Leadership Lessons from Space with Chris Hadfield

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Ever wondered what it’s like to make life-or-death decisions... in space??

I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Chris Hadfield to find out. Chris is a former Canadian astronaut, test pilot, commander of the International Space Station (where he spent six months orbiting Earth!), NASA’s former Director of Operations. Oh, and he’s also the author of six books (interestingly 3 of which are fiction). Talk about a resume!

Chris is one of those rare leaders who’s had to make decisions with the highest stakes imaginable—whether it’s piloting a $150 billion spaceship or keeping a crew alive in the vacuum of space. But the leadership lessons he shared aren’t just for astronauts. They’re equally invaluable for anyone leading a team, especially when the pressure’s on and the stakes are high (even if they’re not “floating-in-zero-gravity” high).

While you and I aren’t managing teams in space, Chris’ insights on clarity, resilience, and trust-building have huge relevance for anyone leading people through challenging times.?

Here are my top 3 takeaways from our conversation:

1. Clarity of Purpose is Everything

When you’re making decisions where lives and spacecraft are on the line, having a crystal-clear purpose is non-negotiable: Without that guiding compass, decision-making becomes reactive, and that’s when mistakes happen.?

“To me, purpose is hugely important. Why are we doing this? What does success look like on a spaceship? You’ve got a crew of six people—what are you trying to get done? Without clarity of purpose, it’s very difficult to prepare mentally,” Chris told me.

Once the purpose is clear, Chris and his team break it down into manageable steps. They ask themselves: What skill sets are we missing? What don’t we know about each other yet? This systematic approach to defining the purpose and then addressing gaps in knowledge and skills ensures everyone is aligned and prepared for the mission ahead.

Purpose acts as a foundation for everything: decision-making, resource allocation, and even team morale. When your purpose is clear, you’re not just steering projects—you’re leading with conviction. And, when your team knows why their work matters, it unlocks motivation and cohesion.?

How aligned is your team on their purpose? Are they clear on why their work matters?

2. Simulate Failure to Build Resilience

In space, as Chris shared, “Things rarely go according to plan.” That’s why a huge part of NASA’s training involves simulating things going wrong. It’s not just about practising skills; it’s about building the psychological resilience needed to make decisions in life-or-death situations. As Chris put it, “You can’t wait for the crisis to happen—you have to simulate the failure first.”

Chris and his team would repeatedly practice worst-case scenarios—from fires in space to equipment failures—so that when a real crisis hit, they could respond without hesitation. “We didn’t just train for the good days,” he said. “We trained for when everything went wrong.”

It made me think about how little time we often spend doing this in business, aside from certain companies who are renowned for their scenario planning i.e. Shell. Oftentimes, talking about worst-case scenarios or talking about likely failures leads to you being the person who’s no longer invited to the planning meeting, versus being something teams allocate time and deliberate structure to doing thoroughly.?

In fast-moving industries, where disruption is the norm, teams need this kind of resilience. Yet, many leaders shy away from preparing for the worst because it’s uncomfortable. But simulating failure isn’t about expecting things to go wrong—it’s about giving your team the psychological readiness to stay focused when they do.

What’s the worst-case scenario your team could face??

Whether it’s a supply chain failure, client emergency, or a tech outage, regularly running through these scenarios can build your team’s confidence and resilience.

3. Building Relationships and Trust

Chris shares how, on his first day at the astronaut office in 1992, he realised that he would be relying on his fellow astronauts for his life—and they would rely on him for theirs. From that moment, Chris made it a priority to build strong relationships—whether through flying together, failing together, or even bonding over activities like running or karaoke. These shared experiences laid the foundation of trust essential for high-pressure missions.

Now, I know many of you aren’t leading teams where people are depending on each other to survive in space, but trust is just as important down here on Earth! High-performing teams thrive on trust.

Research shows that companies with high levels of trust see 76% more engagement, 40% less burnout, and 50% more productivity.

But trust doesn’t just happen. It’s earned through intentional actions, meaningful conversations, and shared experiences. Whether through casual check-ins, team-building activities, or simply taking the time to have genuine conversations, trust is cultivated in the moments that feel small but carry great significance. And, teams that trust each other perform better because they know they can rely on their colleagues in the heat of the moment.

How are you actively cultivating and nurturing trust within your team?

Ground control to Major Tom... Sending some space vibes your way this Monday! ?? Check out Chris Hadfield’s out-of-this-world performance of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ while floating aboard the International Space Station. Watch it here .

Leadership might not involve commanding spaceships for most of us, but the principles remain the same: clarity of purpose, resilience under pressure, and trust. These are the building blocks of high-performing teams in any fast-changing, high-stakes environment.

So ask yourself: How clear is your team’s purpose? How prepared are they for unexpected challenges? And how strong is the trust between them? The answers to these questions might be the difference between surviving and thriving in today’s constantly changing world.

P.S. I’m beyond excited to be heading to SXSW Sydney next week to facilitate some amazing conversations and would love to see you there! Use this link for 10% off your ticket: SXSW Tickets , and join me for what’s sure to be an incredible event.