Critical Knowledge inSight: Communication Lessons from the Columbia Tragedy

January 23, 2023

Good communication is a two-way street that requires those delivering and receiving communication to pay attention to some key rules to be effective.

In this video clip, lessons learned from NASA’s Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program (ACCLLP) are discussed with Michael Ciannilli who serves as the ACCLLP Program Manager. This segment discusses valuable lessons about communication that came from the Columbia tragedy. The full length video provides many valuable lessons.

Video key learning points:

1.
Communication lessons seem simple but are complex in day-to-day practice.
2.
Communication lessons are applicable across many parts of your life from work to personal situations.
3.
The quantity of communication methods such as text, email, and others does not take the place of the quality of communication.
4.
When you communicate you must make sure your audience is listening and receiving your intended message.
5.
Be careful of miscommunication and how you communicate and send information. Follow up any vital communication with a phone call or face-to-face meeting to make sure what was communicated was received and not misunderstood by the people on the receiving end.
6.
Communicate honestly about the lack of information or data. Many people don’t want to share what they don’t know but it’s good to be honest and willing to say “I don’t know.”