© 2025 James Hardie – Course Correction Consulting Ltd. The EASE Framework™ is a proprietary model developed by James Hardie to support the creation of psychologically safe, empowered, and strategically aligned teams. All rights reserved.
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What is the difference between pausing to reflect and procrastinating? It is normal to feel anxious about the future and its uncertainty but have you ever noticed how the antidote to anxiety is action. Even one small step. This Lead with EASE Newsletter explains the behavioural activation impact on anxiety and explains some of the background to some of the most popular psychology out there.
Have you ever felt a little low? Anxiety and depression can make the mental cockpit feel heavy, especially at work. Resources may be scarce or depleted, demands may be high. The challenge feels harder and support can seem distant or unavailable.
"Mastering the Art of Leading with EASE" delves deep into the strategies and mindset shifts you need to realign your goals and reclaim your growth path, with EASE. Today we apply an aviation mindset to a proven approach from psychology, so that you can regain momentum when energy is low and the horizon feels unclear.
When motivation drops, even for activities we usually enjoy doing it can be a surprise. In flying, when weather closes in unexpectedly, or perhaps because we made a poor choice, we trust the instruments, fly a plan, and make small, deliberate corrections. Behavioural Activation follows the same logic. You schedule meaningful actions, reduce them to safe, flyable steps, and let momentum do the lifting.
Does this sound familiar. Many of the best known Airport books started with a bit of research perhaps by an organisational psychologist, some of this research may have been inspired by some ancient wisdom and a need to check, How do we Know? Which famous authors' books can you see in this post?
Behavioural Activation breaks the cycle of avoidance by helping you do valued activities first, rather than waiting to feel ready. Mood follows action more reliably than action follows mood. The approach is well supported by research, including work led by Jacobson, Martell, and Dimidjian on activity scheduling as an effective treatment for depression. It also aligns with Self-Determination Theory from Deci and Ryan, which shows that the conditions for healthy motivation are autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Choose actions that build those three, and progress becomes more likely.
Choose just one task or a decision you have been avoiding. Put it in your calendar with a clear start time. Do it now if you know what it is. Brief it like a sector. Define the minimum safe version that you will complete in twenty five minutes to get started. Prepare the workspace, silence alerts, then just do it. When complete, log the result in a simple notebook or your Decision Journal. Note time of day and any other feelings you have for review later.
Book a short, face to face catch up with a friend or colleague, you know the one you have been meaning to call. Treat it as crew coordination, a chance to share air time and reduce isolation. Put it in the diary, agree a place, and confirm. Afterward, note one thing you valued in the conversation and thank them for it.
Schedule a short session to learn or practise a skill. Examples include a single page of writing, ten photographs around a theme, or twenty minutes on an instrument. Keep it specific and time bound so that you build mastery and confidence.
Keep it Simple. Ask three questions: What did I complete? What helped? What will I adjust next time?Keep it factual and kind. The aim is another safe circuit tomorrow.
If you are struggling to function or feel unsafe, please seek support from a healthcare professional or a trusted helpline. You do not have to do this alone. See signposts below
The problem with situational awareness is that you do not realise you lost it until you get it back
In the cockpit we follow: aviate, navigate, communicate. In practise this means stabilise the aircraft, regain awareness of position and options, then share the plan with the crew or Air Traffic Control, don't be alone When your mood drops, apply the same sequence.
Stabilise your physiology and enable a parasympathetic response with a few slow breaths and a glass of water. When you feel better choose one small action from your plan, then tell a supportive person what you will do fro some accountability. Simplicity protects progress.
Let us keep building environments that make good choices easier and recovery more likely. One safe circuit at a time is still flying. Small course corrections can make a big impact as they compound over time.
If something is hurting then stop doing it.
If you would like your own Free Personal Flywheel for you and your team to take a step to help build Momentum by breaking down things in to achievable actions then get in touch via my website.
Self-mastery is the root of great leadership.
If you are in immediate danger or cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E now. nhs.uk
If you need urgent mental health advice and assessment, contact NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, available 24/7.
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Outside the UK
This article is for general information and self-management. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or care. If you are worried about your safety or someone else’s, please use the urgent options above.