Dr. Z’s Blog

Supporting Others While Leading
Lukas Hefti Lukas Hefti

Supporting Others While Leading

As leaders, we can encourage and help others, without fanfare, beyond what is expected; or we can undercut others, and selfishly focus on our own goals. Even though we may be similarity successful initially, over time, the former approach leads to a lasting river of joy and support, the latter leads to one of disappointment and bad feelings.

I still remember walking into …

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Why I’m leaving NASA and the job I’ve loved most
Lukas Hefti Lukas Hefti

Why I’m leaving NASA and the job I’ve loved most

Stepping down well is an important leadership skill — and one that is rarely named or valued.

I will never forget standing in steamy French Guiana on 25 December last year as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) lifted into the sky on the Ariane 5 rocket. A fortnight later, I watched as the final wing of the telescope’s 18-segment primary mirror, the largest mirror ever built for space, seamlessly expanded into its fully deployed form. And months on, I looked — through teary eyes — at JWST’s first images. I was one of the first people on Earth to see the infrared Universe in high resolution.

For more than six years I have had a front-row seat for NASA’s science programme. Now it is time to give my seat to someone else…

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The Power of Yes and No
Lukas Hefti Lukas Hefti

The Power of Yes and No

There is much power in Yes! Finding a way to Yes! is finding a pathway to life-changing experiences, to entrepreneurial successes, valuable friendships, and even to love. Yes! is powerful.

This post, however is about the enormous power of No!, as a positive and life-changing force. In fact, the older I get, the more I recognize and appreciate the importance of No! to help guide my life, and focus on excellence…

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