For just the second time in the history of The Alden Report, I’m very excited to welcome two guests on one episode. Emil Dobrovolschi and Octavian Pantis are co-authors of Dark Cockpit: How to Communicate, Lead, and Be in Control at All Times Like an Airline Captain, a book about becoming a better pilot for your projects, your people and even in life outside of work by using valuable principles from aviation. The combination of an experienced airline captain and a senior business consultant shows readers how to:

• Bring clarity, boost morale and achieve results through communication;
• Quickly win the trust of the people you work with. And keep it;
• Assess your own readiness as a leader;
• Always have a plan and be prepared for whatever can go wrong;
• Meet the 4 requirements of a true professional;
• Develop responsibility, competence and leadership in those around you;
• Be resilient, handle any turbulence and help others do the same.

I love the title of the book as “Dark Cockpit” is a term used in aviation for the situation when, except for the ambient and instrument lighting, no other light is on – no CAUTION lights (amber), no WARNING lights (red) and so on. In short, Dark Cockpit means everything is fine and working as planned. This book can help guide you through personal turbulent times so that you are able to obtain your Dark Cockpit.

Emil Dobrovolschi is a pilot, pilot instructor and pilot examiner. He started at Tarom – Romanian Air Transport – in 1994 and has moved through the professional ranks eventually rising to commander of the special flights for the Romanian President and other government officials. In 2001, he became a high ranking pilot instructor training pilots who would eventually go on to become captains for at least 12 airlines around the world.

His vast management experience has seen him serve in different operational and corporate leadership positions including serving as Vice President and Director of Flight Operations at Tarom. As an inspiring speaker, Emil has been frequently invited to address corporate events where he inspires people to higher levels of commitment and professionalism and teaches valuable principles regarding communication, leadership, and risk management.

Octavian Pantiș is an author entrepreneur and Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Qualians, an international training and consulting company which is a firm dedicated to helping organizations thrive while providing an environment where their people grow professionally, are engaged and have enough time for life outside work.

As a best-selling author, he has written two books on productivity and work-life balance, as well as dozens of articles and hundreds of trainings and speeches helping to bring clarity, motivation, tools and ideas to hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life.

Thank you so much to Emil and Octavian for joining us this week on The Alden Report.

For more information on their Dock Cockpit book, you can visit https://darkcockpitbook.com/