Don Ledingham’s Post

POST #51 Building Empowering Leaders Inspire “Larger-than-Life-Vision” - Part 2 A good example of larger-than-life vision was the call from the late President John F. Kennedy to the people of America on May 25, 1961, to send a man to the moon and back safely within the decade. This was part of a Special Message given by President John F. Kennedy to the Congress on Urgent National Needs. It was presented at a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. President Kennedy’s challenge was clear, compelling and urgent. First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. We propose to accelerate the development of the appropriate lunar spacecraft. We propose to develop alternate liquid and solid fuel boosters, much larger than any now being developed, until certain, which is superior. We propose additional funds for other engine development and for unmanned explorations—explorations which are particularly important for one purpose which this nation will never overlook: the survival of the man who first makes this daring flight. But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon—if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there. [italics added] As part of the presentation, President Kennedy, provided the needed motivation for the American people. For while we cannot guarantee that we shall one day be first, we can guarantee that any failure to make this effort will make us last. We take an additional risk by making it in full view of the world, but as shown by the feat of astronaut Shepard, this very risk enhances our stature when we are successful. But this is not merely a race. Space is open to us now; and our eagerness to share its meaning is not governed by the efforts of others. We go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share. iii [italics added] It took 400,000 men and women working together single-mindedly as one large team to send one man to the moon and back safely.   Let’s Discuss This... 1.  What hurdles do you need to overcome to accomplish your “larger-than-life” vision? How do you plan to overcome them?   2.  What support do you need to best accomplish your “larger-than-life” vision? How do you plan to get this support?

Come to our NASA Deep Dive to learn how to access non-dilutive funding from NASA for your deep tech innovation!

What is affecting company's tangible results? Some reasons... a) Lack of mission's clarity: employees may not fully know the mission & how their individual roles contribute to the mission of the company. b) Misalignment of values: employees may have personal values that conflict with the company's mission or culture, as they grow in their positions. c) Communication breakdown: poor communication from top-to-bottom can result in misinformation, hindering (b) the alignment efforts by the company. d) Inconsistent leadership: when inconsistent leadership behaviors or actions "contradict the company's stated mission" this affects (a), (b) & (c). When leaders fail to embody the organization's values in actions, employees will become disillusioned & more likely to disassociate. This is not good for the company's overall performance. Here is an insightful article about this subject: "NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration vows to battle 'organizational silence' as problems arise amid Artemis delays" https://lnkd.in/efhVN4ai

This is a great news for All users of high-resolution #Satellite data for #EarthSystem studies & applications, from both Planet & NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration   Communities & and well beyond internationally, because #PublicPrivatePartnerships are recognised globally as a key way forward to accelerate and make sure more & more #EarthObservation enter our every day life powering a #GreenEconomy that protects and cares for #PeopleandPlanet. Are you keen to know more on how public purchases of data can be done in a #WinWinWin scenarios for both companies, public entities, and society? Then please consult these important documents prepared by the latest #CGMS on the « CGMS best practices on relationship with the private sector on commercial data purchases » (endorsed by CGMS-52 plenary, in June 2024) 👉 https://lnkd.in/ePu426Xj The World Meteorological Organization is keen to support data sharing as the quality of #WeatherForecasting & #EnvironmentalMonitoring are both crucially related to the amount of data available for #Modelling & #Verification. The #WMO strong support is via dedicated infrastructure & service coordination so that data can become accessible to largest amount of users and in an interoperable manner under the #WIS2 platform in observance to the #WMO #UnifiedDataPolicy 👉 https://lnkd.in/esZSdfAh Shared with Planet GHGSAT Carbon Mapper MethaneSAT Environmental Defense Fund CEOS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites) #CGMS European Space Agency - ESA  EUMETSAT NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency  ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization INPE EUSPA - EU Agency for the Space Programme #EW4All #GBON #G3W

When you think about all the pressures you must manage at work each day, consider how it might feel working 254 miles above Earth from the International Space Station.    In this podcast, former NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Astronaut Cady Coleman, PhD talks about her diverse experiences in high-stakes, multicultural work environments as she gives insights on the importance of preparation, team collaboration, and adopting an operational mindset—wherever you might be working from.     Don’t miss it!    #TeamCollaboration #OperationsManagement #ChangeManagement #ContinuousImprovement #ExecutiveLeadership

Eric Berger's new book (great excerpt by Ars Technica) gets to how deep the problem is inside NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Phil McAlister is a national hero and kudos to William. Gerstenmaier for doing the right thing. I love our national space agency, but the group-think by the old guard at NASA is a problem. China is coming. The only way to beat China is to better leverage commercial entrepreneurs. We can't beat China by beating them at being better at socialism (big government programs). NASA needs to be doubling down on commercial partnerships. Instead NASA is like a deer in the headlights. We need a new generation of leadership at NASA that has conviction on commercial partnerships is needed. This is not a nice-to-have ... it is critical to our long-term national security. https://lnkd.in/eCPSEgpp

3 reasons why NASA TV is my new favorite channel 🚀🌓✨for learning (and leadership insights) 1. When your work is exciting and you know the importance and value of your contributions, it is exciting to come to work 2. Failure is not an option - make errors and learn from them in the development phase but once deployed, the parts must all work together in space- failure is not an option because there is no tech who can show up tomorrow and fix it 3. The vision is what unites the various teams to keep open communication. Bonus: quite heard in today’s show A professional works on a task until they can’t get it wrong Have you watched any NASA TV? #designlearning #outoftheboxthinking #leadershipjourney

Great salespeople learn problems before ever talking about their solutions. This report lays out 7 key challenges faced by the NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration... 🚀 Challenge 1: Returning Humans to the Moon 🚀 Challenge 2: Improving Management of Major Programs and Projects 🚀 Challenge 3: Sustaining a Human Presence in Low Earth Orbit 🚀 Challenge 4: Maturing Information Technology Management and Security 🚀 Challenge 5: Improving Oversight and Management of Contracts, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements 🚀 Challenge 6: Attracting & Retaining a Highly Skilled & Diverse Workforce 🚀 Challenge 7: Addressing NASA's Outdated Infrastructure and Facilities These issues are long-standing, difficult challenges central to NASA’s core missions and likely will remain top challenges for years to come. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 Each challenge begins with "Why This is a Challenge" then recaps "Progress in Addressing the Challenge" and finally ends with "Work Remaining to Address Challenge". Take the time to read these challenges before you ever suggest you want to support the NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA wants to buy from those they know care, and when you've taken the time to understand their challenges, you show NASA you care. ___________________________________ 🔥 Join 14,254 others and subscribe to our GovCon newsletter | https://lnkd.in/es6qfwgk 👀 Follow me (Neil McDonnell) on LinkedIn and hit the 🔔 on my profile to see more government contracting content like 28,035 other people do.

The newest book in the NASA History Series is here: be sure to check out A Wartime Necessity: The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and Other National Aeronautical Research Organizations’ Efforts at Innovation During World War II, edited by Alex M Spencer. World War II represented a turning point for government-industry cooperation and the role of applied research and development. While many NACA accomplishments during the war are well known, its history has received only limited attention from a handful of scholars. Each chapter of A Wartime Necessity has been writ­ten by a recognized authority in their field and the volume covers a broad range of topics associated with aeronautical research and development during the war. International contexts are of particular note in this publication, which includes chapters devoted to Japan and the Soviet Union. In each of the case studies we see how research and technology were critical to the war effort, how unique contexts shaped what was possible, and how institutions were adapting to a drastically changing world. Download the e-book: https://lnkd.in/enheyUPe

🌟 Embracing Unity of Vision: A Lesson from NASA 🚀 There's a powerful story from NASA's early days that resonates deeply with me today. Legend has it that when a NASA janitor was asked what he was doing, he replied, "I'm sending a man to the moon." This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of unity in vision that permeates great organizations. At NASA, from the engineers designing rockets to the janitors sweeping the floors, everyone understood and embraced the overarching goal of landing a man on the moon. Each person saw themselves as a crucial part of a larger mission, contributing their skills and dedication towards a shared objective. This story holds a mirror to today's dynamic organizations. In today's world of rapid change and complexity, maintaining unity of vision is more critical than ever. Organizations that succeed are those where every team member, from top management to frontline staff, understands the strategic direction and feels empowered to contribute towards it. Unity of vision fosters alignment, collaboration, and a sense of purpose among employees. It breaks down silos, enhances communication, and drives collective effort towards achieving ambitious goals. Just as every NASA employee, regardless of role, saw themselves as contributing to the moon landing, modern organizations thrive when each individual sees their role in advancing the organization's mission. As leaders and team members, let's remember the lesson from NASA's janitor. Let's strive to foster and maintain a clear, compelling vision that unites us all. By aligning our efforts towards a common purpose, we can achieve extraordinary results and propel our organizations towards new heights. #UnityOfVision #Teamwork #Leadership #OrganizationalSuccess #Inspiration