How NASA Creates Psychological Safety

The explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986 rocked the world.?The seven astronaut fatalities and subsequent failed missions by teams at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) led to senate inquiries and the eventual realisation that it was social context, and not technical incompetence, that led to this and other failures.

NASA learned that what was missing in otherwise brilliant teams of NASA employees and partners was the ability to create a team environment that supported psychological safety.?This finding led to the development of NASA’s 4-D (4-Dimensional) team development program, architected by former Director of Astrophysics, Charlie Pellerin.

In How NASA Builds Teams, Charlie describes the program that has now been undertaken by more than 1,500 NASA teams. It consists of 8 critical leadership and team behaviours, organised into four dimensions:

?1.???Nurturing

2.???Including

3.???Directing

4.???Visioning

Underperforming teams tended to show deficits in the ‘Nurturing’ and ‘Including’ behaviours, as opposed to the ‘Directing’ and ‘Visioning’ dimensions (with which technical teams felt much more comfortable).

“Including” refers to behaviours that foster inclusion, building trust and harmony within a team. An example is practicing appropriate inclusion rather than over-inclusion on e-mails and meetings.?Another habit is keeping agreements, for example by setting appropriate personal boundaries and team standards and managing expectations if agreements need to be renegotiated.

“Directing” behaviours help to organise the team and give clarity and certainty - in particular, relative to role clarity, accountability and authority. Effective direction also addresses the red ‘storylines’ (stories we tell ourselves about the motivations and behaviours of others) that are preventing optimal team performance. These need to be addressed as directly as any other observable behaviour.

“Visioning” speaks to ambitious commitment to audacious goals, epitomised by John F. Kennedy’s ‘moon-shot’ speech which ignited the Apollo program. Behavioural elements of this include acknowledgement of unpleasant realities, reality-based optimism and showing 100% commitment.?When combined with the earlier dimensions, they deliver the ability to craft and deliver a truly compelling vision.

Does your team environment balance these human needs? I would love to hear how you create psychological safety in your own team and whether the four NASA dimensions resonate with you? Contact me at: [email protected]

Or, if you are interested in learning more about the NASA 4-D program, consider joining the next one starting online on 13 October 2022:?Click here to learn more.