By Ace Castle
In this third installment of how a Coast Guard pilot quickly integrated into the public affairs world, let’s cover confidence.
Everyone knows pilots are awesome; fun; and really, really, really ridiculously good looking. When going about your day, remember confidence is contagious, and execute your job with the confidence of a seasoned jet pilot (or of a brand new flight school student “impressing” the ladies at Starbucks….their confidence levels are the same).
Don’t be a victim of the public affairs haters, letting them diminish you and your profession’s worth.
Remember, anyone who does not respect our job is not well informed about the importance of communication, then take advantage of the fact part of our job is to educate others of its value. You can do this by being a walking “tower of professionalism.”
Think of a commander or senior officer you admire. They do not walk around with their head down and whisper greetings to those they see.
They walk around like a “tower of professionalism” (there isn’t a MaxDis article on that, but there should be), and when they walk into a room, their presence is noted.
The things this confident officer says is more readily believed by all those listening. His or her confidence permeates the room and makes their job that much easier because there is quicker buy-in to whatever they discuss, suggest, or dictate.
As your unit/organization’s PAO, spokesman, communication advisor, etc., you should carry that same aura about you. And if you don’t, it’s your job to fix it. Work Hard, read, know policy, continually scan the information environment, work out, and expect greatness from yourself. Do those things and you’ll quickly be more confident. Others will notice, which will make you a more effective PAO.
The Daves are a great example. I’m sure some of you know them. But many of you probably don’t. Yet, the confidence they have in their craft permeates their articles, and it makes you believe them and it makes you want to be a better PAO. At least it does for me. If the Daves were not confident, it would show in their writing and we would all be less inclined to read MaxDis.
If this article feels a little too over reliant on confidence, or if you don’t even like pilots because you believe they are all egotistical “devices used to introduce a jet of water to the inside of a part of the body so that it can be washed” bag,* then standby for the next installment, where I’ll explain how to temper your confidence with humbleness to find an ideal equilibrium between the two.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to post it on your MySpace and add me to your Top 8, because I am a top influencer. See what I did there?
*If you are confused by this quote, it’s probably better off (for both of us) you don’t get it
(Photo from the Coast Guard, DVIDS)
