The 1 in 60 Rule and Why Small Misalignments Determine Business Outcomes
Updated: May 15
Written by Ana Postigo, Pilot, Neurocoach, and Writer
Airline pilot, Neurocoach, and children’s book author working at the intersection of neuroscience, mental health, and human performance. Through neuroscience, mental health, and aviation psychology, I write about how we heal, adapt, and rise after adversity.
Imagine an aircraft departing from Los Angeles with a planned arrival in New York. Shortly after take-off, the aircraft deviates by just one degree from its intended heading. At that point, nothing appears wrong. The systems are stable, the flight path looks correct, and the difference is almost impossible to detect. But that one-degree deviation does not remain insignificant.
As the aircraft continues its journey, that slight misalignment compounds over distance. Hours later, instead of arriving in New York, it can end up hundreds of miles away from where it was meant to be. In aviation, this is known as the 1 in 60 rule, a principle that illustrates how small variations in direction, if left unaddressed, can fundamentally change the outcome.
When change is not immediately visible
One of the greatest risks in both aviation and business is that early shifts rarely produce immediate consequences. A subtle change in priorities, a relaxed standard, or a decision made under pressure may not trigger any alarm. Nothing fails. Nothing breaks. Performance appears stable. But direction has already begun to shift.
How organisations lose alignment
Organisations do not move off course through one defining moment. They lose alignment progressively, through decisions that make sense at the time, assumptions that remain untested, and short-term adjustments that quietly become embedded over time. Each step feels justified. Together, they reshape direction. By the time the deviation becomes visible, the gap between intent and reality can be significant.
The advantage of early adjustment
In aviation, deviation is expected, but unmanaged deviation is not. Pilots make continuous, precise adjustments to maintain alignment, not because the difference is critical in that moment, but because they understand the long-term impact of even small variations. The same discipline applies in high-performing organisations. They do not wait for clear signs of misalignment. They create conditions that allow them to detect weak signals early, question direction, and make timely adjustments before complexity increases.
The human factor in business
At the centre of this is how people interpret and respond to information. Under pressure, the brain simplifies, prioritises speed, and relies on pattern recognition to make decisions efficiently. This is necessary. But it also means that subtle changes in direction can be overlooked, especially when there is no immediate feedback to challenge them. This makes it not only a strategic issue, but a human one.
From reaction to system design
The real lesson is not simply to correct course, but to ensure that correction happens early and consistently. This requires systems where early signals are recognised, not dismissed, assumptions are regularly challenged and individuals feel able to question direction without hesitation. Because without these conditions, misalignment is not corrected. It becomes normalised.
Final thought
A one-degree change in direction does not feel significant at the start. But over time, it determines where you arrive. Because the difference between reaching your intended destination and ending up somewhere else entirely is rarely one major decision. It is the accumulation of small misalignments, left unchecked.
Read more from Ana Postigo
Ana Postigo, Pilot, Neurocoach, and Writer
She is an airline pilot, Neurocoach, and author working at the intersection of neuroscience, mental health, and human performance. Her work is shaped by both cockpit experience and lived events, which sparked a deep curiosity about how the brain responds to adversity. Drawing on aviation psychology and trauma-informed science, she explores how humans think, decide, heal, and perform under pressure, working internationally with individuals in high-stress environments. Through her books, she also encourages children to follow their dreams and believe in themselves. Everything she does is guided by one mission, to help people reconnect with their inner strength and navigate life’s turbulence with clarity, compassion, and purpose.
