Tiny Sparks – NASA lessons on why intentionally building psychological safety is rocket science

In 2002 NASA was ranked the no 1 place to work in government and yet a few months later, disaster infamously struck.

Our Sparks by Ignium podcast host Phil Rose talked to author, speaker and organisational psychologist Laura Gallaher about that time and what she learned when she was brought in to work with them.

Surprisingly it wasn’t an engineering or a technical decision that had caused the tragedy – it was down to culture and human psychology.

When we dissolve fear

Below the surface, Laura discovered that NASA wasn’t designed to allow enough effective decision-making and information flow. Engineers were using informal channels of communication and friendship links to gather and pass on critical information, feeling unable to speak up in formal circles.

She explains that intrapersonal fear can stop a lower-level employee from pushing against a decision already made higher up, especially when time or technical constraints are bearing down as well. This can lead to catastrophe.

To counter this we have to proactively create the kind of psychological safety that will help our organisation to thrive.

How do we do this?

Be specific about behaviours

It’s easier to articulate what we don’t want rather than what we do or knock around ideas like trust without really pinpointing what they mean. This kind of specificity takes time and energy and it can’t be a one-off thing, it’s ongoing. Laura recommends a behavioural checklist backed up by a personal strong connection to culture and intention to give it meaning and the human touch.

Bring culture to life through storytelling

When ‘the way we’ve always done things around here’ doesn’t make sense anymore, it’s a sign we’ve lost touch with our why. The emotional connection and sense of drive that comes along with purpose start to wane.

Nurture the four emerging traits of effective culture

Culture is the DNA of an organisation, it’s what makes it unique. Laura divides this into four elements:

• Maturity
• Diversity
• Communication
• Unity

Why it matters when you’re building a business

Robust culture, demonstrated in behaviours is given life and meaning by human story – these are key elements if you want to grow sustainably. The facts and figures are undeniably vital but to prevent disaster, you need an open flow of information and efficient decision-making, even when you’re under pressure.

Hop on over to the podcast now

Find out more about the elements of Laura’s DNA model along with how when we don’t feel safe to speak up, we talk ourselves out of our fears. What does maturity mean and why do we need to give the process of cascading information the time and energy it deserves?

To listen in, click the link here or search ‘Sparks by Ignium’ on your favourite platform and browse the other titles in our how-to-build-a-business podcast.

Laura’s Book The Missing Links: Launching a High Performing Company Culture is available now.

Have a great day.