Recently, I discovered an interesting article in USA Today titled “For NASA, ‘The Right Stuff’ Takes On A Softer Tone.” What caught my attention was that NASA has recognized that a successful astronaut cannot just have strong technical skills. This demanding position requires more – they have to be able to work in a close team environment. No longer does the individualist mentality work within the limited quarters of the Space Station and the lengthy stays there.
The new requirement of astronauts is to be a cooperative team player. He or she must have qualities that include: “tolerance,” “sensitivity,” “social skills,” and is “a people -person.”
This struck a chord for me because organizations world-wide have begun to understand that teamwork holds the best possibility for finding solutions to complex problems and enabling individuals and business to flourish. And now, one of the most technically demanding organizations in the world is recognizing that even space shuttle astronauts need to be team players to be highly successful.
I believe with the combination of technical skills and productive teamwork, organizations will reach new “heights” that they never thought possible.
