Leadership Lessons from the Past
The Power of Relentless Follow-Up and Creative Thinking
Thirty-nine years ago tomorrow, I was grappling with the concept of “cultural relativism.” Specifically, why eating insects is perfectly normal in some cultures but not so much in others. Most of that freshman anthropology class has blurred with time, but one moment from that period stands out crystal clear: a flashbulb memory I’ll never forget.
It was January 28, 1986, the day the world watched in horror as the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated just 73 seconds after launch, claiming the lives of seven astronauts. The world was different back then. We didn’t have smartphones sending instant alerts about major events. Instead, news spread by word of mouth.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Another professor sprinted into our classroom to interrupt the lecture and deliver the devastating news. The weight of the tragedy was immense and palpable. Class was canceled, and we all gathered around a television, glued to the screen, trying to comprehend the enormity of what had happened.
Even today, almost four decades later, the Challenger disaster still stands as a powerful lesson in leadership, highlighting the critical need for accountability, innovation, and relentless follow-up when tackling complex challenges.
Beyond the technical failures, it reminds us that great leadership isn’t just about making decisions. It is about fostering a culture where tough questions are encouraged, creativity thrives, and responsibility is a shared value.
"The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave" – Ronald Reagan
Relentless Follow-Up
One of the most chilling lessons from the Challenger disaster is that the warning signs were there, but they were ignored. Engineers at Morton Thiokol raised serious concerns about the O-ring seals failing in cold weather, but their warnings were brushed aside in the rush to launch.[1]
This tragedy highlights why relentless follow-up is essential in leadership. Great leaders don’t just ask for input. They continually dig deeper, revisit unresolved issues, and make sure concerns are addressed before moving forward. Follow-up isn’t just a task; it’s a mindset. It’s about paying attention to the details, amplifying contrarian or dissenting voices, and acting on potential risks before they spiral out of control or worse yet into disaster.
Relentless follow-up builds trust, accountability, and a culture where no one feels silenced. So, as leaders, we must ask ourselves: Are we allowing for tough conversations? Are we following through to make sure concerns are resolved? And most importantly, are we making it clear that silence isn’t the same as agreement?
Finding New Solutions to Old Problems
The Challenger disaster is also a stark reminder of the importance of creative problem-solving in leadership. The issues with the O-rings were well-documented long before the launch, yet no effective solutions were implemented. This failure shows what happens when organizations stick to the status quo or conventional thinking and avoid challenging assumptions.
Creativity in leadership means looking beyond the obvious by asking “What if?” And being open to exploring unconventional solutions regardless of how they may first be perceived. Just imagine how things could have turned out if NASA - at that time - had fostered a culture of innovation where teams were encouraged to think the outside the proverbial box and tackle the O-ring issue head-on.
True creativity in leadership isn’t just about coming up with new ideas. It is more about resilience and empowering teams to experiment, learn from failure, and adapt under pressure. When leaders pair relentless follow-up with creative thinking, they can build an environment where problems aren’t just solved. They can be anticipated and prevented.
Building a Culture of Accountability
Perhaps the most significant leadership lesson from the Challenger disaster is the importance of culture. NASA’s organizational culture - at that time – was said to have prioritized schedule adherence and external pressures over safety and internal concerns. This culture unfortunately discouraged dissent and failed to create opportunities for innovators to speak up.
Leaders have a responsibility to build a culture of accountability and openness. This means fostering an environment where team members can feel confident about pitching ideas. It means prioritizing transparency and ensuring that critical information flows freely across all levels of the organization.
Many think that accountability is about assigning blame. Instead, leaders have the responsibility to ensure that accountability means that everyone understands their role in achieving a shared mission. When leaders model accountability, they set the tone for the entire organization. They show that every detail matters, every voice counts, and every decision has weight.
Turning Tragedy into Transformation
The Challenger disaster was in fact a wake-up call for NASA that prompted significant changes in its culture and processes. For us it should serve as a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, there is an opportunity to learn and grow. For aspiring leaders, it’s a call to action to prioritize relentless follow-up, embrace creativity, and build a culture of accountability.
Today, it is said that SpaceX embraces risk management but also emphasizes learning from failures through iterative testing. Unlike NASA during the Challenger era, SpaceX appears to foster an environment where risks are acknowledged and openly discussed, showing the importance of balancing ambition with safety.[2]
Relentless follow-up ensures that no concern is overlooked. Creative thinking empowers teams to find innovative solutions. And a culture of accountability ensures that every decision reflects the organization’s core values. Together, these principles form the foundation of effective leadership - leadership that inspires trust, drives results, and transforms challenges into opportunities.
As leaders, we must ask ourselves: Are we willing to follow up relentlessly, even when it’s uncomfortable? Are we encouraging creative solutions, even when the path forward isn’t clear? And are we building a culture where accountability and openness thrive?
By embracing these principles, we can certainly honor the lessons of the Challenger and lead with courage, integrity, and vision.
"We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.” – Ronald Reagan's Challenger Disaster speech
[1] Rogers, William P., et al. Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1986.
[2] https://www.space.com/spacex-record-breaking-2021-year
Challenger is another one of those life events where you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when it happened.
Thanks for reminding us Ray and drawing a leadership lesson from it simultaneously!