MISSION CRITICAL TEAMS
NASA Expedition 26 crew before mission to the International Space Station.
project
Astronaut Space Station Crews: Team Formation
CHALLENGE
NASA and other global space organizations collaborate on multi-faceted programs focused on technical training and collaboration. However, NASA needed an ‘expedition behavioral’ expert when they approached John. NASA’s International Space Station crew requested an in-person experience working and living together to help prepare for long duration flights in space.
OUR SOLUTION
John designed and led a weekend retreat for the crew of Expedition 26 to engage astronauts and connect them through building trust, in addition to their work as a team on the mission. By conducting engaging conversations alongside experiential project based-work, the international crew grew closer as a team and gained broader understanding of one another as human beings.
the outcome
Expedition 26 successfully completed their International Space Station mission with excellence and precision. They credited time with John for their interpersonal work as interdependent astronauts, cosmonauts and high-functioning leaders.
This story is featured on Adam Grant’s TED Podcast, WorkLife, in the episode How to trust people you don’t like.
“Working with John as a trusted colleague, I’d say he embodies leadership. He’s a leader of leaders: knowing when to inspire, when to support and when to lead from behind.”
