Don't Get Caught Up In Others "Jet Wash"

You might be familiar with this term from the Top Gun movie (or if you are a pilot). It’s the wake turbulence zone created behind an aircraft.

In this context the term applies to the potential negative, toxic or rude behavior of other leaders around us and how that impacts us and our teams.

We can’t typically control the words or behaviors of the person or people around us, but we certainly can control how we respond to it. We can choose how much time we spend around negativity. That choice is ours to make.

This doesn’t mean you are permanently walling people out of your life or work role. Spending time with them might be unavoidable. However, this does mean you are intentionally putting limits on just how much time and also conditioning your mindset, preparing yourself for how you want to situationally respond. Mindset priming can be your new best friend in situations like this.

Others are not likely aware of the “wake turbulence” they create and leave behind. That’s a emotional intelligence gap opportunity for them. And while you can and should (situation and timing dependent) provide them appropriate feedback about their behavior, multiple doses of your feedback will likely be required. The first feedback dose might not be sufficient to gain change. Stick with it. Get others involved.

Spending too much time in others jet wash is depleting and can/will suck the energy and life from your “engines”. Take charge of how you deal with this condition.