“‘All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.’ You could feel the wind at your back in those days. The sounds of the sea beneath you, and even if you take away the wind and the water it’s still the same. The ship is yours. You can feel her. And the stars are still there, Bones.” This is the last installment in our series reflecting on the leadership principles…
“Not chess, Mr. Spock. Poker. Do you know the game?” In one of my all-time favorite Star Trek episodes, The Carbomite Maneuver, Kirk and his crew face down an unknown vessel from a group calling themselves the “First Federation.” Threats from the crystal-shaped vessel escalate until it seems that the destruction of the Enterprise is imminent. Kirk asks Spock for options, who replies that the Enterprise has been playing a game of chess, and now…
“Risk is our business. That’s what this starship is all about. That’s why we’re aboard her.” Whenever an interesting or challenging mission came up, Kirk was always willing to put himself in harm’s way by joining the Away Team. With his boots on the ground, he was always able to make quick assessments of the situation, leading to superior results. Kirk very much believed in hands-on leadership, leading the vanguard of his crew as they explored…