Crazy Might Work
Issue #23 | October 2024
“The NASA 4-D leadership course came at a perfect time for me as I’m building a new team and I was able to immediately use the lessons and tools. I felt we were already on track to become a high performing team, but this course gave ownership to our individual team members and I think that will make us a high performing team for a very long time. The course materials were relevant, professional, and engaging and I enjoyed learning about my incredible classmates’ challenges. Though the class was virtual, I really felt connected through the discussion and exercises.” – Major, US Military
NASA 4-Dimensional Leadership Program Goes Next Level
When Crazy Might Work acquired permissions to run the Four-Dimensional Leadership program used by NASA, it saw the opportunity to take a great program to the next level. Developed by NASA’s Director of Astrophysics, Charlie Pellerin, in the wake of failed missions and shuttle disasters, the 4-D program has become a benchmark for leadership development, both in NASA and around the world. Since inception, the program has been voluntarily completed by over 1,500 NASA teams, contributing to NASA being named Best Place to Work in US government for the twelfth year in a row (May, 2024).
The program develops eight critical leadership capabilities:
1. Connect a team and create a sense of shared purpose.
2. Develop individuals relative to their idiosyncratic strengths.
3. Set and maintain individual boundaries and team standards.
4. Include appropriately, whilst avoiding over-inclusion.
5. Align role, accountability and authority to maximise autonomy.
6. Challenge dysfunctional beliefs with radical candour.
7. Acknowledge uncomfortable truths and drive optimistic change.
8. Co-create a compelling vision and communicate it effectively.
PODCAST: Fireside Chat: Charlie Pellerin and Paul Hawkins
Charlie Pellerin (Former Director of Astrophysics, NASA) and Paul Hawkins (Chief Combobulator, Crazy Might Work) discuss the origins of the NASA Four-Dimensional Leadership Program and why it has been so transformational globally since launching in the late 1990’s. Paul and Charlie discuss the revamped program which now incorporates simulations and updates from the current space program, as well as contemporary neuroscientific research, making it a leadership and team development experience like no other. Listen on your preferred podcast platform here:
ONLINE PUBLIC NASA 4-DIMENSIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
25 October 2024 – 12 December 2024
Join us for the next online public NASA 4-Dimensional Leadership Program which runs once a week for two-hours over 8 weeks. The first session is on Friday, 25 October and thereafter it is on consecutive Thursdays from 12:00pm – 2:00pm AEST through to 12 December 2024. Be quick. These programs sell out fast. REGISTER HERE
This immersive program can also be delivered in-house face-to-face, or online, and can be fully customised to your organisation using the NASA Playbook. If you are not quite ready to become and astronaut, you can check out the 2025 course dates HERE
CRAZY MIGHT WORK OUT & ABOUT
15 October 2024: ELECTRIFY CTO Conference 2024 (Sydney)
This event promises to electrify and energise participants as they invite industry experts, stakeholders, providers and decision makers into a discourse about the equitable and accessible transport industry. Together, they will explore the challenges, the potential and the possibilities for a completely connected community through transport.
Come hear Paul Hawkins’ keynote on ‘DEMYSTIFYING INNOVATION’ at 4:00pm
In this entertaining session, you will:
– Discover what drinking wine has to do with childbirth (it’s not what you think!)
– Demystify innovation and re-discover your inner creative genius
– Learn what innovation is, whilst having a few laughs
22 October 2024: AIPM National Conference 2024 (Canberra)
Paul Hawkins will present a keynote at the Australian Institute of Project Management National Conference in Canberra on Tuesday, 22 November 2024 at 12:00pm, entitled ‘How NASA Builds High-Performing Project Teams’. In 2008, NASA’s Stephen Johnson said, “Frequently we find that the failure effects and proximal cause are technical, but the root causes and contributing factors are social or psychological… Although the statistics have not been studied fully, my sense, from experience in the field and discussions with other experienced engineers, is that 80 to 95 percent of failures are ultimately due to human error or miscommunication.” In this session you will learn how NASA switched the focus from project process to project context with incredible results. LEARN MORE
25 October 2024: ACCPA National Conference (Adelaide)
We are excited to announce our Strategic Innovation partnership with the Aged and Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA). This partnership brings the latest thinking to leaders in the sector in the form of a Strategic Innovation in Aged Care program, designed specifically for boards, executives and senior leaders in the sector. Paul’s session introducing ‘Strategic Innovation’ is at 11:30am, so come along to unlock your creative genius and reshape your organisation. REGISTER HERE
26 & 27 November 2024: ACCPA Strategic Innovation Program (Melbourne)
Join us for a mind and skill-expanding program over two days!
You will emerge from the program having:
– Enhanced your sector network, forging new leader-level connections with your peers
– Made significant progress on a critical element of your current or future strategy
– Developed an implementation-ready pilot solution for testing in the workplace
– Acquired contemporary world-leading strategic innovation skills
– Crafted a compelling narrative to support your initiative