On a cold January day in 1986, all seven crew members of the Challenger Space Shuttle died in a catastrophic explosion shortly after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Later it was found that NASA mission specialists and managers had ignored warnings of the effects of ice and cold on the shuttle’s solid rocket booster engine O-rings. The tragedy led to a grounding of the program for three years and rocket booster redesign. More importantly, an investigative committee found that NASA’s organizational culture and decision-making processes were key contributing factors to the accident. In fact, NASA had flagrantly violated its own safety rules. It had known about the failed O-rings for years, did not report these technical concerns and disregarded warnings about the high risk of failure when launching in low temperatures. This epic communication breakdown was rooted in misleading information, poor judgment, withholding data, coupled with a rush to launch.

It’s one thing to be a risk taker and act boldly when needed, and another thing to act in haste, without first considering the possible outcomes. If you tend to be a “shoot first, ask questions later” kind of decision maker, you’re not alone. Leaders like this are particularly prone to believing they have all the answers and tend to listen to their own ego. These “do-it-yourselfers” who like to make all the decisions may also be jeopardizing their work, finances, family, and even future successes by using a path of least resistance. Maybe you are wired like this, but there is a better way to avoid short-circuiting the process. Talking with others, openly sharing information, asking the right questions, considering alternatives, and seeking those you trust to gain input helps. This requires diligence, patience, engagement, and active listening, especially with those who could provide wise counsel.

Contrast the Challenger disaster with how the crew on Apollo 13 avoided catastrophe in 1970. On a journey to the moon, a faulty wiring connection resulted in an explosion aboard the spacecraft. By collaborating with Mission Control, the three-man crew rigged makeshift repairs enabling the crippled lunar module to safely return to earth. With depleted oxygen, rising blood pressures and tension, the teams worked diligently together to save the lives of three astronauts. Everyone made use of the tools and equipment available to minimize oxygen consumption and battery power for the craft to return safely to earth. This took concentration, coordination, industriousness, and two-way communication.

Ask yourself; Do I tend to shoot first, without all the facts and not consider what will happen if I miss the mark? If the answer is yes, then try actively listening, asking the right questions, and seeking input. Being diligent can lead to great outcomes but being hasty can lead to disaster.

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”         ~ Proverbs 11:14

Recommended reading; Getting it Right: Avoiding the High Cost of Wrong Decisions by Deborah Sawyer