Leadership Styles and Communication in Crisis Situations

This assignment explores the concept of behavioral leadership in space exploration, specifically focusing on the leadership styles and communication strategies used by prime flight controllers and flight commanders in crisis situations. It examines the roles of Gary Yukl and Jim Lovell during the Apollo 13 mission, highlighting their effective leadership and communication skills that helped to save the astronauts' lives. The assignment also references various studies and research papers on shared leadership, teamwork, and engineering motivation, providing a comprehensive understanding of leadership in space exploration.

Leading ChangesLeading Changes

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
Q1. SELF UNDERSTANDINGS....................................................................................................1
Yukl’s ‘Taxonomy of Leadership Skills’...............................................................................1
Q2. TECHNICAL SKILLS.............................................................................................................2
Technical Skills of team members Gene Krantz....................................................................2
Q3. INTER PERSONAL SKILLS- TEAMS AND MOTIVATION..............................................4
Goal setting and Motivation by Gene Krantz.........................................................................4
Effectiveness of statements....................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is a key feature of a project from the beginning till to end. Most of the
projects get failed due to lack of effective leadership as per needs. This assignment is based on
Hollywood movie “Apollo 13” which was released in 1995 based on the NASA's mission Apollo
13. This mission was known as “successful failure” as this spacecraft got technical damage but
NASA has successfully saved their astronauts. This assignment will cover Yukl's Taxonomy of
leadership skills as well as technical and interpersonal proficiencies which have been shown in
the movie.
TASK
Q1. SELF UNDERSTANDINGS
Yukl’s ‘Taxonomy of Leadership Skills’
Gary Yukl has done huge research on leadership subject and he finds that leadership
behaviours can be categorized in to three main meta-categories which are Task Oriented,
Relations Oriented and Change Oriented (Yukl, G., 2012). These all classifications are based
on the behaviours of leaders in to their team. A leader has to use an effective leadership style to
deal with in a situation or he can use a particular leadership style in different situations which
can help to them to lead their subordinates in an effective manner. All of these classified
leadership behaviours are focused on employees, production and changes. Task oriented
behaviours of leaders are having targeted on the huge working abilities of employees. Relations
oriented behaviours are based on the commitments and personal relations. Change oriented
behaviours of leaders are focused to make innovative changes and adapt to it in the organisation.
A table is here to define meta-categories;
Task Oriented Behaviours Relation Oriented
Behaviours
Change Oriented Behaviours
Short Term Planning Supporting External Monitoring
Clarifying Responsibilities Developing Envisioning Change
Monitoring Performance &
Operations
Recognizing Encouraging Innovative
Thinking
Consulting Taking Personal Risks
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Empowering
Task oriented behaviours are classified in to three major parts, short term planning is the
key feature of this because it helps to team members to accomplish their work in to sub divisions
(A HIERARCHICAL TAXONOMY OF LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR BY GARY YUKL. 2013.). It
supports to employees or team members to work within a sequence and manage their work. It is
an effective thing that leaders has to explain responsibilities of each and every employee or team
member which can help to work accordingly and fulfilment their duties. Monitoring is a part of
task accomplishment to retain qualitative work in operations and performance. Leaders can
collect data and information with their subordinates regarding to the performance of their
different teams which can help them to analyse the strong and weak teams regarding t6o their
work objectives (Wang, Waldman. and Zhang, 2014). Relations Oriented Behaviours are mainly
divided in to five parts which are mentioned in the above presented table. Some leaders focuses
on their relationship in between their team members, they provide their proper support in their
problematic situations and provide their subordinates an appropriate guidance which supports
them to develop effectively (Zhu, Zhao and Chun Zhu, 2015). These leaders are having extreme
analysing skills which helps to them to recognise the needs of employees which can help to them
to make a better change in the performance of team members. According to this category leaders
are participative within his team to take better decisions and empower them to provide
opportunities. Change leadership behaviours is categorized in to four categories, external
monitoring related to those organisation which are based on the external factors so leaders has to
conduct monitoring. Leaders leads from front by creating some innovative strategy to make a
change in the organisation which can help to them to make a better working environment in the
organisation. Leaders use their experience and expertise to deal with risks and problems behind
these changes. So in a concluded manner it can be said that leadership skills are based on mainly
on leader's behaviours.
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Q2. TECHNICAL SKILLS
Technical Skills of team members Gene Krantz
Apollo 13 was the mission of NASA and it has stated as a “successful failure” due to
accident happen in this spacecraft. Jack Swigert which was American Test pilot wast the
mechanical and aerospace engineer on Apollo 13 spacecraft. He was less experienced and he has
replaced Ken Mattingly due to his bed health. When he was controlling this flight, he switched
on Oxygen supply on auto mode and sudden blast happen in Oxygen tank (Preparing With the
Apollo 13 Crew. 2017.). Insulation shield got damaged by this accident and master alarm has
started blink. Many warning alarms has started one after one and computer system was not
working properly in that condition so flight commander Jim Lovell has restart their computer
system. Jim has depth knowledge about used computer system in their flight and restarting is the
final solution of a computer system which got damage by external errors. All sudden things
which are happen puzzled to Jim, his calmly understanding the situation which can help to him
to get best solution for these problems. These all information regarding to sudden process in the
spacecraft were transferring in the NASA control room. Second oxygen tank got damaged and it
pressure going down in a fast manner. This condition has made a hustle in the workings of the
team members in the control room of NASA. These all sudden things has puzzled to Prime
Flight Controller Gene Kranz and they appealed to all team members to work and communicate
appropriately. Gene Kranz did not understand these all sudden things and he consult with data
controller to identify that this all sudden changes in their monitoring was instrumental problem
or a real problem is facing by their astronauts in space. Now Kranz was totally dependent on the
astronaut's skills, abilities and expertise. Jim Lovell was disable to make a proper control on the
spacecraft due to this sudden blast in the Oxygen tank. This O2 tank was linked hydraulics and
heaters which has a created a huge problem to control and maintain this space craft in safe orbit.
Gene was only can guide to their astronauts in this condition but finally decisions were taken by
the flight commander in their own situations. Jim Lovell was most travelled person in Space and
they have more than 700 hours working experience in space so now flight controller was totally
based on their expertise to deal with these kind of circumstances (Astronaut Jim Lovell: Apollo
13 Commander. 2013). Jim Lovell wanted to retain their craft in to the safe orbit they were
unable to stay it. As Jim Lovell was most experience person and working on the senior position
in their team, they were having power to take better decisions according to the needs of that
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worst situation. Gene was restless here to do something which they can but this was the situation
in which he can't do anything for their team which was suffering from a bed accident. Jack
Swiggert was less experienced candidate in that team of astronauts and he was not having a
positive attitude while working in the team which shown the lack of team work skills in him. But
he was only expert in Command Module in on the flight and in needed time he has give his best
as per the instructions given by the NASA station. Less experience ruled on him to manage
situations so he has not write down accurate and all guidance parameters procedures from CSM
to Lunar Module. Jim Lovell was calm and passionate for his work so he was successfully
coordinating their team in an appropriate manner.
So, overall, it can be concluded that flight controller was having great skills but this time
he has to depend on their crew members. Jim and his team in cockpit has used their skills to use
Lunar system as engine to took them on earth. Landing with just watch and aero speed meter
shows their abilities to analyse external situation for better landing.
Q3. INTER PERSONAL SKILLS- TEAMS AND MOTIVATION
Goal setting and Motivation by Gene Krantz
Krantz has used his informal communication skills to deal with this problematic situation
in an appropriate manner. In the first he said to his team members to forget their earlier flight
plan, he set new goals in front of their team members regarding to return their astronauts safely
back to earth (Zhu. and Meuth, 2015). He used normally blackboard to explain what the situation
of spacecraft and where they want to take it in some time. As they have only one engine which
was working in the spacecraft and he explain the whole situation with engine charts and
diagrams on board. It helped them a lot to frame a situation in their team members and get back
their feedback, suggestion on their new recovery plan (Apollo 13. 2017.). He stated to his team
members that this was the situation in which they have to use their resources in life saving
equipment. He explained to their team members that this was the time when they have to forget
their earlier planning and objectives of resources (Hu. and Liden, 2015). He explained everything
in front of their team members and gave solutions for each problem by this kind of attitude he
spread out a positive environment in the whole team. He has worked as a team leader to explain
the situation which is essential. Front leading qualities were shown by him which delivers belief
in his subordinates that they can win on the crucial situation. He has set priorities of team which
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helps to determine goals with deadlines which can help to them to get back their members safely
on earth. Front lead position has motivated their team members and spread out a positivity in
them which helped them to make better solution against the situation.
Effectiveness of statements
In class room session he said to their team members that 'Failure is not an option', he has
said this statement in that situation when his team members has not believed on their
explanation. He motivated their team members appealed to their people that this was not an
option to opt. It was effective to make their team members motivated which can help to them to
bring safe their astronauts on earth. Another dialogue from Jim Lovell “I intend to go home” was
for their subordinates members in that spacecraft to motivate them to being positivist about their
future. This statement was effective to deal with situations because most of the team members
were demotivating and threatened about their life explosion.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above mentioned assignment, it can be concluded that Garry Yukl has
classified behavioural leadership in meta-categories. It has been found that prime flight
controller and flight commander are calm and passionate about their work which supports them
to work in these changing situations. Their communication and leading skills supports them to be
successful in these worst conditions.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hu, J. and Liden, R.C., 2015. Making a difference in the teamwork: Linking team prosocial
motivation to team processes and effectiveness. Academy of Management Journal. 58(4).
pp.1102-1127.
Wang, D., Waldman, D.A. and Zhang, Z., 2014. A meta-analysis of shared leadership and team
effectiveness.
Yukl, G., 2012. Leadership in Organisations, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Zhu, H. and Meuth, R.J., 2015. Assessment of communication, teamwork, and engineering
motivation in inter-disciplinary projects implemented in an introduction to engineering
course. American Society for Engineering Education. In American Society for
Engineering Education Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.
Zhu, Y., Zhao, Y. and Chun Zhu, S., 2015. Understanding tools: Task-oriented object modeling,
learning and recognition. In Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision
and Pattern Recognition (pp. 2855-2864).
Online
Preparing With the Apollo 13 Crew. 2017. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/haise.html>. [Accessed on 16
September 2017].
A HIERARCHICAL TAXONOMY OF LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR BY GARY YUKL. 2013.
[Online]. Available Through: <https://timeistheessence.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/a-
hierarchical-taxonomy-of-leadership-behavior-by-gary-yukl/
+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk>. [Accessed on 16 September 2017].
Apollo 13. 2017. [Online]. Available Through:
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/plotsummary#synopsis>. [Accessed on 16
September 2017].
Astronaut Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 Commander. 2013. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.space.com/20320-astronaut-jim-lovell-apollo-13-biography.html>.
[Accessed on 16 September 2017].
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