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.

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?