Teams, Clown Clergy CEO

Failure happens and sometimes failure is hard to fix—especially when the failure happens in deep space. By following NASA’s lead, we can fix failure and find success.

Seeking earth-like planets, NASA launched the Kepler spacecraft. The mission went as planned for four years. Then failure caused Kepler to become unstable and spin out of control. In May 2013, one of Kepler’s four “rotation wheels” failed. Scientists feared that Kepler had become useless and the mission was over.

After working through their usual options, the ingenious NASA scientists decided to harness the power of the sun. The sun’s energy pushes hard against Kepler’s solar panels. They used this “solar push” as a force to help control the spacecraft. Instructing Kepler’s three other rotation wheels to push against the solar push, the scientists stabilized the spacecraft which can now focus on specific interstellar bodies.

The resurrected spacecraft made a startling discovery; some 180 light years from earth there are at least 8 planets similar to earth. And Kepler is still finding new “earths” to explore.

When something goes wrong we often assume that the mission is finished. By using these three NASA steps we can fix failure and our mission can succeed.

Identify the issue to be solved. So often we are distracted by the symptoms rather than the cause of the issue. Symptoms can be distracting (blood, fire, chaos), by concentrating on the core issue we identify what really needs to be solved (wound, gas line, poor business planning). The spinning Kepler craft was the symptom; the failure of stability control was the issue to be solved. Focus on resolving the issue and you’ll start moving away from failure.
Seek creative solutions. Quickly run through your usual problem solving strategies and eliminate all that won’t work. NASA couldn’t take Kepler to the repair shop. Look beyond your typical categories of resolution by asking questions that push you to explore ideas that never occurred to you. NASA asked what other forces could be used to stabilize Kepler. Look for the “solar energy” that can move you to find new solutions.
When the issue is resolved—move on. So often people wallow in blame and recrimination. Failure is part of success. Rehashing the failure unnecessarily distracts us from achieving success. Once NASA fixed the problem they went on with Kepler’s mission to identify new planets and, to date, found over 4,100 unknown planets.

Using the three NASA steps we harness ingenuity and initiative to fix failure and accomplishing our goals.

Learn more about the Kepler mission here.

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Tim Rhodes is a former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown, an ordained clergyman and former CEO of a $100 million multinational organization. He is an award-winning speaker, writer and coach. To contact Tim, email Tim@ClownClergyCEO.com

Please consider making an annual gift to the Methuselah Society for Centenarians where Tim is a founding member.

When I was a boy, my family gave our large upright piano to our next-door neighbors. The neighbors were a South Korean family, headed by a Christian pastor and his exuberant wife.

Since the neighbors were very small people, I wondered how they would move the massive piano out our door, down our steps, across the lawns and up the steps into the front room of the neighbor’s house. Surely, they needed help.

The morning of the move, eight small men arrived at our door. To my preteen self, these men seemed entirely unfit for the job. They were little taller than me and were just as scrawny. I knew I was unfit for the task and was amazed that these men would even attempt such a marvelous feat of muscle and coordination.

Working together, the team of eight assembled around the musical beast, quickly came to a strategy and lifted as one entity. With speed and grace, they moved across our floor, out the door and down the steps. I suspected they would stop at the bottom of the stairs. No. The team zoomed across the sidewalks to the neighbor’s steps and up and in the house they went. As the men set the piano in its new place, they cheered.

My brothers and I followed with the piano bench. The minister’s wife sat before the keyboard and played as the men joined in a hymn of praise.

The best part of the eight men moving the piano was the singing. Common experiences build stronger bonds. Together, the eight took pride in their joint effort and success. Shared joys are the sweetest and most enduring.

As leaders, we are often reluctant to build our teams. Among our egocentric excuses are

“I rank independence over collaboration”—Leaders value relationships of reciprocity
“I can do it better”—Leaders trust the team’s competency
“They won’t do it correctly”—Leaders empower teams find their best way
“I don’t have time to explain what I want”—Leaders take time to teach
“I want to be in control”—Leaders invite teams to own the challenge

BONUS!!! Celebrate your team’s success. Recognition builds trust and confidence.

Projects succeed when we empower teams with information and independence. As leaders, we must claw beyond our egos and the perception that we alone must know and do everything. We can’t and won’t ever have enough capacity to move the piano alone.

What is your secret to empowering your team? Email me and let me know. Tim@ClownClergyCEO.com

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Please consider supporting the husbandry projects of the Canadian College of Hippopotamus Dentistry & its William Claude Dukenfield endowed chair of Ostrich Podiatry. I am honored to serve as an at-large trustee of this fine institution.

3 Steps NASA Takes to Fix Failure

5 Tips to Improve Your Team – or how to move a piano