be part of the solution with specific actions?
• Am I recognizing effort and progress along the way?

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about bringing people together toward a common goal, even when circumstances aren’t ideal.

What challenge is your team facing right now that needs this kind of clarity?