Tools and practices aiding Self-reflection and as a result increasing Self-/Awareness operate practically along the same lines across various disciplines since human nature is at their very foundation.
As I have been watching the developments with SpaceX, launches having become more of a routine, I was curious how Leadership Development worked in the preparation of astronauts.
Inspired to explore this, since I know how much Self-/Awareness matters in Leadership impact. Increasing it can sway a Leader's impact into a positive, a lack thereof into a more negative direction.
I was imagining how we can create a well-working society under extreme and unknown circumstances, especially when we are still to master it on this planet we are currently on.
The question for ourselves: How do we prepare? How do we improve here and now?
Whether we are to stay on this planet or discover the galaxy.
I've been interested in Leadership patterns since the 90s, my childhood and then teenage years. First inspired by novels, history and then character development in space, like Star Trek's TNG (when after the system change, Western TV shows started to roll out beyond the "fallen Iron Curtain").
At university, I studied political sciences (next to German studies), but decided to follow a path where I saw more potential to add value.
Today I see our Self-actualisation and -transcendence as a continuous discovery. Built upon our Core Values and Character.
For Self-reflection:
What have you always been inspired by when it comes to shaping your Leadership?
What are recent adjustments you have made in your Leadership practice?
How has feedback helped you to hone your Character?
How much time is built into your habits to consume information that can help you progress?
How much quality Self-reflection time do you regularly have?
In recent years the amount of pressure accumulating here on Earth is enough, to inspire any of us to look more into improvement options and at how we optimise both our personal Lives and collaborations - on the many levels we organise ourselves in personal and professional matters.
Since SpaceX has made rocket launches routine (329 launches as of this moment I'm writing this), I have been thinking in the past years about the realities of how we shall learn to take the best lessons from this planet and prevent creating the same destructive and corruptible structures on another.
Human nature being at the foundation of it, not just the advancement of technology.
Who love living on Earth, will understand (at least with time and a growing Awareness) to take responsibility and take care of improvements here already.
Connecting experiences has been and will remain a key to our collective success, I believe.
If we remain at the space mission example: While SpaceX superseded NASA in the matter of realising rocket launches as a routine, a reusable booster etc., the latter has decades of experience in behavioral research in ICE (isolated, confined and extreme) environments.
How do we prepare our people to master themselves and work in teams already here on Earth - preferably before embarking on a galactic mission?
For Self-reflection:
What is your daily compass you prioritise by? Is it a Bigger Picture, your Life Vision and your organisation's vision that help you steer choices?
How much do you feel you are bogged down by minutiae?
What is a for your well-working proportion of being aware of details while keeping in mind the bigger context you are operating in and lead by?
As I read through some of the psychological training materials NASA has published, it really shows the fundamentals aligned in terms of basic elements of hashtag#Selfreflection, Self-improvement and group dynamics optimisation tools, to be found in Coaching and Leadership Development and the preparation of AsCan (Astronaut Candidates, as I learned).
Most Self-/Awareness practices are about pausing, reflecting, discerning, choosing better.
The S.T.A.R. approach (source: Psychological Readiness Preparation for the 2013 US Astronaut Class) is a fine illustration of the alignment with that:
Stop and focus.
Think about the situation at hand.
Act on the chosen option.
Review the process and outcome.
I would also add a step 5 "Optimise" for ourselves, because that entails even more obviously the experimenting nature of Self-discovery.
More Self-reflection:
Knowing the theory is great, but how much is it applied?
You knowing that increasing Self-/Awareness makes you a better human being and Leader,
that if you can eliminate negative unconscious patterns can help you with improving your impact and your Life,
knowing that optimising your habits upgrades your everydays is one part of it.
How much and how well do you apply that Awareness and knowledge?
Even today. Right now.
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