In this powerful episode, Dr. Laura Gallaher takes us inside one of NASA's darkest moments and reveals how it became a catalyst for revolutionary change in organisational culture. Following the 2003 Columbia space shuttle disaster that claimed seven astronauts' lives, NASA's investigation uncovered a shocking truth: the agency's culture was as much to blame as the technical failure itself. What makes this even more striking is that NASA had been rated the #1 place to work in the federal government just months before the tragedy, challenging everything we think we know about workplace culture.

Dr. Gallaher, who spent nearly eight years leading NASA's culture transformation, shares how invisible forces like the "save the programme" mentality and lack of psychological safety prevented engineers from speaking up about critical safety concerns. She provides actionable insights on creating psychological safety, the power of leader vulnerability, and why optimising human dynamics is the ultimate competitive advantage. Her key message: culture change isn't a one-time fix—it's an ongoing commitment that can literally be the difference between success and catastrophic failure.

If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com

You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2

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Tracy Clark discovered that two simple words - "let's play" - consistently transformed her stressed, visionary clients by shifting them from fear into a creative, exploratory mindset. Rather than frivolous activity, play represents a powerful leadership state built on intense curiosity, radical open-mindedness, and proactive experimentation.

Tracy emphasises that effective leadership starts with self-leadership, using her "tree model" where visible strategy and actions (the trunk) must be supported by deeper roots of mindset and self-concept to weather storms. Practical applications include challenging assumptions by asking "what if that's not true?", entering meetings with questions rather than answers, and creating psychological safety for team co-creation.

For skeptics, play isn't about ping pong tables but about removing the "straight jacket" of limitations to use your whole brain - logic plus intuition, imagination, and creativity - ultimately slowing down to speed up through better ideas and breakthrough solutions.

If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com

You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2

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In this episode of Helping Organisations Thrive, Julian sits down with consultant, coach, and facilitator Yvonne Guerinaeu to explore what it means to get people "in their element" at work. Yvonne, author of "People in Their Elements," shares her passion for creating authentic human connections in the workplace and discusses how leaders can help their teams perform at their best by fostering psychological safety and genuine relationships. She emphasises the importance of face-to-face interaction, describing herself as working "tech-free wherever possible" to create those magical moments when people truly connect and feel understood.

The conversation delves into practical strategies for leaders looking to build stronger teams through human connection. Yvonne explains how normalising different behaviours and thinking styles can create psychological safety, allowing team members to bring their authentic selves to work. She offers concrete advice on moving beyond the traditional "open door policy" to more intentional relationship-building, such as changing your daily routine to naturally encounter team members and creating meaningful one-to-one meetings that serve the individual rather than just the manager's agenda. Throughout the discussion, both of us highlight the critical role of presence, active listening, and the power of silence in building trust and understanding within teams.

If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com

You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2

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