Career Corner

How to become a leader overnight—without years of experience.

Your guide to being the leader the hangar needs.

I want you to succeed. And here’s something most people don’t get: So does the FAA. That’s why they wrote something nobody reads, but everyone needs.
Not a rulebook. Not an advisory circular. A creed. Not the one collecting dust in your AMT school binder. The one hanging quietly on your DOM’s wall, overlooked by everyone—even the mechanics who end up running the shop.

It’s called the Manager’s Creed, and it’s not just about being a manager. It’s about becoming the kind of person others want to follow. Because here’s the truth:

“The safety of our customers and our team will always come before an expectation to meet a deadline.”

That’s straight from the Creed and it’s a test. Ever had a leader who said something like that…and didn’t mean it? Exactly. But you’re not stuck with bad leadership. Aviation is a small world with a big advantage: You have options. You’re in demand. You’re a free agent, and you don’t just get to pick your job—you get to pick your future self.

So how do you do it? Work for the kind of person you want to become.

Here’s how to spot a great leader and how to become one—all from the Manager’s Creed

1. Lead with safety

Safety isn’t a slogan—it’s the tone you set. Uphold the Mechanic’s Creed. Speak up. Fix culture, not just aircraft.

2. Equip and empower

Good leaders don’t hoard tools, knowledge, or authority. They hand them out like safety wire. They make sure you’ve got what you need—and know how to use it.

3. People over pressure

Deadlines don’t RTS safe planes. Good decisions do. A real leader shields their team from unnecessary stress—and never lets urgency override safety.

Start now

Right now, you might be at the bottom of the ladder. But here’s your advantage: culture flows from the bottom, too. When you live these values, you stand out. You attract better jobs. You find better crews.

Be the one they write the next creed about.

Author: Nathan LaVoie