Why Drills Matter for Command:
The 7-Slot Brain, Muscle Memory,
and Crisis Leadership

When a ship is in crisis, survival depends not only on equipment and procedures, but also on the human ability to think clearly under stress. Yet research shows the human brain is not built for unlimited multitasking. Back in 1956, psychologist George A. Miller proposed what became known as Miller’s Law: our working memory can hold about seven “chunks” of information at once. In everyday life, that might be remembering a phone number or juggling a few errands. But in an emergency at sea, those seven slots fill up instantly—crew safety, equipment checks, hazards, communication, navigation, and more.

If a survival craft commander is still thinking step by step through how to rig a painter line or operate a davit, those precious mental slots are already consumed:

What’s left for leadership?

The Myth of Multitasking

It’s often said people can multitask, but in reality, the brain rapidly switches attention from one focus to another. This constant switching takes time, creates errors, and can overwhelm even experienced mariners in an emergency.

Where Drills Make the Difference

This is why training and drills are so vital. Repetition creates muscle memory—the  ability to perform complex sequences automatically, without conscious thought. 

Launching a lifeboat might involve half a dozen steps, but with practice, those steps collapse into one “chunk”: launch procedure. Instead of consuming six mental slots, it becomes one. Every drill frees up more of the commander’s limited bandwidth for higher-level thinking.

Command in Chaos

In the violence of a ship abandonment, the true role of a survival craft commander isn’t just to execute procedures. It’s to:

•  Stay calm and authoritative

•  Prioritize safety under shifting conditions

•  Coordinate crew actions

•  Keep eyes open for new threats

None of this is possible if the commander is bogged down in mechanics. Drills aren’t just about speed—they’re about freeing the mind for leadership.

Rethinking Crisis Management

When mariners understand the limits of working memory, the myth of multitasking, and the power of muscle memory, drills take on new meaning. They aren’t just requirements to be checked off. They are the foundations that allows leaders to rise above the chaos and guide their crews to safety.

As the saying goes:

“You don’t rise to the occasion—you fall to your training.”