In the fifth post of a series on how the Star Trek captains would measure up as leaders of the corporate world, we are examining the leadership style of Captain Kathryn Janeway. Under the direction of Janeway, the crew of the starship, Voyager, explored the uncharted Delta Quadrant as they struggled to make it back to their home in the Alpha Quadrant.
Just as Picard is viewed as the patriarch of the Enterprise, Janeway certainly comes across as the matriarch of Voyager. Her leadership style is very reminiscent of what we think of as a good mother. She is warm and caring and places a lot of trust in her crew. Nevertheless, like any good mother, she has her fingers on the pulse of the ship and always knows what is going on in the lives of each of her crew members. Janeway is friendly and open, but never chummy. Try to step over that line and she will quickly remind you that she is first, and foremost, the captain.
It is true that, occasionally, Janeway lets her emotions influence her decisions, but that same tendency makes her more compassionate and supportive toward the weaknesses of her crew. Undoubtedly it is her big heart that inspires such total loyalty as we saw in the episode, "The 37's." Only a captain like Janeway could have helped a Borg re-discover her own humanity.
However, how would Janeway's style of leadership translate in the corporate world? Is she too "warm and fuzzy" to face down the competition? It wouldn't seem likely, given her track record. Despite a skeleton crew and minimal resources, Janeway manages to defeat such powerful opponents as the Borg and Species 8472. I don't doubt that she would get the upper hand in any attempt at a hostile takeover.
She also seems uniquely adept at reaching her goals. In Star Trek: Voyager, Janeway's primary goal was to get the ship and crew back to the Alpha Quadrant; a trip that should have taken 75 years. Through a combination of tenacity and networking (yes, those relationships that she developed along the way really paid off), she manages to get the ship home in just seven. I'm sure that same determination and indomitable spirit would be evident in her corporate dealings.
Working for Janeway would be no picnic. Like all Federation captains, she has a very high standard for her crew and expects 100 % from them every day. However, she would be a fair and caring boss who would be willing to help you out in a personal crisis instead of handing out a pink slip. Her goals for you and the company would be clearly outlined and she would work alongside her employees to accomplish them.
However, there might be some conflicts under her leadership. Present-day America has not yet reached the idyllic level of equality found in the Federation. Not everyone might feel comfortable working under a woman- and especially a strong-willed woman like Janeway. This could very well cause problems within the ranks that weren't there on Voyager. Working for Kathryn Janeway in a primarily male-dominated industry might have more challenges than might be expected.
Next week, we'll look at the fifth, and final, Star Trek series: Enterprise, and take a look at how its captain, Jeffrey Archer, would perform in the corporate world.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Benjamin Sisko, Chairman of the Board?
As the fourth post in a series investigating which Star Trek captain would make the best CEO of a company, we are looking at Captain Benjamin Sisko of the space station, Deep Space Nine.
Unlike his Star Trek predecessors, James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisko is not widely-known. His series, Deep Space Nine, did not follow in the footsteps of TOS and TNG, but was a spin-off of TNG. Instead of being on a starship, the action takes place aboard a space station orbiting Bajoran, which had formerly been under Cardassian rule, but had come under the joint administration of the Federation and the Bajoran Provisional Government. The station maintains a Star Fleet flavor, but its occupants are primarily civilians. In a nutshell, DS9 is most reminiscent of an international airport, with its constant influx of travelers, shops, and bar. Star Trek enthusiasts either loved the series- or hated it.
The unique dynamics of the series actually gives us a better idea of how its leader, Captain Benjamin Sisko, would perform in a corporate world since his character must deal with a lot of the elements of running a company. We see Sisko dealing with mergers (as he works through the difficulties of merging Bajoran and Star Fleet staff), public relations (between the Federation and dozens of species), and even the occasional attempt at a hostile takeover ( as in "Invasion Procedures"). Through these events, Sisko proves his ability as a corporate leader.
But what of the man himself? In the series, Sisko proves himself firm, but fair. He holds others to a high level of excellence, but uses the same yardstick for himself. Like Kirk and Picard, his fellow Star Fleet officers follow him willingly, but Sisko is also able to inspire a following among the civilians on the station; who look up to him as a leader; and, among the Bajoran, even as a spiritual emissary. Though a warm and loving father, that persona does not bleed over into his leadership style. Rather, Sisko is more of a take-no-crap captain who expects you to get the job done and doesn't want to hear about your personal problems.
Though Sisko inspires a confidence in his ability to lead, he just doesn't seem to inspire the affection that Kirk does or the engender loyalty as Picard does. This seems evident in the fact that his character is one of the least favorite of the captains, even though he is often characterized as the most realistic of the group. And since we are talking about how Sisko would perform in the real world, we can be certain that he would successfully captain any company just as satisfactorily as he captained Deep Space Nine.
Unlike his Star Trek predecessors, James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisko is not widely-known. His series, Deep Space Nine, did not follow in the footsteps of TOS and TNG, but was a spin-off of TNG. Instead of being on a starship, the action takes place aboard a space station orbiting Bajoran, which had formerly been under Cardassian rule, but had come under the joint administration of the Federation and the Bajoran Provisional Government. The station maintains a Star Fleet flavor, but its occupants are primarily civilians. In a nutshell, DS9 is most reminiscent of an international airport, with its constant influx of travelers, shops, and bar. Star Trek enthusiasts either loved the series- or hated it.
The unique dynamics of the series actually gives us a better idea of how its leader, Captain Benjamin Sisko, would perform in a corporate world since his character must deal with a lot of the elements of running a company. We see Sisko dealing with mergers (as he works through the difficulties of merging Bajoran and Star Fleet staff), public relations (between the Federation and dozens of species), and even the occasional attempt at a hostile takeover ( as in "Invasion Procedures"). Through these events, Sisko proves his ability as a corporate leader.
But what of the man himself? In the series, Sisko proves himself firm, but fair. He holds others to a high level of excellence, but uses the same yardstick for himself. Like Kirk and Picard, his fellow Star Fleet officers follow him willingly, but Sisko is also able to inspire a following among the civilians on the station; who look up to him as a leader; and, among the Bajoran, even as a spiritual emissary. Though a warm and loving father, that persona does not bleed over into his leadership style. Rather, Sisko is more of a take-no-crap captain who expects you to get the job done and doesn't want to hear about your personal problems.
Though Sisko inspires a confidence in his ability to lead, he just doesn't seem to inspire the affection that Kirk does or the engender loyalty as Picard does. This seems evident in the fact that his character is one of the least favorite of the captains, even though he is often characterized as the most realistic of the group. And since we are talking about how Sisko would perform in the real world, we can be certain that he would successfully captain any company just as satisfactorily as he captained Deep Space Nine.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of Industry?
Instead of entering the age-old debate of which Star Trek captain is the best, I am examining each in the light of how they would measure up as a corporate CEO. In this third installment, I will be looking at the pros and cons of working at a company "captained" by Star Trek's Jean-Luc Picard; having already put Captain James T. Kirk under the microscope.
Picard's style of leadership might most be termed as patriarchal in nature. As the oldest of the captains of the Enterprise, it isn't surprising that he became a father figure to his crew- and to the viewers. Picard seemed to believe the old adage that familiarity breeds contempt because he kept a firm, arm's length between himself and the men and women who served under him. However, his approach did not come across as cold and indifferent, but rather the unshakable confidence of an experienced leader. So, while his crew would hardly be chummy with him, they would feel that they could come to him for advice and help on any issue.
The Next Generation's captain was much more cautious and pedantic than the other captains; probably due to his age, his nature, and the era to which he was born. He was more intent on maintaining the final frontier than exploring it and tended to be inflexible and a little too wrapped up in himself and his image. However, Picard certainly loved his ship and his crew; and was willing to lay down his life for either.
In the business world, Picard's leadership style would make for a pleasant work atmosphere, but might not inspire the loyalty that Kirk would. Like children are prone to do, his employees might decide to eventually leave home to make a name for themselves, but he seems the type to be willing to help further their career, even if it means working for the competition. He would most likely guide the company on the safest path, rather than taking innovative risks; so his workers would probably have job security but his company would be unremarkable. Overall, working under Picard in the corporate world, would be a safe (if dull) job. And honestly, when it comes to earning a living, that isn't such a bad thing.
Picard's style of leadership might most be termed as patriarchal in nature. As the oldest of the captains of the Enterprise, it isn't surprising that he became a father figure to his crew- and to the viewers. Picard seemed to believe the old adage that familiarity breeds contempt because he kept a firm, arm's length between himself and the men and women who served under him. However, his approach did not come across as cold and indifferent, but rather the unshakable confidence of an experienced leader. So, while his crew would hardly be chummy with him, they would feel that they could come to him for advice and help on any issue.
The Next Generation's captain was much more cautious and pedantic than the other captains; probably due to his age, his nature, and the era to which he was born. He was more intent on maintaining the final frontier than exploring it and tended to be inflexible and a little too wrapped up in himself and his image. However, Picard certainly loved his ship and his crew; and was willing to lay down his life for either.
In the business world, Picard's leadership style would make for a pleasant work atmosphere, but might not inspire the loyalty that Kirk would. Like children are prone to do, his employees might decide to eventually leave home to make a name for themselves, but he seems the type to be willing to help further their career, even if it means working for the competition. He would most likely guide the company on the safest path, rather than taking innovative risks; so his workers would probably have job security but his company would be unremarkable. Overall, working under Picard in the corporate world, would be a safe (if dull) job. And honestly, when it comes to earning a living, that isn't such a bad thing.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Captain James T. Kirk, CEO
As I mentioned in my last post, the debate continues to rage over which of the five Star Trek captains was the best. Rather than rehash that discussion, I plan to look at each one and examine how they would measure up at the helm of a corporation rather than a starship. I'll let you, my readers, decide which captain you would prefer to work for at your company.
First on the list, as he was first to appear on television (though not chronologically first) is Captain James Tiberius Kirk. As a captain, what is there not to love about a dashing leader who is good with his fists and good with the ladies? Kirk is charismatic, innovative, and a risk-taker. He expects a lot of his crew, but is not a slave driver. One of his most defining characteristics is his refusal to accept defeat,as evidenced by his rigging of the Kobayashi Maru test.
How would those qualities translate into the corporate world? As the head of a business, Kirk certainly has the drive and ambition to be successful. His innovative thinking could certainly lead him to open new frontiers in his field of business. His unorthodox and often risky way of doing things might propel him to the top of his field or, just as easily, bankrupt him. However, even if the worst happened, his inability to to admit to defeat would not keep him down for long. He'd be back at the helm of another company in no time.
What would it be like to work for James T. Kirk? I believe that his charisma would make him a popular boss and engender loyalty among his employees. Unfortunately, that loyalty may not be reciprocated. Though he is friendly and compassionate toward his underlings, it is unlikely that he will remember your name- unless you are one of the chosen few that make up his inner circle. In addition, his spontaneity might be a bit to take on a daily basis. His workers might come in one day and find that Kirk has decided to head the company in a completely different direction because a new idea has popped into his mind.
And what about the women? In today's workplace, a womanizer is a sexual harassment suit waiting to happen. However, it is unlikely that Kirk would suffer from this fate. If you will notice, in the series, Kirk keeps his escapades off the ship. With the exception of the forced kiss (Plato's Stepchildren) and some extenuating circumstances (The Enemy Within), there is no hanky-panky with women under his command- despite the obvious attraction between him and Yeoman Rand. He might sleep with his business associates, but never with his employees.
Overall, it would be exciting and exhilarating to work for James T. Kirk, but professionally it could be a gamble. Kirk would always be willing to take risks to reach his goals, but would any of us really want to live like that at work?
First on the list, as he was first to appear on television (though not chronologically first) is Captain James Tiberius Kirk. As a captain, what is there not to love about a dashing leader who is good with his fists and good with the ladies? Kirk is charismatic, innovative, and a risk-taker. He expects a lot of his crew, but is not a slave driver. One of his most defining characteristics is his refusal to accept defeat,as evidenced by his rigging of the Kobayashi Maru test.
How would those qualities translate into the corporate world? As the head of a business, Kirk certainly has the drive and ambition to be successful. His innovative thinking could certainly lead him to open new frontiers in his field of business. His unorthodox and often risky way of doing things might propel him to the top of his field or, just as easily, bankrupt him. However, even if the worst happened, his inability to to admit to defeat would not keep him down for long. He'd be back at the helm of another company in no time.
What would it be like to work for James T. Kirk? I believe that his charisma would make him a popular boss and engender loyalty among his employees. Unfortunately, that loyalty may not be reciprocated. Though he is friendly and compassionate toward his underlings, it is unlikely that he will remember your name- unless you are one of the chosen few that make up his inner circle. In addition, his spontaneity might be a bit to take on a daily basis. His workers might come in one day and find that Kirk has decided to head the company in a completely different direction because a new idea has popped into his mind.
And what about the women? In today's workplace, a womanizer is a sexual harassment suit waiting to happen. However, it is unlikely that Kirk would suffer from this fate. If you will notice, in the series, Kirk keeps his escapades off the ship. With the exception of the forced kiss (Plato's Stepchildren) and some extenuating circumstances (The Enemy Within), there is no hanky-panky with women under his command- despite the obvious attraction between him and Yeoman Rand. He might sleep with his business associates, but never with his employees.
Overall, it would be exciting and exhilarating to work for James T. Kirk, but professionally it could be a gamble. Kirk would always be willing to take risks to reach his goals, but would any of us really want to live like that at work?
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