Robert Cabana, the Director of the Kennedy Space Center, was interviewed by Tom Fox at the Washington Post and gave a great discussion about what it means to be a leader.
One of the things that made him a successful leader is the passion that he has for the job. Ever since he saw the Wright Flyer at the Smithsonian he knew that he wanted to fly. His career in flight led him to the shuttle, which led him to where he is today. Because of this, he is passionate about what he does and energetic about the part that the Space Center plays in the world, and he channels that passion into his job.
But it’s more than that. He says that, especially in tough times, it’s helpful to be clear about the problems that lie in front of the team and to engage them in helping to develop solutions.
“I really believe in servant leadership,” he adds. “You have to put the welfare of your people above your own.”
As a Director, Cabana says that he is active in his employee’s lives. He spends time on the floor checking in with his team, asking them what they’re doing and seeing what is going on. As he puts it, “you’ll learn more from walking around on the floor than you’ll ever learn sitting in some conference room up on the top floor.”
