Leadership Lessons from Astronauts

“If you don’t find absolute joy in other people’s success, being a leader’s probably not going to float your boat,” says today’s guest, Laurie Labra.Daniel and Peter welcome Laurie to this episode of The Leadership Growth Podcast for a fun and insightful conversation about leadership in a highly technical environment. Laurie is a vice president at KBR, Inc., leading the company’s Science & Space Human Exploration Division.Laurie brings great expertise to this conversation about leadership, and she shares some important insights about decision-making, developing new leaders, and communication.Tune in to learn:How to balance the tension between delivering technical excellence and maintaining strong team relationshipsWhy the mirror can be your best friend before a tough conversationThe one test you can never acePlus, the value of meeting new people, and how early career lessons can stick with you for the rest of your life.In this episode:0:59 – Introduction and Background4:28 – Leadership Lessons for the Next Generation10:39 – Achieving Technical Excellence Without Damaging People15:51 – Decision Making When You Don’t Have All the Info21:08 – Communication Tips27:51 – Lessons from Real Life32:59 – Meeting People35:29 – Lightning RoundResources:Laurie Labra LinkedIn ProfileKBR, Inc.Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:4 Steps to Effective Decision MakingWhat Cheetahs Can Teach Us About Decision-Making5 Ways Your Decision-Making Impacts Your Leadership Presence6 Traits of Leaders Who Deliver ExcellenceThe 5 Phases of TeamingThe Nine Dimensions of Successful TeamingThe 10 Rules for Amazingly High Performing TeamsThe 2 Levels in Every Conversation5 Questions to Answer Before Your Next Hard Conversation6 Tips for Improving Your Active Listening SkillsHigh-Performing Team GuideIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.