IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS, UNITED AIRLINES CEO JETS OFF TO NIGERIA

Does It Matter?
Many are outraged that these leaders would disappear in the midst of disaster. That is a fair point. For better or for worse, optics matter and a CEO showing up at an airport and helping where necessary, even with small things like tagging bags, can make a huge difference in public perception and boost employee morale.

But you could also make the case that both Kirby and Batian left only after their respective carriers began to gain control over their operation. No, things were not back to normal (and still are not for Delta), but the process for bringing smooth operations back was clearly identified and being executed…the behind-the-scenes frantic chaos was over.

In that sense, I’m not so offended that both leaders chose to keep prior travel commitments and while staying behind may have been “better” I just find it hard to get outraged over this.

True leadership is not photo ops during crises but learning from these crises so as not to repeat them. In that sense, both Kirby and especially Bastian have some soul-searching to do.

CONCLUSION
As the figurehead for each airline, the CEO plays an essential role. But I find it hard to be upset that these men did not cancel their travel plans when their carriers were clearly on the path to recovery. We get offended by so much today and I just don’t see a reason to be upset at the leaders…at least for the travel.

We should continue to demand accountability, but such accountability need not force the CEOs to stay on the groundDoes It Matter?
Many are outraged that these leaders would disappear in the midst of disaster. That is a fair point. For better or for worse, optics matter and a CEO showing up at an airport and helping where necessary, even with small things like tagging bags, can make a huge difference in public perception and boost employee morale.

But you could also make the case that both Kirby and Batian left only after their respective carriers began to gain control over their operation. No, things were not back to normal (and still are not for Delta), but the process for bringing smooth operations back was clearly identified and being executed…the behind-the-scenes frantic chaos was over.

In that sense, I’m not so offended that both leaders chose to keep prior travel commitments and while staying behind may have been “better” I just find it hard to get outraged over this.

True leadership is not photo ops during crises but learning from these crises so as not to repeat them. In that sense, both Kirby and especially Bastian have some soul-searching to do.

CONCLUSION
As the figurehead for each airline, the CEO plays an essential role. But I find it hard to be upset that these men did not cancel their travel plans when their carriers were clearly on the path to recovery. We get offended by so much today and I just don’t see a reason to be upset at the leaders…at least for the travel.

We should continue to demand accountability, but such accountability need not force the CEOs to stay on the groundDoes It Matter?
Many are outraged that these leaders would disappear in the midst of disaster. That is a fair point. For better or for worse, optics matter and a CEO showing up at an airport and helping where necessary, even with small things like tagging bags, can make a huge difference in public perception and boost employee morale.

But you could also make the case that both Kirby and Batian left only after their respective carriers began to gain control over their operation. No, things were not back to normal (and still are not for Delta), but the process for bringing smooth operations back was clearly identified and being executed…the behind-the-scenes frantic chaos was over.

In that sense, I’m not so offended that both leaders chose to keep prior travel commitments and while staying behind may have been “better” I just find it hard to get outraged over this.

True leadership is not photo ops during crises but learning from these crises so as not to repeat them. In that sense, both Kirby and especially Bastian have some soul-searching to do.

CONCLUSION
As the figurehead for each airline, the CEO plays an essential role. But I find it hard to be upset that these men did not cancel their travel plans when their carriers were clearly on the path to recovery. We get offended by so much today and I just don’t see a reason to be upset at the leaders…at least for the travel.

We should continue to demand accountability, but such accountability need not force the CEOs to stay on the groundDoes It Matter?
Many are outraged that these leaders would disappear in the midst of disaster. That is a fair point. For better or for worse, optics matter and a CEO showing up at an airport and helping where necessary, even with small things like tagging bags, can make a huge difference in public perception and boost employee morale.

But you could also make the case that both Kirby and Batian left only after their respective carriers began to gain control over their operation. No, things were not back to normal (and still are not for Delta), but the process for bringing smooth operations back was clearly identified and being executed…the behind-the-scenes frantic chaos was over.

In that sense, I’m not so offended that both leaders chose to keep prior travel commitments and while staying behind may have been “better” I just find it hard to get outraged over this.

True leadership is not photo ops during crises but learning from these crises so as not to repeat them. In that sense, both Kirby and especially Bastian have some soul-searching to do.

CONCLUSION
As the figurehead for each airline, the CEO plays an essential role. But I find it hard to be upset that these men did not cancel their travel plans when their carriers were clearly on the path to recovery. We get offended by so much today and I just don’t see a reason to be upset at the leaders…at least for the travel.

We should continue to demand accountability, but such accountability need not force the CEOs to stay on the groundDoes It Matter?
Many are outraged that these leaders would disappear in the midst of disaster. That is a fair point. For better or for worse, optics matter and a CEO showing up at an airport and helping where necessary, even with small things like tagging bags, can make a huge difference in public perception and boost employee morale.

But you could also make the case that both Kirby and Batian left only after their respective carriers began to gain control over their operation. No, things were not back to normal (and still are not for Delta), but the process for bringing smooth operations back was clearly identified and being executed…the behind-the-scenes frantic chaos was over.

In that sense, I’m not so offended that both leaders chose to keep prior travel commitments and while staying behind may have been “better” I just find it hard to get outraged over this.

True leadership is not photo ops during crises but learning from these crises so as not to repeat them. In that sense, both Kirby and especially Bastian have some soul-searching to do.

CONCLUSION
As the figurehead for each airline, the CEO plays an essential role. But I find it hard to be upset that these men did not cancel their travel plans when their carriers were clearly on the path to recovery. We get offended by so much today and I just don’t see a reason to be upset at the leaders…at least for the travel.

We should continue to demand accountability, but such accountability need not force the CEOs to stay on the groundDoes It Matter?
Many are outraged that these leaders would disappear in the midst of disaster. That is a fair point. For better or for worse, optics matter and a CEO showing up at an airport and helping where necessary, even with small things like tagging bags, can make a huge difference in public perception and boost employee morale.

But you could also make the case that both Kirby and Batian left only after their respective carriers began to gain control over their operation. No, things were not back to normal (and still are not for Delta), but the process for bringing smooth operations back was clearly identified and being executed…the behind-the-scenes frantic chaos was over.

In that sense, I’m not so offended that both leaders chose to keep prior travel commitments and while staying behind may have been “better” I just find it hard to get outraged over this.

True leadership is not photo ops during crises but learning from these crises so as not to repeat them. In that sense, both Kirby and especially Bastian have some soul-searching to do.

CONCLUSION
As the figurehead for each airline, the CEO plays an essential role. But I find it hard to be upset that these men did not cancel their travel plans when their carriers were clearly on the path to recovery. We get offended by so much today and I just don’t see a reason to be upset at the leaders…at least for the travel.

We should continue to demand accountability, but such accountability need not force the CEOs to stay on the groundDoes It Matter?
Many are outraged that these leaders would disappear in the midst of disaster. That is a fair point. For better or for worse, optics matter and a CEO showing up at an airport and helping where necessary, even with small things like tagging bags, can make a huge difference in public perception and boost employee morale.

But you could also make the case that both Kirby and Batian left only after their respective carriers began to gain control over their operation. No, things were not back to normal (and still are not for Delta), but the process for bringing smooth operations back was clearly identified and being executed…the behind-the-scenes frantic chaos was over.

In that sense, I’m not so offended that both leaders chose to keep prior travel commitments and while staying behind may have been “better” I just find it hard to get outraged over this.

True leadership is not photo ops during crises but learning from these crises so as not to repeat them. In that sense, both Kirby and especially Bastian have some soul-searching to do.

CONCLUSION
As the figurehead for each airline, the CEO plays an essential role. But I find it hard to be upset that these men did not cancel their travel plans when their carriers were clearly on the path to recovery. We get offended by so much today and I just don’t see a reason to be upset at the leaders…at least for the travel.

We should continue to demand accountability, but such accountability need not force the CEOs to stay on the ground