Innovation From Failure 📈

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Crisis For Apollo Thirteen

Back In 1970, about a couple hundred million miles from Earth and within the lonely dark emptiness of space, one of the oxygen tanks on Apollo thirteen exploded. A fault within the electrical system. A radio transmission by astronaut Lovell, "Houston, we've had a problem," started off the most dramatic demonstration of crisis innovation within the twentieth century.

The greatest problem that they went through during this crisis was a shortage of lithium hydroxide (LiOH), for cleaning carbon dioxide from the air supply. Within the landing module - where the crew was marooned - the inner stock of LiOH canisters wouldn't support the crew till return, and also the remainder was stored within the descent stage, out of reach.

Quick Thinking In Stressful Situations

In a beautiful show of raw brain power, the scientists within the ground crew had to in the moment improvised rapidly finding a way to use a different LiOH canister to draw air through them with a return hose. This left the astronaut known as the jury-rigged device "the mailbox", in what was a surprising demonstration that innovation is amplified throughout a crisis.

I believe there is an evolutionary reason for the amplification of innovation throughout crises. There is a term in neuroscience known as plasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's capability to change its organisation, referring to the acquisition of new skills and learning.

Natural Survival Instinct

Many decades ago, the accord was that the neocortical areas were changeless once a certain stage of development. However, recent studies determined that environmental changes might alter cognition by modifying neuron connections in adults. What is more, it had been determined that stress is that the key factor in boosting plasticity, and learning, within the nervous system.

In different words, once the going gets tough, the tough get going. The brain says to itself: "Oh, my survival is in danger. Therefore I'd better begin thinking and learning really right now." It's only if you've got skin within the game that you will really focus and learn.

Sure, we have a tendency to maintain the normal parts of innovation consulting, like ideation skills coaching and collaboration software applications, however, it had been clear to us that subsequent level of perseverance, cooperation and ability may be achieved solely by permitting bravery to rise and be established, in a very approach that unlocks the ability of the human mind and also the potential of the human spirit. it is the kind of courage that does not lose heart once you hear the words, "Houston, we have a problem."