This is not my article, but it’s a great one, so I don’t need to say too much.

It speaks for itself.

However, there is one point I would make.

As you read it, consider what was going through this guy’s mind.

Did he think he would survive?

I think the answer is “yes” because of his reasoning for being there in the first place and his clear focus on his subordinate’s welfare. It was critical he survived.

The key lesson is when you’re facing a crisis: don’t let the situation take you where your mind hasn’t been before.

It’s too late once you are in the crisis, you need to consider all possibilities beforehand, so when the plan fails to survive “first contact with the enemy” you can pivot, and react calmly, allowing others to follow your lead. It’s one I’ve used in business all of the time, especially commercial negotiations.

It was fundamental to flying high-performance aircraft. All scenarios were considered and visualised on the ground, in the safety of a controlled environment. It doesn’t mean the unexpected never eventuated, but you narrowed the possibilities. You reacted with confidence, dealt with variables one at a time until you steered the situation into a “known” set-piece you had mentally rehearsed previously.

Have you developed your crisis mindset?