Talking to Yourself

They say talk is cheap. As a kid growing up, I heard time and time again, “Don’t talk to yourself—people will think you’re crazy!” Buying into that philosophy was easy for a while, at least until I began my journey training to become a pilot.

Yet truth be known, those seeds planted so long ago were still alive and well inside my brain housing. It certainly lends credence to the Principle of Primacy that states: “What we learn first, we learn best.”

I finally figured it out after becoming a flight instructor and realized, “Hey, after all I’ve been told, I’m really not crazy at all!” Now, looking back on a pile of flight instructor hours, I’ve realized my challenge has become teaching others to not only talk to themselves, but to others as well.

Guess what? Easier said than done!

So you’re probably saying to yourself right now, “Sure, you expect me to believe that?” Why am I reading this—this guy must be nuts!

Hold the phone for just a second. Before you recommend I commit myself to the local sanitarium, please allow me to explain.

PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TALKING ANYMORE!

So what the heck happened? Technology happened—cell phones and texting, tablets and EFBs, social media and DMs, blogging, etc., etc., etc. Starting to get the picture?

It’s a much bigger problem than you might think. Just watch a family of four take a seat at a local restaurant. Out come the cell phones, down go the heads, and the thumbs start flailing away. Not too much going on in terms of conversation.

It’s equally as frustrating dealing with this as a flight instructor. Allow me to explain:

• Reduced calls to Flight Service in lieu of self-briefing
• Getting primary flight students to “talk their way through” a maneuver
• Pilots silently going through:
  (a) pre-takeoff checklists
  (b) pre-landing checklists
  (c) briefing an instrument approach procedure
  (d) callouts on the final approach course
  (e) what to do after going missed on an instrument approach (the 5 C’s)
  (f) announcing intentions to ATC or on CTAF while 10 miles out
• Lastly, and perhaps most important, debriefing themselves (and the CFI) following a lesson and discussing important takeaways and lessons learned

Before you get too upset with me, let me just say this is not a universal problem. Some folks do this very well—after being made aware of its apparent importance.

So how do we fix this? One student at a time.

If you’re a CFI reading this, you know what you have to do. Talk to your students, take the time to get to know them, establish a solid relationship, and demonstrate genuine concern and a personal interest in their success in becoming a safe and proficient pilot.

Student pilots (of all varieties), consider this if you will: a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) needs to know what’s going on inside your “ketawba” (brain housing). If you don’t talk, they will be left with no other choice but to question everything you do—it’s their job!

So you see, talk is not so cheap after all.

Psychology Today has this to say about talking to yourself:

“Talking to yourself is a normal, healthy, and often beneficial cognitive habit used for processing emotions, organizing thoughts, improving focus, and boosting motivation. It acts as a tool for problem solving and self-regulation. While generally harmless, excessive or disruptive self-talk should be monitored if it interferes with daily life.”

“Do ya think?” Perhaps that last thought closes the loop with respect to my earlier “crazy person” characterization.

Benefits of Self-Talk

Once again, compliments of Psychology Today (sorry, I’m just a CFI and not a psychiatrist):

1. Improved cognitive performance: Verbalizing tasks can help you focus, remember instructions, and solve problems faster. “Just think of the pilot-in-command implications there!”

2. Emotional regulation: Talking out loud helps manage emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve self-awareness. “I don’t know about you, but methinks we could all use a little bit more of that—especially in single-pilot IFR, even driving on the interstate!”

3. Learning and memory: Speaking aloud aids in learning new skills and retaining information. “Couldn’t have said it better myself!”

So there you have it folks. “Say what you think and think about what you say—and don’t forget to take the time to kneel down and pray.” Especially before your next flight!

Fly safe, y’all!

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Tom Slavonik

Tom Slavonik is a 4,700-hour Gold Seal CFI/CFII/MEI/IGI and Master Instructor based in Pueblo West, Colorado. He serves as a flight instructor for Southern Colorado Flight Professionals at Pueblo Memorial Airport (KPUB) and Fremont County Airport in Penrose, CO (1V6), and also works as a contract CFII for Professional Instrument Courses (PIC), conducting 10-day IFR training courses across multiple states, including CO, NM, MT, ND, SD, OK, TX, CA, NV, KS, NE, and MD.

With over 2,000 hours of instruction—more than 800 as a CFII—Tom brings extensive experience to both student pilots and advanced instrument training. He is an active member of the Colorado Pilots Association, EAA Chapter 72 in Falcon, CO, and SAFE, and serves as a FAASTeam Representative for the Denver FSDO, conducting monthly in-person safety seminars throughout Southern Colorado.

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