Lessons in Management and Life from Star Trek
[You don't have to know Star Trek to appreciate the Lessons]
LESSONS:
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JUMP TO LESSON:
001: Bypassed for promotion (Picard, Data)
002: Management authority challenged (Picard, Wesley)
003: Management offering apology (Picard)
004: Recognizing our differences (Crusher)
005: Love the body or the soul (Crusher)
006: Dwelling on mistakes (Picard, Worf)
007: Guilty of in-action (Picard, Wesley)
008: Management socializing with staff (Picard)
009: Crime of wasted time (Picard)
010: Bottom-line focused Management
011: Highlighting benefits to opponents (Picard)
012: Motivating with deadlines (Riker)
013: Falsely de-humanizing the enemy (Picard)
014: Key to success - meeting expectations (Picard, Riker)
015: When to use profanity (Picard)
016: Who dictates task assignment to staff (Picard)
017: Managing distracted employees (LaForge)
018: Adapting foreign cultures (Picard, Worf)
019: Using & abusing insider information (Picard, Worf)
020: Memories last (Data)
021: Risking rank and career (Picard, Data)
022: Where the journey exceeds the goal (Data)
023: We are never the villain
024: Finding comfort in hatred (Picard, O'Brian)
025: Replacing management (Worf)
026: No honeymoon period for new management
027: Leave well enough alone (Data, Worf, Wesley)
028: Un-cluttering for management role (Riker, Pulaski)
029: Should I accept the promotion? (Riker)
030: Matter of internal security (Picard)
031: Power of face-to-face (Picard)
032: A fresh start (Picard, LaForge)
033: Selfish evaluation of promotion (Picard, Riker)
034: Managing over-eager employees (Riker)
035: Managing effort and rest (Riker)
036: Promoting against personal dislikes (Riker)
037: Lose the fight before the battle (Riker, Guinan)
038: The moral choice (Picard)
039: Access to top management (Picard)
040: King of their domain (Riker, Troy)
041: Appreciate the other viewpoint (Picard)
042: Denying instinctive urges (Picard)
043: Attract by discouraging (Picard)
044: Bonding of hearts (Picard)
045: Duty over desire (Picard)
046: Confusing the child (Worf)
047: It's A Wonderful Life (Picard, Q)
048: Blinding conviction ignores truth (Picard)
049: Time passage essential to task (Crusher, Q)
050: Reprimand and encourage simultaneously (Picard, Riker)
051: Atmosphere of confrontation (Picard, Riker)
052: Invite not Death (Troy)
053: Responsibility for elderly care (Troy)
054: Guilty of self-righteous indignation (Troy)
055: Rules are not absolute (Picard)
056: Managers need not be oracles (Troy)
057: Suppressing feelings and emotions (Data)
058: Leadership trust in management (Picard, Data)
059: Management of work vs. personal priorities (Picard, Worf)
060: Root cause of child mis-behavior (Worf)
061: Only cowards have extra-affairs (Riker, Troy)
062: Overcoming personal bias for the right cause (Riker, Worf)
063: Unacceptable traditions and customs (Riker, Worf)
064: Genetic engineering (Picard)
065: A priori knowledge mandatory before meeting (Picard, Troy)
066: Managing hasty decisions (Picard)
067: Managing sudden loss of resources
068: Crayon is mightier than warp drive (Guinan)
069: Strongest man is he who stands alone (Picaard, Data)
070: Yesterday's enemy, today's friend (Worf)
071: Cultural heritage and assimilation (Worf)
072: Life preservers of old hatreds (Worf)
073: Managing policies and procedures outside the office (Worf)
074: Is ignorance really bliss (Worf)
075: Admitting guilt to upper management (Picard, Crusher)
076: Faith is not religion (Worf)
077: Recognizing Omniscience (Worf)
078: Public beatings of loud cell phone users (Worf)
079: Managing contentious employees (Data, Worf)
080: Management reprimand consequences (Data, Worf)
081: Is management involvement really necessary (Picard, LaForge, Data)
082: Managing your manager (Picard, LaForge, Data)
083: Repressed or confabulated memories (Troy)
084: Leadership air of confidence (Picard, Crusher)
085: The unspoken thought (Picard, Crusher)
086: Bearer of bad news (Picard, Data, Troy)
087: Dichotomy of the moral choice (Data, Troy)
088: Not afraid to promote those better than oneself (Riker)
089: Unchanging attributes (Riker)
090: Confronting harmful management directives (Picard)
091: When to obey harmful orders (Picard)
092: Drawing the line on following orders (Picard, Riker)
093: Mentoring the timid (Picard, Worf)
094: Unfair treatment for already-paid-for past mistakes (Picard)
095: Death is not the answer (Data)
096: The role of management (Troy)
097: Management actions for the greater good (Troy)
098: Addressing personal grudges (Riker, Worf)
099: Leadership in the face of underwhelming forces (Picard)
100: The omnipotent mind (Picard, Q)
101: Diffusing uncomfortable situations (Picard, Riker, Data, LaForge)
102: Relinquishing old habits and work responsibilities (Worf, LaForge)
103: Recognizing personal faux pas' (Picard, Crusher)
104: Finality in closing communications (Picard)
105: Circularity of apprehension, worry, stress and anxiety (Worf, Wesley)
106: The only one with whom we must compete (Picard, Wesley)
107: Resisting the changing wind (Worf)
108: From life to death to … (Worf)
109: Adapting to new management (LaForge, Troy)
110: Dwelling in the past (Picard)
111: Trust of true friendship (Picard, Troy)
112: The primitive society (Picard)
113: Selflessness vs. selfishness (Guinan, Wesley)
114: Management encouraging open discussion (Picard, Worf)
115: Understanding death (Picard)
116: Simpler times of yesteryear (Data, LaForge)
117: Learning from failure and defeat (Data, LaForge, Pulaski)
118: Uniquely human trait (Data, Guinan)
119: True test in the face of defeat (Picard, Data, Troy)
120: The partiality of recorded history (Picard)
121: Limitations in life (LaForge)
122: Assuaging fears of being alone (Picard)
123: Organic nature of building confidence (Troy)
124: Reaping success from disadvantage (Troy)
125: Danger of idle hands and minds (Riker, Troy)
126: Importance of proper training (Picard)
127: Mentoring new management (Picard, Wesley)
128: True rewards of management (Riker, Wesley)
129: Self-imposed trepidations of management (Pulaski, Wesley)
130: Management decision making process (Riker, Wesley)
131. Finding common ground (Picard)
132. Separation of personal and professional issues (Picard, Worf)
133. Cloaked in rank and title (Picard, Q)
134. Helping the underperformer (Picard, LaForge)
135. Dangers of nicknames (LaForge, Data, Wesley)
136. Personal culpability unrecognized (Data)
137. How to meet/pick up someone (LaForge, Guinan)
138. Bridging the gap between client and designer (LaForge)
139. Announcing your limtiations (Picard, Data, Crusher)
140. Filtering methodologies (Data, LaForge)
Lesson No. 001: Bypassed for promotion (Picard, Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Federation is about to go to war with the Romulans. Multiple Federation Starships have been called to the neutral zone. Capt. Picard is assigning senior officers to command some of the ships in the fleet. Every senior officer gets assigned a ship, except for Lt. Cmdr. Data. Data, a senior officer, inquires of Picard why he was not assigned a ship. Picard, realizing his oversight, quickly assigns Data a ship.
Lesson:
This is a classic management, or rather mismanagement issue. While Data is fully qualified for the promoted position, he is overlooked for promotion because he is an Android. Although Picard greatly respects Data, and had actually fought against Starfleet in Data's defense in the past, this one time, Picard just made a very human oversight.
How many times in your own career have you been the victim or the perpetrator of this conduct? Have you ever not received the assignment, the recognition, the promotion or even the right cubicle or office that you actually deserved? Sometimes, the omission by management is purely unintentional, as is the case with Picard and Data here. Regardless, in all such situations, YOU MUST SPEAK UP AND ASK WHY!
There is absolutely nothing wrong in asking why you were overlooked or bypassed. The answer you receive will tell you more about how you are perceived by management than any pat on the back or thumbs up during Happy Hour.
Just as all good sales people always ask for the deal before they leave a prospect, you should always ask for the right deal for you from your management, if you have been overlooked. If management should decline your request, you have lost nothing, but gained a precious insight into your possible career future.
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Lesson No. 002: Management authority challenged (Picard, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard and Ensign Wesley Crusher are on board a run-down, beat up shuttle that is captained by a rather contentious, sarcastic, scruffy looking fellow. The shuttle captain never misses an opportunity to express his disdain for the much, much larger and more powerful USS Enterprise by continually belittling his own shuttle craft in front of Picard.
After crash landing on a moon with desert-like features, Picard recommends the 3 of them head towards the mountain range in the distance to seek cover from the sun’s overwhelming heat. The shuttle captain immediately refutes Picard’s authority to decide what they all should do. Even though Picard is quantum levels higher in leadership experience and abilities, Picard does not openly challenge the shuttle captain. Instead Picard tells the shuttle captain that he appreciates the shuttle captain’s piloting abilities and welcomes his input, and asks if there is any alternative solution that Picard may have overlooked. The shuttle captain had no other solutions and resolved to follow Picard’s orders.
Lesson:
Here is an excellent example of true leadership. Leadership is less about leading others than it is having others follow you – voluntarily! History is filled with events where people have followed so-called leaders out of fear and not reverence. A true leader inspires others, including even those who may oppose him or her.
We all encounter people in life, especially at work, who through their own inferiority complex, manage to be very condescending and patronizing of others. Overtly suppressing such people by imposing management rank may appear to clear any potential problem issues, but in reality it only acerbates relationships and increases the rift among all involved. As a leader, or manager, one needs to emulate Picard’s actions here and first encourage useful, constructive dialogue in potential conflict situations.
Respect and loyalty to rank may be inherently obvious; however, our allegiance and faith lie in the individuals we seek to follow as leaders.
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Lesson No. 003: Management offering apology (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The crew of the Enterprise makes first contact with a planet that has entered into the space flight stage of their evolution; despite the advances in technology, the inhabitants of the planet remain in the Ptolemaic geocentric view of the universe.
Per Federation rules, an undercover Federation person (Cmdr. Riker) had been placed on the planet to observe the inhabitants. Due to a mishap involving Riker, Capt. Picard is forced to make the First Contact prematurely to save Riker’s life on the planet.
In greeting the leader of the planet, Picard is accompanied by a local scientist from the planet, who advises Capt. Picard to not mention Riker’s undercover presence on the planet, as it will be deemed a hostile action by the local inhabitants. Through a series of events, the planet’s leader discovers Riker’s presence and activities and questions Picard’s credibility and honesty for not having disclosed Riker's presence on the planet.
Instead of blaming the scientist, Picard immediately offers an apology and accepts the error in omission was his and not that of the scientist.
Lesson:
The lesson here is one of when to offer an apology. You will find there are many managers who are dogmatic in their notion that you should never apologize as it shows weakness on your part. It is very often true that these managers are also the same individuals who will whimper out apologies once confronted by their upper management or face losing a client due to their wrong-doing.
It is never wrong to offer apologies when you know you are in the wrong. It quickly diffuses potentially eruptive situations; it also shows the recipient your candor in wanting an honest association and your humility and confidence in yourself.
On the other hand, apologizing just for the sake of apologizing, especially when you are not sure that you are the one in error will prove detrimental.
Worst of all, be leery of anyone who uses the phrase “I regret…” This is never an apology. It is always an arrogant response from someone who is not at all sorry, but is being forced to express an apology by external forces. People in politics are notoriously culpable of this conduct.
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Lesson No. 004: Recognizing our differences (Crusher)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Dr. Beverly Crusher has a romantic relationship with an alien ambassador named Odon. Unbeknownst to Crusher, the male alien figure, with whom she is involved, is actually only a host body for the real Odon, who resides inside the host’s body. The actual Odon turns out to look quite a bit like a (15-20lbs) lobster that’s out of its shell!
Upon discovering the real Odon, Crusher damningly accuses Odon of not telling her about his true identity. Odon in turn tells Crusher that she never informed him that she was a single life-form. On Odon’s planet, symbiotic double life-forms are the norm and it never occurred to him that he had to announce it.
Lesson:
This is a perfect instance of an isolationistic viewpoint. Odon suffered from the prejudice and ignorance of not truly appreciating other life forms that were different from his own, and thus, led Crusher, unintentionally, into a fatal relationship.
If we are raised and live in an area where there is only one specific ethnic or cultural type of population that prevails, we are prone to the same risks as Odon, in that we fail to appreciate that there are other people in our world who have differences from us; differences that may range from introductory greeting methods (e.g. handshakes vs. bows) to completely opposite lifestyles and principles.
In the business world, one wrong gesture in a multi-cultural meeting can lead to disaster. Where no offense was intended, a serious insult may be construed. Where an assumption was made, a fact went unexplained. While it may not be necessary to first volunteer self-descriptive information in any business or personal relationship, it is definitely wise to first consider if the other side has the same fundamental understanding as you do, before you proceed.
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Lesson No. 005: Love the body or the soul (Crusher)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Dr. Beverly Crusher has romantic feelings for an alien ambassador named Odon. Odon is a fine figure of a male, very much like a human male, except for extra ridges along his forehead. The relationship begins to fall apart as Crusher finds out the male figure she has feelings for is really just a host body for Odon, and that Odon is actually an alien life form inhabiting the host body. In actuality, Odon’s real appearance is similar to a (15-20lbs) lobster, without the shell.
As the host body dies, Odon is moved into Cmdr. Riker’s body, without causing any harm to Riker. Crusher, who sees Riker as almost a brother, finds it difficult to continue her relationship with Odon in Riker’s body. Overcoming her reluctance, Crusher gives in to her feelings and accepts Riker as Odon. The final devastating relationship ending blow comes as Odon is moved out of Riker and into a new host body - a female host! Crusher fully rejects Odon and resigns herself to accepting that the time has not yet come for such a same-gender relationship to be acceptable to her.
Lesson:
The core issue here is one of personal relationships, best exemplified by Crusher’s self-inquiry about what was it she loved about Odon, his eyes, his smile, his face, or was it something more intrinsic - his soul, if you will. With Crusher, it was obviously difficult for her to separate the soul from the body as she completely rejects the notion of a relationship with Odon in a female host body.
This is a question we should all ask ourselves before entering into any relationship. Getting past the initial physical attraction has to be mandatory for there to be any continuity in the relationship. While the physical attributes are predominantly our first focal point in any attraction, it is also the first disposable item as time goes by. Only when there is appeal in other dimensions of the person, such as personality, intelligence, sense of humor, etc., is there any real chance of building a real relationship.
So, as independent adults, if we are able to connect deeply with another person at a level beyond their physical appearance, of what importance is the actual physical body? Within the realm of opposite gender relationships, there should be none - as shown vividly in the movie “Shallow Hal.”
In the case of Crusher’s final dilemma, same-gender relationships, the answers are not that easy. Today we are accosted with messages ranging from flagrant extrovert behavior that demands our acceptance of their lifestyles to extremist politicians dictating laws banning the lifestyles - which, eventually they themselves are caught practicing covertly. Somewhere in the middle is probably the right answer, buried deep within the ideal of “freedom of choice” and respective societies’ acceptable moral values.
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Lesson No. 006: Dwelling on mistakes (Picard, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The entire crew of the Enterprise loses their (identity) memories due to an attack by an alien. In trying to figure out who’s who, Lt. Worf’s aggressive instincts lead him to believe that he is the Captain of the ship (not Chief of Security, his real rank) and he takes command of the Enterprise. During this confusion, the Enterprise is drawn into a war by the alien responsible for the crew’s loss of memory.
After fixing the ship’s computer and learning of their true identities and rank, Worf approaches Capt. Picard and apologizes for erroneously assuming command. Picard does not reprimand Worf; rather, Picard tells Worf to think nothing of it and dismisses the issue immediately, and brings everyone’s focus back to the more urgent matter at hand - the war!
Lesson:
We all make mistakes. It’s all part of our human nature and human experience. Mistakes by virtue are errors in action, calculation, opinion or judgment that is caused by poor reasoning, carelessness or insufficient knowledge or experience. Mistakes are inadvertent and should not be considered as deliberate.
When employees and even managers make mistakes in their work or in their decisions, we need to focus on the big picture, like Picard. We should not dwell on the error and use it as leverage against the one who committed the mistake, but rather, be ready to turn the mistake into a learning opportunity.
By reprimanding and chastising the person for their mistake, a more fearful and therefore, less effective work environment is generated. Instead, through a review of the mistake, knowledge and experience are gained by everyone involved, repetition of same mistake in the future is avoided and a healthier, more supportive work environment is created.
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Lesson No. 007: Guilty of in-action (Picard, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cadet Wesley Crusher is involved in a cover-up of the real cause of an accident during a Starfleet Academy graduation ceremony space flight training show, which resulted in the death of a fellow cadet. During a Starfleet hearing about the accident, Wesley perjures himself with his testimony. When Capt. Picard discovers the truth about the cover-up, he gives Wesley an ultimatum, to either voluntarily reveal the truth or Picard will. Wesley rises to the occasion and tells the truth at the hearing and accepts his punishment.
Lesson:
Picard’s course of action was instinctive upon discovering the truth. When faced with the dilemma of knowing when something is a lie, how we handle the situation is a clear indication of our character, more than anything else.
In the world of business, we are sometimes confronted with situations where we become aware of wrong-doings perpetrated by fellow-employees, management or even the company as a whole. What is our path of action in this situation? If we are in the mindset of Picard, we take measures to expose the matter. However, in the real world, we stand to lose our job and perhaps even our future income by taking such steps. “Whistle-blowers”, as they are called, are clearly frowned upon by companies. However, the damage caused by not saying anything could be fatal, to the individual, the company and, in some cases, everyone else.
On a TV news documentary, Alan Greenspan, former secretary of the US Treasury (2000-2008) openly admitted he was aware that the unrestrained growth in the US housing market in the mid 2000’s would eventually face a collapse. He knew the growth was founded in unqualified buyers buying homes beyond their means, ratings companies elevating securities values unchecked and unregulated arbitrage income from mortgage-backed securities.
He knew all this and yet, he decided he could not be the one to halt the growth. We all know the results - global recession unlike any seen before. Alan Greenspan is not responsible for the global recession of the mid to late 2000’s; however, he was in a position to have a definitive proactive impact and yet, by his own words, he declined to act.
Management, above all others, must be held accountable for not only their actions, but also more importantly, their in-actions. Perhaps, if all those in management positions related to the housing mortgage crisis would have exercised Picard’s value-based judgments and spoken up, we might have averted the world-wide economic catastrophe.
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Lesson No. 008: Management socializing with staff (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
In the final scene of the final episode of the Next Generation series, Capt. Picard joins the senior officers of the Enterprise in their regular poker game, for the first time, and exclaims softly that perhaps he should have joined them in their game a long time ago, indicating his closeness to his senior officers. Quite appropriately, Counselor Deanna Troy replies to the Captain that he was always welcome to join them, anytime.
Lesson:
The issue of separation of rank and file is always a critical factor in the successful operations of any organization. It is easy to dismiss the extreme forms of management styles, from the mutiny inspiring literary character of Capt. Bligh, to the very lovable children’s show character of Capt. Kangaroo. Somewhere in between is the right balance of familiarity between the ranks. This is true not only between management and staff, but also between different levels of management.
Rank indicates authority. Authority demands respect. Without the respect for the rank, there would be no hesitation in questioning management’s every order and decision, causing constant disruption in operations.
The respect for the rank, however, must not come out of fear. Fear of rank eliminates trust and communications - both of which are mandatory for success. Management needs to maintain an open door policy, promoting communications (through the proper rank channels), candor in the decision process, sharing of non-classified information and above all, a willingness to listen.
Joining those one manages, at poker games, or at Happy Hours, or inviting them over for pool parties and picnics may seem to be a good notion on the part of the manager to bond with their staff; however, too much of such activities will imply that the manager wishes to be a “friend.” This is not to say that work associates cannot be friends. However, in order for management to be successful, someone has to lead and someone has to follow. This becomes difficult if both are deemed equal as “friends.”
In this one instance, I believe Picard was better off for not having joined his senior staff much earlier for their regular game of poker.
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Lesson No. 009: Crime of wasted time (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard’s mind is placed into an alternate reality by an alien probe. While in the alternate reality, Picard lives a lifetime as a family man (husband and father) on a planet doomed to extinction because of its dying sun. After discovering the inevitable fate of the planet, Picard advises his grown daughter to seize the time now and to live her life to the fullest, for the time will never come again.
Lesson:
This is by no means a new idea or message. We have all grown up with the phrases tempus fugit, carpe diem, smell the roses, live for today, etc., each intended to remind us to make the best use of today.
What this episode manages to do, however, is to highlight how often we disregard this very simple concept as we go about our day-to-day lives, worrying about the minutia of today’s events and how they might negatively impact us tomorrow……until it is too late!
Only when confronted with irreversible catastrophe, do we finally pause, to view the reality of the passage of time - and it need not always be a dying sun. All too often, it is the passing of a family member, or a loved one, or a friend, or the news of fatal illness that can jolt us into appreciating the very brief time we all have here on earth. The loss of life is given to us as a mandate of birth. What we do with that life in the interim is up to us. For all the time wasted in useless, unproductive thoughts and actions, may we truly be ashamed.
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Lesson No. 010: Bottom-line focused Management
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard is sent on an undercover mission by Starfleet and a new captain, Capt. Jellico, is placed in command of the Enterprise. Jellico is an individual that is wrapped up in playing role games in negotiations, unabashedly exerting his authority, dismissing the crew’s concerns and steamrolling over everyone, with the single focus of accomplishing his military goal.
Lesson:
Management - blindly focused on accomplishing a single goal, like the ‘bottom line’ - sound familiar?
While it is vital for managers to ensure that the company maintains the levels of earnings required for the business to be successful, it is also important for the management to appreciate the staff as individuals and people, instead of headcounts on monthly statements.
At one time or another we have all worked for or met the Jellico manager. These managers are always quick to remark, “Our people are our most valued asset.” This cliché is always received as a bold faced lie by everyone, including other managers, and reveals the exact opposite is true for the manager making the statement. These managers are also usually well noted for making the statement behind closed doors, “Tell them they are lucky to have jobs!” when referring to their staff.
Management is a difficult job. It is made more difficult if the staff is seen as menials, in servitude to the company, and not the solid foundation of the business requiring care and respect, especially from the management. Jellico and Picard display, respectively, these two attributes of command (management) styles very vividly in this episode.
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Lesson No. 011: Highlighting benefits to opponents (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
A Hologram image of the fictional character Moriarty, arch enemy of Sherlock Holmes, gains self-awareness within a Holodeck program, and seemingly exits the Holodeck and enters Capt. Picard’s reality. No one is able to explain how Moriarty managed this feat, including Moriarty.
Moriarty next takes control of the Enterprise and demands Picard not only figure out how Moriarty managed to leave the holodeck, but also use the information to bring Moriarty’s lady love, another fictional character in the holodeck program, into Picard’s reality.
Picard expresses how dangerous the process of transferring of a holodeck image might be, and asks Moriarty if they shouldn’t first wait until tests are completed before putting the Lady’s life at risk. Moriarty agrees and complies to wait.
Lesson:
In the face of a conflict situation, rather than aggravate matters by forcefully opposing, Picard employs a much more successful tacit method of negotiation.
In any negotiation, by highlighting to the opponent, the items of benefit and risk that directly impact them, we move the attention away from the “how”, to perhaps the more important “why”. While there can always be disagreement in the methods deployed to accomplish certain tasks, there should always be agreement on the purpose or goal of the assignment. To parallel Picard’s dilemma here, of what use is a quick delivery of a solution if the end result destroys the goal we are trying to achieve?
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Lesson No. 012: Motivating with deadlines (Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
While holding the Enterprise hostage and powerless to move, the fictional character Moriarty, from the Sherlock Holmes novels, tells Cmdr. Riker to resolve the technical problem of transferring a hologram image from the holodeck into the Riker’s reality world. To add to Riker’s dilemma, the Enterprise is within close proximity of two planets in the process of collapsing into each other, an event that will clearly destroy the Enterprise at its current distance. Moriarty uses the impending doom scenario to strengthen his negotiating position with Riker by stating that deadlines have a wonderful way of motivating.
Lesson:
What a great statement! As much as we all may dislike deadlines in our assignments, they are absolutely necessary and they should be looked upon as our guide and not an evil. True, sometimes deadlines can be miscalculated or misrepresented; however, when they are set right, they do allow for the natural progress of work and the proper alignment of resources and future projects.
Compared to our work assignments, how would we rate our work around the house? Without any firm deadline, do we not always procrastinate over cleaning out the garage, fixing the broken item, painting that one room, or even, getting around to reading that one book? Hopefully we don’t need the world coming to an end, akin to Riker’s situation, to motivate us to getting things done by a deadline.
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Lesson No. 013: Falsely de-humanizing the enemy (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard is taken as a prisoner-of-war by the Cardassians. While being questioned by a Cardassian, the interrogator’s Cardassian child asks, upon seeing the human Picard, if humans have mothers and fathers. The Cardassian interrogator replies that the humans do have parents, however, the human parents do not love their children as Cardassian parents do.
Lesson:
How often has man taken the same path when looking upon our own (human) kind as enemies? Depriving the enemy of all basic human qualities is quite often seen as a quick way to gain support for a cause. In making the enemy appear evil or incompetent or just plain inhuman, we elevate ourselves in righteousness to justify everything we do.
At one time or another, we all suffer from political or religious jingoism. Does that make us evil? If we don’t believe we are evil, then why shouldn’t our foes think the same way?
We need to see our enemies for where and why they oppose us, not belittle them and turn them into cartoonish caricatures. Enemies are real and should always be opposed. However, opposing by indoctrinating the masses into believing the enemy is inhuman is to perpetuate a one-sided lie and eventually leads to disaster and historical shame.
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Lesson No. 014: Key to success - meeting expectations (Picard, Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Jellico takes command of the Enterprise while Capt. Picard is away on an undercover mission for Starfleet. From the beginning, Jellico is unrelenting in making demands of the crew in a very strict and unyielding manner. As the crew try their best to adjust to the new captain’s methods and demeanor, Cmdr. Riker quickly becomes a foil for Capt. Jellico.
In one instance, Jellico orders Riker to launch a probe at a certain time, before arriving at their destination. Upon arriving at the destination, Jellico, while sitting with Capt. Picard, asks Riker (over the com system) if the probe had been launched yet. Riker responds in the affirmative and states that he didn’t realize Jellico wanted to be informed about the launch. Jellico displayed to Picard his dismay at Riker’s lack of professionalism and failure to follow-through.
Lesson:
This one interaction between Jellico and Riker exhibits one of the fundamental mistakes made by both staff and management, whenever they are in a new relationship, either with new management or with a new client.
Predicting the reactions of another person takes time, experience and diligent observation.
When a new manager or new client requests a certain task to be performed, it is always in the best interest of the task-performer to get, not only a clear understanding of the task requirements, but more importantly, the most clear and concise understanding of the requestor’s expectations for the assignment.
Quite often these two items are very different from each other. While the task itself may be deemed quite uncomplicated and easily achievable, it is always the expectations of the requestor that must be managed properly and receive the greater attention.
Not meeting expectations will always lead to some degree of failure. Sometimes, the expectations may be quite low and involve nothing more than perhaps just a timely weekly status report, or sometimes, they can be quite substantial and involve unsolicited actions, perks or benefits the requestor is expecting along with the task delivery.
Regardless of the degree of the expectations, failure to meet them will always cause disappointment for the requestor and, a disappointed management or client is never a good thing.
It may seem unfair, even unjust, that Jellico should admonish Riker for not informing him the probe had been launched, especially since Jellico never requested such an alert as part of the probe launch task. However, complaining and whining over having failed to meet undeclared expectations will benefit no one, least of all, the one complaining. Management and especially clients have no mandates to be forgiving in these instances. So, we need to use these occurrences as learning opportunities instead.
Through observations and direct querying, we begin to form the correct modus operandi for our new management or new client. Then, going forward, we are able to predict and satisfy their expectations, even when they are not stated directly.
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Lesson No. 015: When to use profanity (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Federation has signed a peace treaty with the Klingon Empire, however, tensions still exist. A Klingon Governor at a remote Klingon occupied planet in Klingon territory accuses the Federation of arming rebels on the planet to overthrow the Klingon occupation. The Enterprise arrives to investigate. In their first face to face encounter, the Klingon Governor curses out Capt. Picard in a vile Klingon native phrase. Picard gets right in the Governors face and swears back just as crudely in Klingon language. The Governor backs down by complimenting Picard on his usage of Klingon curses.
Lesson:
There are times in the art of negotiations, when civility may be misconstrued as servility. While we must always be in control of our emotions during negotiations and ensure that we not let our pre-conceived notions or prejudices be reflected in our reactions or remarks, it is crucial that we not back down from any gauntlet cast down before us in challenge. To do so would be to show weakness and assume a submissive posture in the negotiations. If the opposing party in negotiations is culturally prone to using cursing or some other action which we may find objectionable or repulsive, then we must first make an overt decision before entering into any discussions. Are the goals of the negotiations beneficial or profitable enough for us to engage the opposing party in dialog? If it is, then we must be willing to comply by their standards and match them tooth for tooth, nail for nail, and curse for curse...and like Picard, it would behoove us to first learn their language, both formal and colloquial.
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Lesson No. 016: Who dictates task assignment to staff (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
In order to prevent the Klingon empire from exploding into a civil war, Lt. Worf sacrifices his reputation and honor by accepting Discommendation, a title untrue of his deeds and yet bears the sign of the pariah and is recognized within the Klingon culture to reflect dishonor and disgrace.
When a Klingon High Counsel Emissary arrives on the Enterprise on route to resolve a war situation for the Klingon Empire, Capt. Picard assigns Worf to assist the Emissary. The Emissary immediately requests another assistant because of Worf's Discommendation. Picard declines the Emissary's request and states that, while he understands the reason behind the Emissary's request, as the Chief of Security on board the Enterprise, Worf is the best suited for the assignment and insists on not changing the assignment. The Emissary complies with the Captain's orders.
Lesson:
The question raised here is, where to draw the line in business between the company assigning personnel resources and letting the client dictate the selection. This is one of those times where perhaps the maxim "The Customer Is Always Right" may not be the best rule to follow.
From the company's view, we always want our customers to be satisfied with our service. However, to meet that goal we cannot sacrifice our business goals or the loyalty and trust of our employees. As ridiculous as it may sound today in the 21st century, there are still people in our world who will proudly and loudly exclaim they do not want a female assigned to their account; "Put a man on the job!" is their usual male, chest beating chant; or perhaps, if a client objects to having a person assigned to them who has a past criminal record, do we simply remove the person from the account, even if they have done nothing wrong on the job and only excelled in performance? By that account, shouldn't every CEO guilty of any wrong doing be shunned from any future employment?
It is always the responsibility and duty of management (and actually everyone), to fight these types of prejudices, wherever and whenever we may encounter them. We just need to ensure that the personnel we assign to customers are adept at serving the customer properly.
Unfortunately, we also need to be realistic and have to accept the fact that sometimes it is the lesser of two evils to comply with clients' prejudicial requests, such as if the loss of the client may severely damage or even sink the company. Taking a high moral ground is self-defeating, if by winning, we lose the very ground upon which we stand.
Akin to Picard, we should always fight for the cause first; however, if Picard were threatened with the departure of the Emissary as caused by Worf's assignment, Picard would have had no other choice but to comply with the Emissary's demands.
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Lesson No. 017: Managing distracted employees (LaForge)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Borg attack the Enterprise, the shields are down, phasers and photon torpedoes are proving useless in stopping the Borg attack and 18 crew members are killed in the attack. Chief Engineer, Jeordi LaForge and his team are desperately trying to get the shields back on line. A fresh new recruit, just having come on board is now facing trial under fire; she is overwhelmed by the death of the 18 crew members and is unable to concentrate on the repair work underway. LaForge, in the midst of the flurry of activities, tells the new recruit that they will grieve for their fallen comrades later, but for now she must focus only on getting the shields back on line.
Lesson:
While the scenario here is very melodramatic and we can forgive the new recruit for being distracted from her work, we do, however, get to see management getting control of the situation and bringing focus back to the more exigent matter at hand. We all get distract from our work from time to time while at our job. If the distraction is due to personal issues, such as death of a loved one, relationship problems, financial crisis, etc., management needs to show empathy to the individual and give them a little time and room to adjust to their respective dilemma; however, if the allotment of personal time might cause irreparable harm to the business, then the LaForge method used above should be exercised. It's all a matter of priorities.
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Lesson No. 018: Adapting foreign cultures (Picard, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
As a civil war breaks out in the Klingon Empire, Lt. Worf, Chief Security Officer on the Enterprise, resigns his Starfleet commission to go fight in the war. When Capt. Picard asks Worf to be sure of his decision, Worf responds by saying that he was born a Klingon, loved and raised by adoptive human parents, lived his life with humans, served on board with humans, however, he is a Klingon and he hears the 'cry of the warrior.' The Klingons are a race of warriors who live to fight and die with honor. Picard tells Worf that even though Worf has the singular distinction of being the only Klingon aboard a Federation Starship, it is his humanity, compassion, generosity and fairness, all the best traits of humans that he has made his own, that makes Worf unique.
Lesson:
An individual improving himself by adopting the best qualities of a culture that is outside his own…what a wonderful concept! As the USA is long recognized as the land of immigrants, what a golden opportunity to absorb the best of all cultures in one place.
Unfortunately, as individuals arrive into this multi-cultural society, they often gravitate to only the cheap, shallow and meaningless pursuits. Things they perhaps could not do in their own native soil due to their own communal standards and pressures, they now feel free to take full advantage of here in an environment that is devoid of their families and friends to whom they must answer. It is actually quite easy to tell when one has fallen victim to this type of conduct them self. If one finds them self emulating behavior conducive to addictive substances, loose moral behavior, risky undertakings without any reservations, illegal, unethical and corrupt activities, then one has failed to grasp the true and just richness of the culture.
It is in the attributes of the simplest of things, such as decency, courtesy, punctuality, respect of others, honor of our deeds, value of our word, and pride in our stewardships that we find the best of qualities of humans in this land, and on this planet. If we can imagine a Klingon warrior can adapt the best of these human qualities, is it too much to believe that we humans can do the same too?
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Lesson No. 019: Using & abusing insider information (Picard, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard is chosen to be the arbiter in a Klingon civil war. Lt. Worf, a Klingon and Chief Security officer on board the Enterprise, has sided with the Klingon ruling council in the civil war. As Worf begins to use the Federations massive information resources to help support his cause, Picard intervenes and warns Worf of the conflict of interest in Worf's actions and that the violation will be reflected on not only the Captain in his role as the impartial arbiter, but also show favoritism on part of the Federation in taking sides in the civil war.
Lesson:
Here we see an example of using inside information for self-serving purposes, which is not only unethical, but highly illegal in the business world. The usage of data that is available only internally to a company to benefit oneself, say via a stock market transaction as in "Insider Trading", is not the only misuse of such information.
Internal business strategies, sales & marketing tactics and goals, client lists, revenue & expense numbers are quite easily exposed regularly by ex-employees moving to competitors. The signing of NDA's (Non-Disclosure Agreements) can do little to prevent such activities. While it is very tempting to (illegally) access such competitive information for the benefit of one's own company, the management and executives involved would do better to exercise on the side of caution. Greed, ruthlessness and revenge (as in the case of ex-employees) are all root causes for misusing inside information.
By using Picard's values of right and wrong, as expressed in this scene, one can not only combat the negative temptations, but also eliminate the possibility of possible future financial penalties and even prison terms.
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Lesson No. 020: Memories last (Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Data, a senior officer aboard the Enterprise and an android recognized as a sentient life form by Starfleet, creates a brand new android based on his own positronic architecture. He gives his new creation a female form, calls her Lal and introduces Lal to the crew as his child. Lal manages to surpass Data's capabilities and achieves emotion. Through a series of events, Lal expires. As the Captain expresses the crews' condolences to Data for the loss of Lal, Data explains that Lal had so enriched his life, that he could not just allow Lal to pass into oblivion. So, Data had transferred all of Lal's memories into his own memory banks, where she will be with him always.
Lesson:
At the end of the day, isn't that all we ever really have left of our loved ones who have passed on. We may have tangible items of their existence that we hold dear, or even build great monuments and structures dedicated to them, such as the Taj Mahal in India, but, in truth is it not in our treasured memories of our times shared with them that we hold most real? Could Data, who is a machine with no feelings or emotions and always on a quest to be human, have attained a more human quality than to have understood the true value of retaining the memory of a loved one?
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Lesson No. 021: Risking rank and career (Picard, Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Data, a senior officer on board the Enterprise and an android who is classified as sentient by Starfleet, has built a new android based on his own positronic architecture. Data refers to his new creation as his child. When Starfleet command finds out about the new creation, they dispatch a Starfleet Admiral to review the situation. As Data’s new creation is recognized as a new life form, the Admiral decides to remove the new android to a star base, away from Data, for evaluation and proper guidance in a controlled environment.
In essence, Data is told by the Admiral to hand over his ‘child’ to Starfleet. When Data respectfully declines the Admirals request, the Admiral changes the request into a direct order. Before Data can respond, Capt. Picard intervenes, jeopardizing his own career, by telling Data to belay the Admiral’s order. Recognizing the truly horrendous nature of the order, Picard bluntly states that there are times when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders and that as long he is the Captain, he will not stand idly by and watch a crew member be forced to hand over their child to the state.
Lesson:
“I was just following orders.” How often has man used that statement to justify his evils and absolve himself of all responsibilities in wrong doings? How many times have we all seen an injustice and failed to stand up and be heard? This is where the true courage of individual is really tested.
If a bad person, being true to their nature, does bad things, while the good person, seeing the bad, does nothing to oppose, who commits the greater evil? The answer is obvious, as shown vividly in the classic movie “Gentleman’s Agreement.”
How different would human history have been if a real Picard had been present in Auschwitz, Darfur or My Lai?
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Lesson No. 022: Where the journey exceeds the goal (Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Data, a senior officer and android, aboard the Enterprise, states that he is incapable of having any emotions or feelings and that he has accepted this limitation of his existence. When he is asked, why he tries to emulate humans when he cannot experience their most fundamental human nature or why he aspires to be more human when the pursuit can serve no purpose except to continually remind him that he is incomplete, Data says very simply that it is the actual quest that matters the most. It is the struggle to be more than he is which is the most important to him. He finds his reward in his efforts to reach the goal, even though he understands it may be a goal which he will never reach.
Lesson:
Goals- to live without them or to run a business without them, is to just merely exist and not grow. A business without goals will perish very quickly most assuredly. A life lived without goals, is to go day by day, letting the tides of events caused by others guide the way. Only by placing goals ahead of us do we ever take command of our life's path and get to exercise at least a modicum of control over events that happen our way.
The great thing about goals is they exist only as long as they are not attained. Once accomplished, they disappear into the past, and are often replaced by new goals. Most goals, therefore, are perishable, with hardly any remembrance of them, while the knowledge and experience gained in the effort to accomplish the goals are forever.
It is the goals which are not easily attainable that always drive us beyond our normal boundaries of capabilities and make us excel to the next quantum levels. Efforts yielding rewards by themselves, is a great human concept for Data, an android, to understand and emulate.
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Lesson No. 023: We are never the villain
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The war between the Federation and Cardassians is ended with a truce treaty signed by both sides. Despite the truce treaty, Capt. Maxwell of the Federation Starship Phoenix is single-handedly carrying out surprise fatal attacks on Cardassian vessels.
When Maxwell is caught and brought on board the Enterprise and reminded that the war is over, Maxwell exclaims that the war still continues, because the Cardassians live to make war and are not to be trusted. After being told that enemies always say that of each other, Maxwell denies this claim and exalts that the Federation does not start wars, does not make surprise attacks on defenseless outposts, killing women and children; the latter being a reference to the loss of his wife and child due to the Cardassians during the war.
Lesson:
Maxwell is a very pitiable character. We can easily sympathize with his rage due the loss of his family. The blinding scars of hatred that are etched so deeply on his heart cannot be easily removed and manage to only lead Maxwell down a path of revenge.
We lose sight of our humanity when we allow the rage within us to be focused on only revenge. We are blinded into believing that what we are doing is right, even though objectively we might be guilty of committing the very actions that we are opposing. Using rage as a catalyst to right a wrong is not wrong; paradoxically, however, judgment of right and wrong cannot be wise if clouded by rage.
Maxwell was fortunate in finding friends on the Enterprise to eventually guide him away from vengeance. We could all benefit from having such friends ourselves in our reality to come to our aid, when we stray down such destructive paths.
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Lesson No. 024: Finding comfort in hatred (Picard, O'Brian)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Having fought in the past war between the Federation and the Cardassians, Chief O’Brian has instilled in himself a strong hatred for Cardassians. Now the war is over, O’Brian says he likes the Cardassians fine, just that he knows them well enough to know that they can’t be trusted and one should always watch their back when they are around Cardassians.
Dismayed by O’Brian’s reaction, Capt. Picard advises the Chief that when one is angry for a long time, one gets comfortable with the anger, much like old leather, until one becomes so familiar with the hate, that they can’t remember ever feeling any other way.
Lesson:
Brilliant observation! Once the innocence of our childhood is lost, we all gain the ability to hate based on our prejudices. The degree of hate may differ from person to person, issue to issue, but we all do suffer from this malignancy. Our jaundiced view of other people, other places, other views and “-ism’s” so discolor our perceptions at times that we learn to comfortably accept this condition as a way of life for us. Even if we acknowledge and recognize our condition of hate, do we not usually dismiss it with the statement, “I am right and they are wrong!”?
May we each have a Picard in our life to remind us of a time, when we didn’t feel the hate.
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Lesson No. 025: Replacing management (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When Cmdr. Data is mistakenly presumed killed during a routine shuttle accident, Lt. Worf is promoted to take over Data’s assignments. Worf, who had been promoted to his current position as Chief of Security due to the death previously of yet another Starfleet officer, is asked how he feels about this second promotion due to the death of another officer and former friend. Worf replies in true Klingon fashion that he will do his very best to perform his new duties to the best of his abilities to best honor his fallen comrades.
Lesson:
While the recognition and reward of promotions are very positive events in the business world, they do, however, many times carry some levels of discomfort for those involved with the promotion. The staff will look upon the newly promoted with hesitation, even if they are familiar with the one promoted, for a new found position of power has led many astray with delusions of grandeur. Even worse fears of the newly promoted being weak and indecisive, always give the staff cause for concern.
As the personalities for the one promoted can be anywhere from shy and reserved to boisterous and maniacal, adjustment to somewhere in the middle, where all are finally comfortable, may take a little time. Whether the staff gives the newly promoted the benefit of doubt or not on his/her management capabilities, the one promoted must take charge first of himself, and then the staff and tasks at hand. For the newly promoted to show any signs of indecision or naïveté in their new role is to relinquish their power and invite failure. The responsibility and accountability for success of the promotion lies always with the one promoted.
Whether a promotion causes one to replace a friend, leading to managing former peers, or places one in the role in a brand new environment, the best approach is to always emulate Worf’s Klingon attribute and simply do the very best one can to perform their new duties.
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Lesson No. 026: No honeymoon period for new management
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
While Capt. Picard is away on an undercover mission for Starfleet, the change with a replacement commander on board the Enterprise is quick and decisive, with no discussion or forewarning for any one on board the Enterprise, including its senior officers. The new captain immediately imposes new rules and procedures in a harsh manner. The new Captain wastes no time in letting the senior officers know exactly who is in charge by imposing a whole set of new orders requiring extra shifts and extra effort from everyone on board. He also makes it crystal clear that he is not interested in catering to the crews feelings or concerns about the change in command. In his blind quest to accomplish his military goal, the new Captain steamrolls through the crew with disdain.
Lesson:
There is always a period of adjustment for any new relationship. Whether it is personal or professional, it takes time for the different parties involved in the relationship to become comfortable with each other’s respective roles, motivations, personalities and characters.
When a new manager arrives, time must be allotted for an adjustment period. This does not mean work has to stop; on the contrary, it is through the performing of tasks together, that the new manager and staff can get to know and understand each other better.
Even though it is quite often true, that management is usually not overly concerned about their acceptance by the staff, management must, however, respect the potential for disruption of the staff’s working synergy by the introduction of a new personality in a leading role.
As the selection of managers is generally not a democratic (by vote) process, the affected staff always has to accept the new manager, no questions asked, otherwise, they can always exercise their right to resign under an ‘at-will’ employment contract. This condition, in turn, sometimes gives the new manager leverage to impose their will on the staff, without too much fear of repercussion or continued resistance.
Following the ruthless and abrasive management style of the replacement Captain in this scene can lead to nothing but disaster, for a team succeeds based on trust and loyalty to its leader, and both of those qualities have to be earned over time, not granted a priori.
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Lesson No. 027: Leave well enough alone (Data, Worf, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf is noticed by his friends on board the Enterprise to be acting somewhat unusually out of sorts - quiet, brooding and a bit grouchy. Cmdr. Data, always the friend, believes Worf, as the only Klingon on board, may just be lonely and require a little reassurance. Thus, Data decides to help relieve Worf's anxiety through a little socialization and conversation, despite the warnings and cautions from Lt. Cmdr. Jeordi LaForge to basically leave Worf alone.
Upon approaching Worf in an attempt to initiate a conversation, Data is told by Worf (softly) “…with all due respect…” (loudly) “…BE GONE!…” (softly) “…sir.” After hastily retreating, Data tells LaForge that Worf appears quite sincere in his desire for solitude.
Lesson:
This very humorous scene helps to underline the question of when to offer help. There are many times in our lives when we see people in distress. Our human instinct should always propel us to offer aid in time of their need. However, there are times, when the individual struggling with an issue may just want to resolve the item by themself and not be appreciative of any outside interference. We all need our individual space sometimes.
So, take heed of LaForge’s caution to Data before stepping in to help someone, because the person you are seeking to help may be in the Greta Garbo frame of mind and “…just want to be alone” or worse, tell you in the cryptic message words of Capt. Kirk, “Mind your own business, Mr. Spock!”
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Lesson No. 028: Un-cluttering for management role (Riker, Pulaski)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker, as Number One or second in command of the starship Enterprise, is offered a promotion for the first time to captain his own starship. While making his decision, Riker has to deal with his father being on board the Enterprise. Riker has a very poor relationship with his father and shows his contempt with every snide and sniping remark he makes to Dr. Pulaski regarding his father. Pulaski advises Riker to jettison the emotional baggage he is carrying around before taking on his own command of a starship.
Lesson:
The role of leadership requires substantial changes in our behavior from what we may have found acceptable in a staff or follower-role.
Without any management responsibilities, you can be quiet cavalier with work life. By just doing the tasks assigned properly and effectively, you can display frivolous, even uncaring attitudes at work with nary a repercussion. Exhibiting personal opinions, exalting own prejudices and displays of negative emotions are usually all within the realm of non-management roles.
As a leader, however, people will look to you for guidance, understanding, strength, and reliability. None of these qualities are applicable if you, as the leader, are seen as acting with any of the aforementioned negative characteristics.
By controlling the negative aspects of our emotion driven actions and embracing almost a parental role over the staff, we are, not only, better able to meet our fiduciary responsibilities as managers, but also stand to gain the trust and loyalty of those whom we manage.
Follow the Doctor’s orders and jettison your emotional baggage too. It will also make you feel a lot better.
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Lesson No. 029: Should I accept the promotion? (Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker, second in command on the starship Enterprise, is offered the promotion to captain his own starship. His choice is to decline the promotion and remain on the Enterprise, where he has the distinction, prestige and glamour of being the second in command of Starfleet’s flagship, a galaxy class starship, or to accept the promotion and become the captain of a relatively insignificant ship posted in an obscure part of the galaxy, but be in command.
Lesson:
As odd as it may sound, believe it or not, a promotion can be quite a dilemma at times. Promotions may not always be the glorifying rewards they appear to be at first. People are not always promoted just because they excel at their assignments or show superior capabilities. Sometimes promotions are offered to maneuver people out of a company; other times, people are promoted just because they have been at their job for what seems to be forever.
In all cases, accepting a promotion should always be weighed very carefully by the one being promoted. Some of the questions to ask are - does the promotion lead to where I want to go, what are the risk exposures to the new position, what degree of difficulty awaits in assimilating into the new role, and this is one time where you should be extremely selfish and ask “What’s in it for me?”
For those familiar with the late night talk shows in the US, a promotion to host the much coveted 11:30 PM Tonight Show led to the worst TV programming debacle on the NBC network at the end of 2009. The promoted host accepted the new position, leaving behind his own successful show, only to be fired after 7 months in the new show due to poor ratings.
Perhaps the most explicit and cogent statement on promotions came from Admiral Kirk, as he gave advice to Capt. Picard during their ephemeral encounter in the Nexus. Kirk told Picard to never accept a promotion to Admiral and be put behind a desk, to never let anyone or anything take him out of the Captain’s chair, because that’s where the action is.
So, make sure you accept promotions that always continue to keep you in the action you seek.
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Lesson No. 030: Matter of internal security (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard arrives at a planet that is being reviewed by Starfleet for admission into the Federation of Planets. The peaceful society on the planet is apparently based on exiling their military soldiers to gulags once the soldiers are no longer needed. The soldiers, without being forewarned, are initially programmed to be sophisticated killers and never de-programmed afterwards; thus, the soldiers’ violent nature pose a threat to the society at times of peace and therefore, are sequestered in camps off world. The Prime Minister of the planet uses the age old cry of all oppressors, that their actions are justified as it is a matter of internal security of the population.
Lesson:
Politicians and nations’ leaders are notorious for using the fear-inducing, ever-present threat to internal security as the drum beats upon which they rally the public to their individual selfish causes.
In the name of internal security mankind has always managed to discard its humanity and commit atrocities, genocide and totally disregard the rights of the individual. Even though mankind has constructed rules of proper conduct for itself, from the oldest code of laws in the western world as set forth by Hammurabi, King of Babylon (2285-2242 B.C.), to the Magna Carter (1215), to the US Constitution (1787), mankind continues to fail in drawing the proper line between taking actions to maintain internal security, without disregarding its own laws in the process.
If the soldier risks his life to protect his society and the laws by which they live, it is inhuman to ostracize the soldier from returning home, and it is totally illogical to abandon the laws for which he fought and deny the law abiding citizens of the society the protection under these laws.
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Lesson No. 031: Power of face-to-face (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard is sent to evaluate a new planet for admission into the federation. While on site, the Captain is caught in the middle of an internal struggle within the planet’s population between interned ex-soldiers and the established government. Having captured one of the rebel ex-soldiers, Picard sympathizes with the ex-soldiers cause, however, due to the Federation’s Prime Directive, Picard is forbidden to interfere in the internal policies of a planet, no matter what his personal convictions or feelings.
Picard approaches the ex-soldier, confined in a security holdings cell on board the Enterprise, to tell the prisoner that there is no recourse except to return him back to the planet’s government security forces; however, that the Captain will try to do whatever he can to help the prisoner from an official capacity. The prisoner expresses his appreciation to the Captain for taking the time to tell him this face to face. Picard says it’s the least he could do for the prisoner.
Lesson:
We should all take note of the very relevant and important method of communication being practiced here. In our age of texting, IM’ing, emailing, faxing and good old fashioned phone calling, we should never lose sight of the true value of the face to face, in person, dialog or conversation. Just as our technology allows us to communicate faster and on a much broader scale than ever before, it also dehumanizes and limits our capacity to really connect with another human being. Today, it is not uncommon to hire and fire, date and break-up, marry and divorce, praise and condemn, all via the stale, impersonal lines of emails and text messages.
We humans (especially managers) need to take that extra step to always maintain our personal, face-to-face contact relationship with our fellow humans (especially staff and customers) whenever possible. While a message conveyed by technology is surely faster, it is the message that is relayed in person which carries the far greater value.
The very small, almost insignificant gesture of relaying a message to the prisoner in person by Picard is held in high esteem by the prisoner, who is essentially the Captain’s foe. Let’s see technology beat that!
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Lesson No. 032: A fresh start (Picard, LaForge)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Data is kidnapped and made to look like he died in a shuttle accident. Lt. Cmdr. LaForge is extremely upset at the death of his friend and unable to shake the incident, especially since he was involved in the shuttle incident. He keeps going over each step leading up to the accident in his head, over and over again, almost to the point of being obsessive. In the meantime, the Enterprise is ordered on a new rescue mission where LaForge’s engineering talents will be required extensively.
Seeing LaForge’s single-focused, all consuming desire to solve the mystery of Data’s shuttle accident and in light of the upcoming demands of the new mission ahead, Capt. Picard orders LaForge to put aside the shuttle accident for now, and get some rest immediately. LaForge complies with the order.
Lesson:
Whether at work or in our personal lives, we all sometimes get stuck on an issue that we just can’t seem to resolve. It could be as technical as a coding bug in a software application or as silly as trying to remember the name of the actor in that one movie we just can’t remember. Our obsession in these all-time consuming scenarios usually does not help us to resolve our problems. Usually our constant pounding towards what we think is the solution just ends up taking us further away from the answer.
Managers in all walks of life, including parents and teachers, must take overt steps here to guide the obsessed individual to step away from the problem. Take a walk, read a book, see a movie, or even get some sleep, anything to distract from the problem at hand. By moving away from the problem, we are no longer confined inside the problem. By using a fresh new approach to the problem, or even just by re-addressing the problem from the outside, the solutions sometimes make themselves apparent with very little effort on our part.
It was only when LaForge did follow the Captain’s orders and fell asleep that he dreamt his way to the solution and was able to identify the shuttle accident was faked.
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Lesson No. 033: Selfish evaluation of promotion (Picard, Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker, second in command of the Enterprise, is offered a promotion to be the Captain of his own ship. This is the third time Starfleet has pulled out the captain’s chair for Riker. Having refused the promotion both earlier times, an Admiral from Starfleet tells Capt. Picard to advise Riker that there are a lot of young hot shots on the way up in Starfleet who will jump at the chance of the Captain’s chair, and that may make Riker’s career appear to be at a stand still and eventually end up hurting his own future as a result of just staying put.
Lesson:
Offers of promotion should always be weighed against many different pros and cons. We should always seek out the best opportunities for ourselves, as they best fit our situations. Sometimes promotions may hinder us by forcing us to relocate, thereby, disrupting our families, or, may include substantial more travel time, whereby, we are away from our home more often, or it could just take us away from the work we really love and put us in more of an administrative position. While the pay and prestige of the promotion may be better than what we have currently, we do need to put everything in proper perspective, before jumping ahead.
But here is the often unseen dilemma that may not really be considered by those to whom the promotions are offered. Most companies offer promotions based on recognition of skills and/or satisfying a business need. When a promotion is rejected, it is not easily forgotten by the management. If the rejection is based on anything other than avoiding a hugely deleterious impact on the one promoted ( such as relocation, etc.), then that individual can pretty much kiss goodbye any future opportunities of promotions at the company. Just to avoid promotion because you do not want to take on any additional responsibilities is to seal your career fate in concrete. Not only will promotions no longer be offered, but raises in pay will also be strongly curtailed, perhaps even plateaued. After all, what management would ever pay a staff member more than a manager, just because the staff has been there longer.
Obviously, Riker made the correct choice by never accepting a promotion to captain. Why you ask, after all that was just stated in the Lesson? Well, such a promotion would have ended his assignment on the Enterprise, and got him kicked off the show!
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Lesson No. 034: Managing over-eager employees (Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Shelby, a very career aggressive minded individual, is put on temporary assignment on the Enterprise to handle a potential Borg attack situation. Cmdr. Riker, second in command on the Enterprise, gathers a team together, including Shelby, to investigate a planet that shows signs of being attacked by the Borg. Upon arriving at the planet, Riker orders a schedule for the reconnaissance work on the planet. In her eagerness, Shelby beams down to the planet with Cmdr. Data ahead of schedule. Riker pulls Shelby aside to let her know of his displeasure with her disregarding his orders and risking their lives by coming to the planet ahead of schedule and alone with Data. Believing she did nothing wrong, Shelby argues that a couple of extra man-power would have proved useless if the more powerful Borg had been present on the planet anyway. Riker informs Shelby that the issue at hand is not the relevance of the extra-manpower on the planet, but that he wants to be informed if his orders are going to be changed. Shelby acquiesces by telling Riker that his comments are noted for future reference.
Lesson:
A sign of a good manager is to always inspire initiative and encourage outside-the-box thinking in others. However, do not let those goals ever overshadow your leadership position and responsibilities in the group. In the end, it is the manager who is responsible for the group, not the individuals within the group. The management structure does serve the purpose of establishing protocols by which tasks and assignments are performed. Adherence to delivery deadlines, rules of conduct, methods of operations all fall under the leadership of the management. Violation of these standards by any staff member, based on their individual decisions, can and will cause disruption within the group. No one is recommending engaging in military style regimentation (in any non-military organization); however, allowing staff to make their own decisions and orders, without management involvement, on things that impact others in the company or the company itself is a disastrous move.
Shelby is lucky Riker didn’t reduce her in rank immediately as penalty for not following orders.
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Lesson No. 035: Managing effort and rest (Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The officers and crew of the Enterprise are discussing possible battle strategies against an impending attack by the Borg. As the discussions continue over a great span of time, some in the group being to rub their eyes, yawn and stretch, and begin to show visible signs of being tired. Cmdr. Riker orders the meeting adjourned and everyone back to their quarters for rest. Lt. Cmdr. Shelby, a very career aggressive minded individual on temporary assignment on the Enterprise, asks to continue the discussion with Cmdr. Data, who is an Android and does not need rest. Riker rejects the request and orders Shelby to get some rest too as he doesn’t want the crew to be battling the Borg the same time they are fighting their own fatigue.
Lesson:
As the manager or leader of a team, you must be extremely sensitive to your team’s needs. Although enthusiastic or high-stamina individuals within the group may want to continue forward, know when to stop in favor of the team and not one particular individual in the team.
It is easy to get drawn into an endless spiraling sequence of events that may induce us into thinking that we can still go further without rest, but that is exactly the time to stop. Have you ever driven a car, late at night, and sleep was slowly devouring your eyes and other senses? By cranking up the radio, lowering the windows, or even just slapping your own face you try to convince yourself that you can keep going. Long before your eyes have closed, your senses become so dull that you won’t even realize you have crossed over to the opposite oncoming traffic lane…until it’s too late.
It is far better to take the rest you need today to live and fight again tomorrow, than to keep fighting today and lose to rest never more.
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Lesson No. 036: Promoting against personal dislikes (Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When Capt. Picard is captured by the alien Borg race, Cmdr. Riker, 2nd in command of the Enterprise, is promoted to captain. As the new captain of the Enterprise, Riker needs to fill his old position by promoting someone from within the Enterprise senior officers. Although Lt. Cmdr. Data and Lt. Worf are both qualified for the promotion, Riker decides that, given their respective knowledge and experiences, they are more valuable in their existing roles due to the impending battle with the Borg. With reluctance, Riker promotes Lt. Cmdr. Shelby who is on temporary assignment on the Enterprise. Riker’s hesitation with Shelby is caused mostly by Shelby’s over aggressive nature, especially with regard to the pursuit of her personal career growth within Starfleet. However, Riker does recognize Shelby’s knowledge and experience with Borg tactics does qualify her for the promotion, in spite of her negative characteristics.
Lesson:
Sometimes management has to make choices regarding promotions with which they may not be totally satisfied. Promoting anyone into a management role (or higher management role) requires the assessments of multiple issues. The review of the quantity and quality of knowledge, experience and past performance of the promotion candidate is, of course, mandatory. But, we need to look beyond just the individual and study the promotion environment and all other areas which may be impacted by the promotion.
If promoting from within, then we need to consider what losses, if any, may be incurred by removing the candidate from their current position. If the candidate is conducting critical research or development or negotiations for the company, will the promotion divert the candidate’s attention far enough away from the project so as to diminish the project’s chances for success? Should management dismiss all individuals from candidacy for promotion whom they do not ‘like’? In the case of promotion to higher management roles, would the company be better served if the candidate remained in their current management role, but took on the additional responsibilities of the vacant position?
In the end, the final decision for the promotion must serve the company’s needs first. The choice has to always be in favor of the best fit individual for the role, within the boundary conditions of not jeopardizing any existing or potential future functions of the company. So, even if the Shelby characters under consideration for promotion may have some unfavorable qualities, they may still be the best candidate for promotion, for the good of the company.
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Lesson No. 037: Lose the fight before the battle (Riker, Guinan)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker, 2nd in command of the Enterprise, is made captain when Capt. Picard is captured by the alien Borg race. As the crew of the Enterprise prepare for battle with the Borg, Riker expresses uncertainty in his new role as captain. Given the Borg now have Picard and all of his knowledge and experience working in their favor, Riker frets the upcoming encounter with the Borg will be disastrous for the Enterprise. Riker is told that the crew expects to die in the battle with the Borg. Even though the crew trust and like Riker, they don’t believe that he can save them. Riker says he agrees with their sentiment. Riker is reminded by Guinan, a close trusted alien friend of Picard’s, that when a man is convinced he will die tomorrow, he will probably find a way to make it happen.
Lesson:
Self-prophesying doom is surely the biggest downfall of adulthood.
Have you ever noticed that a child can wake up one morning and say that he/she wants to be an astronaut and then proceed to think of a hundred things he/she can do as an astronaut, yet, as an adult, our first hundred thoughts will be why we can never accomplish that goal? Somewhere in our path to adulthood, we lose our childlike charm of thinking anything is possible. We find multiple ways to convince ourselves that the status quo is the only path for us and to try anything else is a waste of our time. True, as adults we are more aware of the realistic problems that may face us in our quest. But it is the realization of the problems as tangible physical walls that prevent us from even trying sometimes. Instead, when the problems are seen as challenges or hurdles to be overcome, do we really ascend to greatness.
In 1970, when the Apollo 13 mission to the moon came to an abrupt halt due to a rupture in an oxygen tank on board, leaving 3 humans stranded midway between the Earth and the Moon, most everyone thought all was lost. With no hope of getting a rescue ship out there, or means of sending any new supplies to them, the three astronauts were surely doomed. Fortunately, the hero engineers and scientists at NASA back then did not think that way. With rolled up sleeves, paper clips and rubber bands approach, they figured out a way to bring the three lost astronauts back home safe. They showed us how in the face of certain defeat, man can rise above his own defeatist attitude and accomplish almost anything.
Fortunately, Riker is of the same ilk as those men of 1970 NASA. Following Guinan’s advice and his own ingenuity, Riker manages to defeat the Picard guided Borg.
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Lesson No. 038: The moral choice (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The alien Borg race presents one of the greatest threats to humanity. The Borg are a bio-cybernetic race, bound together in a collective mind and on a destructive quest to either assimilate into their collective or destroy, all other cultures and civilizations. Having captured an individual Borg and severing its link to the collective, the crew of the Enterprise manages to give the Borg an individual personality and even a name, Hugh. Hugh begins to act more human. At the same time, a new virus is created that can totally devastate the entire Borg collective. Capt. Picard is now faced with the dilemma of releasing Hugh back into the Borg collective in his current individual state as is or to release him infected with the new virus. Picard decides that as a new life form, Hugh deserves the chance to live his life, and that perhaps he may even get other Borg to join him by severing their links to the collective also. Picard decides to not release the virus with Hugh and accepts the risk that his moral actions may possibly endanger the Federation to future Borg attacks.
Lesson:
We all have our own set of moral and ethical standards by which we conduct ourselves. Business organizations quote standards of ethics and moral behavior by which all of their employees, especially management, must abide. But can such dictates always be absolute? At what point do we separate moral and ethical obligation from practical reasoning and duty?
CEO’s are often publically condemned for unethical behavior for hedging their share holdings in their company with a (financial) collar transaction. This hedge reduces the risk on the down side without limiting the upside gain as the price of shares fluctuates with the market. This way, even if the share price falls below a pre-designated level, the CEO does not lose any money. In fact, the CEO may even take most his payment for his shares up front as the hedge is created.
By itself, this form of hedging is not deemed wrong or illegal by any standards. However, if the CEO hedges his shares based on knowledge that the company may be collapsing, then his actions may be seen as ethically reprehensible by the other shareholders. (The legality of this issue is still being debated at this time.) If the CEO carries out his duties to the fullest degree and does everything humanly possible to save the company in the face of disaster, is he ethically wrong in trying to protect his personal assets?
On a more personal level, consider the moral and ethical virtues of always telling the truth. Your 5 year old son, Timmy, falls off his tricycle and breaks his arm. You go to visit your elderly mother who is in the hospital for a serious heart condition. As you walk into her hospital room, she asks you where little Timmy is, her most favorite grandson in the world. Do you abide by ‘always tell the truth’ motto and cause tremendous grief, anxiety and sadness in the lady by telling her little Timmy broke his arm, or do you just make up an excuse for Timmy’s absence so as not to cause her any further worry?
There are no simple answers to these questions. Sometimes we just have to make a choice based on what we feel are right and wrong.
By going with his moral conscience, Picard managed to both, do his duty and fail to do his duty. He did his duty by upholding the Federations most fundamental Prime Directive stipulation of non-interference with any life form. He also failed in doing duty as a Federation officer by not seizing the opportunity to destroy a mortal enemy.
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Lesson No. 039: Access to top management (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Federation is in need of help from the Klingon Empire. Capt. Picard reaches out to Garon, whom he had previously helped to gain the leadership of the Klingon Empire. Garon does not respond to Picard’s attempts to contact him. Instead, a very low level, Junior Adjutant to the Diplomatic Corp. of the Klingon government responds to Picard. Picard advises the Junior Adjutant to tell Garon about the Federation’s request. Upon being asked what the Klingons will receive in return for the helping the Federation, Picard tells the Junior Adjutant to tell Garon, that Garon will have the ‘gratitude’ of the Federation. Picard also adds that if Garon is unable to assist the Federation, then Picard will make the request of another Klingon government member and, then that Klingon will have the ‘gratitude’ of the Federation. Picard concludes with a slew of platitudes praising Garon’s leadership qualities. At the risk of a fellow Klingon foe gaining the upper hand with the Federation, Garon arrives immediately in person to address Picard’s request.
Lesson:
This scene addresses the most fundamental communications hurdles faced by all of us when we wish to contact someone in a power position. Unless the one in power has something to gain personally, they will most likely not respond, or if they have a shred of decency, they may forward our request to a lower level staff member, who usually responds with standard pre-formatted answers. So, what should we do in this case?
Once we have tried going through all of the proper channels and failed to reach our targeted contact, we need to revise our strategy for communicating. Our new approach must focus on offering our targeted contact an incentive to respond. We need to establish and highlight what benefits can be realized by our targeted contact by them responding to us. The benefits are usually in one of two forms.
A direct benefit, whereby, the targeted contact gains financially, promotionally, strategic position, egotistically or by receiving favors is generally the preferred incentive. The indirect benefit is a more subtle, yet if implemented properly, can be a more powerful inducer. We need to set the scenario for our targeted contact such that they will stand to lose more by not responding to us, than vice versa. Some simple approaches are the threats of contacting the targeted contact’s superiors, contacting their competitors, contacting their clients, contacting them via open letters in newspapers and magazines, and then, of course, there is the Internet! Public methods of contact via web sites, blog sites, social networks, and twittering have now made it very easy for us to send our messages, complimentary or defamatory, to anyone and everyone.
If everyone was decent, then we would never have any need to resort to such lengths just to be heard. However, more often than not, people, especially those with some power, tend to be more like Garon, and bow deep and kiss our feet when they need our help and then shun us once we are no longer of any use to them. Just like Garon, the more arrogant they are, the more indecent they are and the more, like Picard, you should never back down from them.
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Lesson No. 040: King of their domain (Riker, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker needs information from the Quarter Master of the Federation Surplus Depot. When contacted by Riker for the information, the Quarter Master is totally uncooperative and tells Riker to first make an appointment to submit his request for information. Riker is stunned by the response and not sure what to do. Counselor Troy tells Riker to use a more genteel approach with the Quarter master, for the Quarter master considers himself the king of his particular domain and expects to be treated as such. Riker quickly hands off the assignment to Troy.
Lesson:
It is abundantly true that there are an unimaginable number of paper pushing clerks in every organization with delusions of grandeur for their limited assignments, who will always take every measure possible to do the least amount of work themselves while managing to hinder the progress of others as much as possible. These characters are usually also the first ones to complain and express their dissatisfaction if they do not get cooperation from others. These sloths of the workplace are an unfortunate reality with whom we all have to contend at times, either as co-workers or their customers.
Whether it was due to ill-parenting or just a plain loss of all redeemable virtues in their personality, these people usually entrench themselves in their sloth-like behavior in large form due to some kind of job security that protects them from job dismissal. In the public and private sectors, jobs are often so well protected, that management has very little power in replacing these people. Reprimanding and admonishing these people only fuel their obnoxious behavior even further.
Heaven help the poor individual who ever needs anything from these people. As threats are ineffective and common decency is totally unknown to these people, Troy’s approach of ‘smoozing’ them may be our only alternative. Their shield of uncooperative invulnerability can usually be brought down by targeting their fragile egos with false praise.
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Lesson No. 041: Appreciate the other viewpoint (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
A metamorph named Kamala, a sentient empathic alien life form raised to serve as a spouse, is being transported on the Enterprise to her wedding. Capt. Picard expresses his dismay and difficulty to Kamala in accepting that any sentient being can live only to be what someone else wants them to be. Kamala explains that for her to be any other way would be the same as asking a Vulcan to forego logic or a Klingon to be non-violent; for a metamorph there is no greater satisfaction in life than to bring pleasure and fulfill the needs of the one with whom they bond.
Lesson:
This kind of servitude aspirations may seem quite backward and even pre-20th Century to most of us today. However, to truly acknowledge and respect other cultures, we first need to shed ourselves of our own prejudices and limited views in life. Our individual ways of life may appear just as unacceptable and inconceivable to people of other cultures.
In the many cultures and nations of our world, children are raised to - remain within their faith, choose their own path, apprentice their father’s profession, be entrepreneurial, be compelled to finish their education beyond the college level, enter the work force as soon as possible, not allow women to work, leave their parents when they reach adulthood, remain with their parents even after their marriage, have pre-marital physical relations, remain celibate until marriage, marry whomever they wish, abide only by their parents choice for marriage, marry for life regardless of any complications, and divorce on a whim.
While many of these conditions seem quite contradictory, they are all parts of the human equation. We can pick and choose which of these factors pertain to our own lives. But when we do not accept those who choose the other attributes that do not fit into our lives, we cut ourselves off from each other. The ones who choose the attributes we do not select for ourselves may dismiss us in turn.
Capt. Picard might have appreciated Kamala’s outlook on life better if he had paid heed to the words “Try to see it my way…While you see it your way, there's a chance that we might fall apart before too long.”, courtesy of the Beatles, 1965.
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Lesson No. 042: Denying instinctive urges (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Kamala, an empathic alien life form known as a metamorph, can sense what kind of women a man wants and then she becomes that woman. With a Klingon, she growls, with drunken men at a bar, she becomes bawdy and gregarious, with Capt. Picard, she becomes reserved, strong, intelligent and regal. Picard’s assignment is to deliver Kamala to her betrothed to settle a war between two planets. True to her instinctive nature, Kamala continually makes advances towards Picard, despite his efforts to dissuade her. When confronted directly by Kamala and asked if he fears her or perhaps finds her unattractive, Picard admits honestly that he finds her ‘unavailable’ as she is already promised to another.
Lesson:
Going against one’s instinctive (and carnal) urges in favor of one’s principals, ethics and morals is truly indicative of a pure role model for all of us. To uphold standards of right and wrong, in the face of unrelenting desire to act otherwise, warrants the status of virtuous chivalry. For all those whom you know in real life that act in accordance to these values, give them their due recognition and your highest kudos.
While in fiction Picard may have been able to reject Kamala’s advances, I doubt there are many in real life who could ever deny the very beautiful Famke Janssen (aka Kamala).
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Lesson No. 043: Attract by discouraging (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Enterprise is transporting the metamorph, Kamala, who is to be wed to the ruler of a warring planet to bring about peace. Kamala is empathic and can sense a man’s desires and, by instinct, transforms her personality to fit the man. This way, no man can ever reject her. Capt. Picard, true to his duty to deliver the already betrothed Kamala, tries to keep his distance from her. This only attracts Kamala to Picard even more and despite his efforts, she expresses her desire for him even more. When finally confronted by Kamala’s attentions, Picard asks her if he has not done everything he can to discourage her in pursuing him. She replies, maybe that’s the perfect way to attract a metamorph.
Lesson:
This is a crucial factor in the realm of human relationships, whether it is personal or professional. Our initial approach in any new relationship is usually to try to impress our target with our qualities and our earnest desire to establish a relationship with them. This is probably where most of the failures begin.
As we implement our strategy to win over our target in the shortest possible time, our tactics are all focused on exhibiting how wonderful we are. In doing so, we are most likely to overwhelm and confound our target to the point of them walking away. The needy, smothering acts can also display a sense of desperation or obsessive behavior on our part.
The way to counter act this negative approach is really very simple. Put yourself in the target’s position. How do you want your pursuer to behave? In your personal life, does being deluged by gifts, requests for dates, unrelenting phone calls bordering on stalking sound attractive? In your professional life, does being inundated by a sales guy regaling you with how great his company is and how wonderful their products are really make you want to buy for him?
In the end, we all really want exactly the same thing. Let us make up our own minds, on our own time. Let us get just the pertinent information we need and let your actions show us you care, but that you are not pushy. Above all, don’t suffocate us.
What Picard found out inadvertently by his actions towards Kamala is what all females on Earth already know and most males here still need to learn. After first contact, walk away. Always give just enough to whet their appetites and never overpower. By not initiating pursuit, you attract more and compel requests for more. By not being always accessible and always in pursuit of your target, you become the target of interest and the one who is chased.
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Lesson No. 044: Bonding of hearts (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
An empathic alien life form known as a metamorph is highly attracted to Capt. Picard. In her instinctive desire for him, she bonds with him mentally and expresses how truly wonderful it is to be a metamorph - to share the other's thoughts and feelings, to feel the inner strength of the other, to open one’s heart and mind to endless possibilities by just being with them, and to hear yourself say I like myself when I am with them.
Lesson:
Our ability to bond with other humans is given to us a birthright. Much like other animals, we too instinctively cling to our parents from our first days here on earth, mostly for survival. Beyond that, we humans, as we grow, have the capacity to choose other humans with whom we may form loving bonds. From the familial loving caring relationships we form with our grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and cousins, to the more intimate ties we establish with our school mates, co-workers, acquaintances-turned-friends whom we met through our travels in life, we have the opportunity to exercise our gifts of affection and caring.
While our capacity to love and care for our family and friends is a wondrous ability, it is in our selection of an outsider as a spouse with whom we wish to share our life’s journey, where we truly shine the brightest. There is pure magic in the way two humans, previously unknown to each other, can form a permanent link between themselves. A link where the needs and desires of the other overrides one’s own, where the smile and laughter of the other provides warmth and their tears of sadness and pain stab as knives into one’s heart. To bond with another in such a way is to get but only a glimpse of the true power we humans possess.
If the most prolific theme of human fables, poetry and art is true, and that, it is in our unique ability to experience the intangible quality of love which sets us apart from all other life forms, then is it too much to expect that we surely have the capability to emulate the gifted nature of the metamorph?
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Lesson No. 045: Duty over desire (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard finds himself very attracted to Kamala, an alien empathic life form known as a metamorph, while transporting her to her betrothed. The pending marriage of Kamala to her promised groom will bring about the cessation of hostilities between two warring planets. Given Kamala’s ‘unavailability’ condition, Picard manages to rein in his personal desires for Kamala. The situation turns even worse as Picard’s learns that Kamala has instinctively ‘bonded’ herself with him mentally. The ‘bonding’ is a one-time life event for a metamorph, whereby, the metamorph will become exactly as her mate wishes her to be, meeting his every need and desire. Unable to restrain himself any further, Picard tells Kamala that she cannot possibly go through with the pre-arranged marriage ceremony any longer. Kamala replies interrogatively, asking Picard if he would ask her to remain with him and allow two worlds to continue to war. Kamala’s allegiance to her duty reminds Picard of his own duty as he steps aside and gives Kamala away to her betrothed.
Lesson:
As human beings, most of our decisions are usually based on our emotional instincts. We may approach issues in a very technical and logical manner, trying to make a decision that is truly objective and devoid of any emotion or prejudice; however, in the end, we make our selections because we ‘like’ our choice the best. In very rare instances do we actually decide in favor of something that we may find disagreeable subjectively, yet, suitable objectively.
If we can accept that our decisions are either driven or highly impacted by our desires, then we can learn to control our decision process more effectively by discarding the desire aspect first. In doing so, we also remove a very nasty element from the decision process - our ego. In particular, as the decisions of people in great power positions are always at the mercy of their own egos, their devotion to duty and what is right and wrong can often be overridden by their selfish personal desires. Businesses have closed, nations have gone to war and empires have collapsed because crucial decisions were made based on personal desire.
Picard does not relinquish to his ego, by fighting for Kamala to be his and allow the awful consequences of war to perpetuate. He exercises the most extreme form of self control by not giving in to his deepest desires for Kamala, especially in the face knowing her reciprocation of his feelings towards her. Self-sacrifice in the name of duty is something every soldier knows and it is the one ego-restraining ability that everyone in power must learn.
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Lesson No. 046: Confusing the child (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf of the Klingon alien warrior race is having difficulty raising his pre-teen son alone while on board the Enterprise. Treating his little boy like any other adult Klingon warrior, Worf booms out commands to his son. In one instance, when Worf calls his son to dinner, his son tells him that he had promised someone else earlier that he would meet them at this hour. Worf’s son then asks him if he should break his promise. Worf clearly states that a Klingon never breaks his promise. Upon hearing this from his father, the child begins to walk away and exit the room. Worf immediately growls at his son, demanding to know where he is going. The son replies that he is following his father’s words, to not break a promise, and going off to keep his prior appointment. Worf retorts that he didn’t mean for him to keep his promise right now, but that for now, he needs to sit down and eat his dinner. The child replies that he is confused and does not understand what his father is saying. In true parental fashion, Worf tells his son to understand later, but for now, just sit and eat.
Lesson:
No one should ever presume to tell a parent how to rear their child. However, there are instances we have all been witness to situations where we are stunned at the sheer negligence or incompetency of parents in dealing with their children. These parents of banshee screaming, to fish-out-of-water thrashing tantrum children appear to us to be very inept at communicating, let alone controlling their off-springs. Most of the failure in communicating with a child usually boils down to the parent sending mixed signals to the child and, thereby, totally confusing the child and causing the child to ignore the parents instructions.
When a child misbehaves, if the parent reprimands the child, then out of sheer guilt, quickly hugs the child, the message of their reprimand is lost. If the parent punishes a child for wrong doing, then gives them a gift to stop the child’s crying, then the punishment loses all value. In this kind of parental behavior, the child quickly learns the parent is totally incapable of admonishing them without rewarding them in some way; thus, the act of misbehaving becomes the source of gaining favors for the child, instead of being penalized. Children, in spite of their pure innocence, are masters at communicating their wants and needs through various types of crying, even to the point of almost manipulating the parent into performing exactly per the child’s wishes.
The parent, on the other hand, often diminishes their control over the child by resorting to constant yelling at the child. Just as we adults learn to be totally dismissive of our grumpy, belligerent bosses, because we know it’s just the way they are and that there is no way they can fire us because we are so vital to the company, so children learn to ignore their parents who exercise lung power over common sense in communicating, because the child also quickly learns how vital they are to the parent.
There are no rules set in stone for raising a child. However, there are some very basic, common sense approaches (as mentioned above) for all parents to follow. If these approaches are not utilized properly, then they can turn even an outstanding Starfleet officer and iconic Klingon warrior into a befuddled, unfocused and unreliable guide for a child.
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Lesson No. 047: It's A Wonderful Life (Picard, Q)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard is fatally injured. Q, an omnipotent being gives Picard a second chance at life. Picard expresses regret for the many foolish actions of his own past and wishes he could have changed his ways when he was a youth. Q grants Picard his wish.
By reliving his second chance at youth in a more reserved, non-adventurous and less risky manner, Picard ends up back in his present time, not as the Captain of the Enterprise, but as only a Lt. Junior grade Astrophysics officer. Picard finds that he has become a dreary man in a tedious job, bereft of passion and imagination. Q reminds Picard that this was the outcome of what Picard had wanted. By being less arrogant in his youth and less undisciplined, Picard never had a brush with death, never faced his own mortality, never realized how fragile life is, or how important each moment is in life. Without any focus, plan or agenda, Picard drifted from one assignment to the next, never seizing any opportunities that came his way. Picard had learned to play it safe and he never got noticed by anyone.
Lesson:
Move over George Bailey, it’s time for Capt. Picard to say “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
At any point in our lives, we are always the total sum of all of our past actions. Outside of those events which are beyond our control, it is only our words and deeds in the past that have shaped the condition of our lives today. If we look back upon those incidents in our lives where we feel we could have perhaps acted wiser and avoided mistakes, then we are missing the big picture. It is only through our mistakes that we really learn the truth about ourselves. How we act in the face of having committed errors helps us to build our character and our virtues. Also, to shield oneself always within a comfort zone and not try anything new, just to avoid errors and mistakes, is to basically know only one kind of life. It is the exposure to uncertainty, risk and the unknown which challenges us to grow beyond our existing capabilities. Whereas the princess will be lost once she is outside of the castle walls, the struggling kid from the streets can survive and flourish in almost any environment.
There is nothing wrong in taking the path that is steadfast and conservative. To be a life-long factory worker, or office clerk, or school teacher are all praise worthy life paths to follow. They are the solid foundations of any society and they should never have any regrets in hindsight. However, for all those who choose the more risky paths to more ambitious goals, the price of success often includes taking more hazardous and, at times, even life endangering measures.
When all is said and done, you are the only one who can decide if the path chosen for you has been the right one. If you have any doubts about your life’s path, then make the changes you desire right now, yourself…and don’t wait for a Q to come along and give you a second chance at life.
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Lesson No. 048: Blinding conviction ignores truth (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The crew of the Enterprise finds a human youth who had been previously captured by aliens and raised as one of their own. When the adoptive alien father of the youth demands the return of his son, Capt. Picard declines the request because Picard believes the youth belongs back with his own human kind. As the alien parent threatens to go to war against the entire Federation if need be, for the return of his son, the youth manages to stab Picard. After recovering from the wound, Picard tells the alien parent that a crime had been committed, confessing that the crime was not committed by the youth, but rather by Picard. In trying to help the youth recognize his origin and, in his desire to help the youth reacclimatize back into human society, Picard admits that he failed to see what the youth had wanted. As the youth wanted nothing more than to return to the only home he knew, Picard turns him over to his adoptive alien parent.
Lesson:
Sometimes, our convictions can be more blinding than a high noon sun on a clear day. Being totally self-assured that our opinion or decision is absolutely the only correct path available is usually a good sign that we have closed ourselves off from seeing the whole picture.
In any situation involving more than one person, there can easily be at least a minimum of two differing thoughts on the same issue. We would, therefore, be very negligent if we were to form our opinion or decision based solely on our own beliefs, knowledge and experience, while totally ignoring the view of the others involved.
It does take courage and humility to admit at least the plausibility of other views being more correct than our own. Even in the presence of both of these admirable human qualities, we may still fall victim to seeing things only in our own way. With objective vigilance and an ego in-check, perhaps we won’t have to be stabbed like Picard before we see the error of our ways.
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Lesson No. 049: Time passage essential to task (Crusher, Q)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Dr. Crusher needs to deliver live bacilli (bacteria) in stasis condition as counteragents to a planet facing a global health crisis. In order to be successful, Crusher first needs to accurately measure the mitosis rates of the bacilli. She assigns this simple task to her intern, Amanda. Amanda, having (Q) omnipotent powers, accelerates the testing procedures using her alien abilities and completes twice the amount of tests in half the time. Seeing the test results, Crusher tells Amanda that the results are useless now because by artificially inflating the mitosis rates, they now unable to properly manage the bacilli in real time.
Lesson:
Sometimes there are reasons why certain tasks and assignments require a specified amount of time to complete. The inherent constraint of these projects is usually the time factor. The impact of the passage of time may either be the focal point of our study, or it may be the boundary condition by which we must abide.
The half-life of an element, the mandatory payment of monthly salaries, birthdays and anniversaries are all controlled by the passage of normal time. While it may be feasible to accelerate delivery of certain projects with the addition of more resources, there are some tasks where such steps are futile as we are powerless to alter the required passage of time that is essential to the task.
Just because one woman can give birth to one child in a normal 9-month period, it does not mean that we can deliver one child in 1-month period by putting 9 women on the job.
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Lesson No. 050: Reprimand and encourage simultaneously (Picard, Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker takes extra risks to save the life of another while on an away mission. Although the mission was successful, Capt. Picard questions Riker on taking such unnecessary personal risks. Riker states that he had previously failed to save the life of the sister of the person he saved today and that he didn’t want to “…lose another one”. Picard reprimands Riker for responding so emotionally to the situation. As Riker walks away with his head lowered, Picard stops him and says “…and well done!” bringing a smile to Riker’s face.
Lesson:
Administering reprimands are never easy. It is always recognized as the final course in a failure-to-perform-correctly situation. If a child misbehaves or an employee lies or a company steals, they must all be disciplined in a strict manner. However, before passing hasty judgment, each incident must be reviewed in detail to insure that the failure to act according to the rules was, in fact, conducted with malicious intent.
While penalizing a child for fighting may appear to be the right thing to do at first glance, we may decide otherwise, if we discover that the child was in the fight while defending his victimized friend. There are many situations where, even though the actions may not be deemed suitable, the goals were virtuous and therefore, as contradictory as it may sound, the admonishment should always be followed by words of recognition and encouragement.
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Lesson No. 051: Atmosphere of confrontation (Picard, Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Admiral Nechyev of Starfleet is due to arrive on board the Enterprise. Capt. Picard has had differences of opinions with the admiral in the past and a certain amount of tension exists between them. Cmdr. Riker is, therefore, understandably surprised when he sees that Picard has prepared the Admiral’s favorite dishes for the meeting. Picard explains to Riker that they do not have to like the admiral, but they do have to follow her orders and maintaining an atmosphere of confrontation serves no constructive purpose.
Lesson:
While disagreeing with the opinions and even the decisions of upper management is always everyone’s prerogative, you should never let the “disagreement” turn into a “disconnect” with your upper management. Rules, protocol and tier level management structures all serve the purpose of keeping an organization functioning properly and efficiently. It is our acceptance and respect for these conditions that keeps everything running smoothly. Disagreeing with upper management decisions should always be done in accordance to protocol, and always devoid of any emotional issues rooted in our personal ego.
In the face of differing opinions, you must relinquish to the decisions of your upper level management. To establish any adversarial relationship with your upper management is to commit career suicide. If you find your upper management’s opinions and decisions are so totally against your personal beliefs, that you are unable to perform under their conditions, it is better for you to resign than to continue the losing battle in trying to impress your viewpoints upon the management. You may hold your management in low esteem as individuals with very little redeeming values, however, you must not let that translate into disrespecting their positions within the organization. Instead of focusing on areas where you disagree, try to find common grounds where you both share the same views with regard to the organization and the work.
Picard is absolutely right is saying that you don’t have to like your management (or for that matter your peers) - you just have to work with them.
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Lesson No. 052: Invite not Death (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Counselor Troy’s mother, Lwaxana Troy, a lady in her late years, is a wonderful character full of joie de vivre, always living life to the fullest, at times loud, boisterous, gregarious and quite the extrovert. When she learns of an alien culture that condones and practices parricide of the elderly, she is quite upset. As she grows close to one of the aliens who is about to reach the age of 60, and must therefore commit suicide, she breaks down, feeling very vulnerable about her own mortality. Her daughter encourages her by reminding her that she is someone who will never die, before it is her time to die.
Lesson:
Don’t die before your time. We should all live by these words.
While hardships and disappointments are inevitable in everyone’s life, we must learn to endure these challenges and go on with our lives. We are given a one way ticket through this path of life, eventually ending in death. All of our achievements and fulfillments always occur only during our journeys through life. (True, some may gain fame post-death; however, their recognition is always based on their accomplishments during their lives.)
If we have but one life-journey to make, then why shorten it by accelerating to the end. While the failures and losses in our lives may work towards diminishing the quality of our lives, we should never voluntarily allow them to reduce the quantity of our lives. Every step we take, every decision we make and everything we do always has alternatives and may even offer opportunities to improve in the future.
Death, on the other hand, is unequivocal, immutable, and permanent, and, unfortunately, inevitable. So, let’s follow Troy’s implied advice and not give up on our journeys too quickly by foolishly inviting death for a visit any time before its designated appointed time.
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Lesson No. 053: Responsibility for elderly care (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lwaxana Troy, Counselor Troy’s mother, gets involved in a heated argument with an alien scientist who is about to commit suicide according to his culture’s tradition of parricide. While Lwaxana finds the concept of old people killing themselves voluntarily abhorrent, the alien scientist defends his tradition by pointing out how it has solved the problem of the elderly on his world and that it does not place any dreadful burden on the children by having them take of their elderly parents. Lwaxana points out that, parents raise their children, care for them, suffer for them, and keep them from harm their whole lives; eventually it should be the children’s turn to take care of their parents. When she is told that no parent should ever expect to be paid back for the love they have given their children, she blasts back, “Why the hell not!”
Lesson:
As we approach the waning years of our lives, it is our human culture and tradition for our children and/or our society to care for us, until it is time for us to depart. So, is it fair for humans to burden their children with the responsibility of caring for their elderly parents?
If we use the argument of repayment of debt as owed by the children to their parents for raising them, then might the children not be well justified in arguing that since they had no say in their being born, raising them is not so much a debt incurred by them as it is a time-period pay down on a responsibility voluntarily undertaken by the parents? Additionally, wouldn’t the children consider the love and joy and happiness and pride they gave their parents in turn as substantial payoff for any hardships the parents may have faced while raising them? Finally, as the progenitors, aren’t the parents actually the one’s who are in debt to their children for continuing their family line and, thereby, giving the parents access to immortality?
In the final analysis, the idea of children caring for their elderly parents is really at the mercy of the parents and no one else, for it is the parents who train and educate the children. If raised the right way, the parents can instill in their children true love and devotion and a fervent need to be caring. If all else fails, parents can always use the fall back plan of encouraging their children with good old fashioned guilt.
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Lesson No. 054: Guilty of self-righteous indignation (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
An alien scientist is working with the crew of the Enterprise to resuscitate the sun in their planetary system. He expresses his dismay that he will be unable to see the fruits of his research and efforts as he must kill himself very shortly upon reaching age 60, as is the custom and tradition of his culture. For centuries, this form of parricide has been the solution for population control and elderly care on his planet.
Lesson:
As totally horrific and unacceptable as suicide for the elderly as a solution may sound to us humans, let’s not be too self-righteous in our indignation of the culture and tradition of the alien race. We humans have been just as guilty of such despicable acts in the name of tradition and culture on our planet also.
The owning of fellow humans as slaves, the inequality of justice for people outside the ruling faith or political belief, the forbiddance of women to vote, the condemnation of divorce by religious orders, the burning to death of women marked as witches, genocide declared acceptable as cleansing, are just a few examples of how low we humans can sink in our morality by accepting these acts as tradition and customs of our human culture.
True, in time we eventually do rise above our own depravity and finally outlaw such behavior. However, if we can only see in hindsight the crimes we have committed against humanity, then what of the violations we are committing today in the name of acceptable tradition and custom? How long will we have to wait and how many will pay the cost, before we realize the error of our current misguided ways?
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Lesson No. 055: Rules are not absolute (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard is faced with the dilemma of taking an action which may either save or destroy lives on a planetary scale on an alien world. When a man arrives from the future with fore-knowledge of all events in the current time frame, Picard has the opportunity to learn from the man the outcome of his action. However, to use information from the man from the future about current events is a direct violation of the Starfleet Non-Interference Prime Directive regarding usage of knowledge of future events and tampering with the normal timeline.
Conflicted by his convictions in support of the Prime Directive, and his conscience demanding the saving of lives as the highest priority, Picard decides to violate the Prime Directive and asks for help from the man from the future.
Lesson:
Rules are in place to offer us guidance. They are never absolute. Whether it is rules of faith or rules of law, there may be times when the rules cannot apply and we need to violate the rules in favor of the good, as subjective as the “good” may be.
Man shall not kill another man is a basic tenet of many faiths; however, if a man enters a school and begins to randomly shoot innocent children, no one will condemn us for killing the man to stop the slaughter. Apartheid, a law constructed by man, mandating the separation of humans based on their race was deemed quite acceptable for decades, until man himself decided it was wrong and overturned the law. The very basic reason for Amendments to the US Constitution dictates that rules may not always address all situations and we should be open to expanding or even abolishing our rules as needed, always for the betterment of mankind.
Even though Picard is always a strong enforcer of the Starfleet rules and regulations, this time he sees the saving of millions of lives as more important than just strictly abiding by the rules.
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Lesson No. 056: Managers need not be oracles (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Enterprise is accidently hit by a quantum filament of energy and left adrift with vital sections of the ship cut off from each other. Counselor Troy is left as the highest ranking officer on the command bridge. Also on the bridge are Chief O’Brian and Ensign Ro Laren. Although Troy is not trained in command procedures, she nevertheless takes charge and asks for suggestions from O’Brian and Laren. By weighing their opposing advice, Troy orders a course of action, despite vehement opposition from Laren.
Lesson:
Managers must excel in managing and do not necessarily need to be the oracle of knowledge for everything. Sometimes managers may not have all the information required to make the right management decision by themselves. The information they are missing, either due to a lack of education or prior experience, they may need to seek out from others. Managers must put aside their egos and always be prepared to request input from their staff, peers and even upper management, if need be. Requesting opinions and suggestions from others does not diminish the role of managers, rather it re-enforces their commitment to making the best decisions for their organizations. It also indicates the manager’s willingness to trust the respective talents of their staff.
Managers must also pay attention to the individuals whose advice they did not follow. The manager must acknowledge their contributions to the decision making process by having offered alternative solutions. By commending their input, the manager encourages their future involvement in similar situations.
As Troy’s actions proved right, Laren apologized to Troy for being wrong. Troy replied that Laren could just have easily been right in this instance. Offering encouragement in the face of being wrong is very command worthy indeed.
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Lesson No. 057: Suppressing feelings and emotions (Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
A pre-teen human child loses both of his parents in a disaster aboard their space ship. When the crew of the Enterprise rescues the child, they find him to be totally withdrawn and afraid. As Lt. Cmdr. Data, an android, was the one who actually performed the rescue with his super human mechanical strength as witnessed by the child, the child finds comfort and support in Data. When the child realizes Data is an android, devoid of any emotion, he begins to emulate Data, changing his appearance to look like Data, making mechanical movements with his head like Data, and even copying Data’s speech pattern. Counselor Troy recognizes that the child is suffering from the loss of his parents, perhaps even feeling guilty, wrongfully, for having caused the accident that killed his parents and finding consolation in his pretend world by totally suppressing his emotions with his emulation of Data.
Lesson:
While younger children are able to easily escape into imaginary worlds to avoid addressing their bad feelings, older humans have a much more difficult time contending with such situations. As situations are encountered which give rise to bad feelings, such as guilt, sadness, depression, failure and disappointment, many tend to either sink heavily into the abyss of the emotion, or they totally subjugate their feelings by suppressing all emotional outlets. Both are extremely harmful.
By dwelling continuously on the bad feeling and spiraling downward out of control, many face the risk of looking upon death as a viable solution for themselves. Although there is an abundance of prescribed medication available to help halt these types of thoughts, the remedy is only temporary. The best medicine is contact with other humans in the world who can help bring focus on the endless positive possibilities and opportunities that life still has to offer.
On the other hand, those who continually bury their bad feelings and emotions by cramming them deeper and deeper into their consciousness, and pretend that they are not impacted by such bad thoughts are only fooling themselves. They are ticking emotional time bombs. All it takes is one slight wrong gesture from someone, one meaningless wrong remark overheard, or one toilet seat left up, and the individual will explode in vitriolic outbursts and maybe even physical violence.
Humans are emotional beings. We need to express our feelings. While positive emotions can elate us and carry us through many a difficult journey, negative emotions can hurt us if they are not dealt with properly and efficiently. One does not necessarily need therapy to overcome the negative thoughts and feelings. Sometimes, one just needs to communicate with a loved one, a friend or at times even a total stranger, just to vent some of the pressure building up inside.
The human condition is replete with good and bad emotions equally. As Data has stated at times, by not having any feelings as an android, he does not have to contend with the negative aspects of human emotion; however, he also misses out on happiness, love and even something as simple as laughter.
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Lesson No. 058: Leadership trust in management (Picard, Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Enterprise is incapacitated by the primordial gravitational forces of a dark matter region of space. As the ship’s deflector shield increases in power to protect the ship, an energy wave front emanates from the dark matter and strikes the ship depleting the shield’s strength. When the shields strength is increased, the ensuing energy wave front from the dark matter hits the ship with even greater magnitude almost destroying the ship. As a final resort, the shields are routed through the warp engines to maximize its strength. The next energy wave emanated from the dark matter is measured to be off the scales and will definitely totally destroy the ship when it hits.
Lt. Cmdr. Data, having quickly analyzed the correlation between the shield strength increases and the power output of the energy wave during the past two hits to the ship, tells Capt. Picard to order the shields be dropped immediately. Cmdr. Riker yells out that dropping the shields in the face of the incoming energy wave will be suicide. Data just repeats his request to drop the shields. Picard orders the shields dropped. The energy wave dissipates immediately and no harm comes to the ship. Data explains that the energy waves emanating from the dark matter were magnified echoes of the harmonic oscillations from the shield. Therefore, as the shield increased in power, so did the magnified echo in the energy wave. By shutting down the shields, the energy wave echo reciprocated accordingly.
Lesson:
The role of leadership dictates that the responsibility for all final decisions lies with the one in charge; however, that does not mean that all solutions must also be generated by the leader. Rather it is usually the function of the true leader to encourage those within the group to provide alternative solutions to issues being faced. By reviewing the different solutions proposed, the leader can then make the appropriate decision on the proper course of action.
If the leadership decision making process is to be dependent on the opinions and recommendations of others, then the single most crucial aspect of the leader-to-others relationship must be trust. The leadership must establish an environment of trust that is based on each individual’s single-minded focus on the success of the organization, or the project, or the mission. Without this unified focus on the same goal, the true motivation for any opinion or recommendation from anyone will always require scrutiny. Of what use is the information, if the source cannot be trusted?
When, like Picard, the leadership is successful in building the trust based relationships, it becomes much easier to decide in favor of recommended solutions, even if it means going against personal intuition and face certain failure or disaster.
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Lesson No. 059: Management of work vs. personal priorities (Picard, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf’s pre-teen son arrives on the Enterprise to live with Worf. As is the life of parent, Worf’s day is constantly interrupted by issues concerning his son. Not only does attending to his son delay him for a meeting with Capt. Picard, but he is also interrupted twice during the meeting by the school teacher and the doctor, respectively, with questions regarding his son. Realizing Worf’s situation, Picard dismisses Worf from the meeting and tells Worf to go attend to his family matters first, and then attend to the issues discussed in the meeting.
Lesson:
A good manager must acknowledge that for everyone, the needs of family matters will always supersede any job related work issue. No one can ever perform at their optimal level if they are carrying the burden of a family crisis on their mind. Sometimes the family related concerns can be so overwhelming, that job performance can suffer and the potential for errors and failures can rise exponentially. Only by taking the time to attend to the family issues can individuals bring their focus back to their jobs. The family issues do not have to be readily resolved. They just need to be deferred to a stasis mode, until full attention can be given to them after normal work hours.
Allocating personal time to people to attend to family matters should be a mandate of all management. Reasonable managers will always make contingency plans to back up their staff should staff require urgent time off from work. The same manager will then always be able allow personnel to be away from their assignments for short durations without hampering or causing any delay to work deliverables. By not impacting the work, the manager not only keeps his company and his customer satisfied, but more importantly, the manager gains, in return, greater commitment and allegiance from the staff member who was given the time off.
Of course, common sense must be applied by the manager when granting personal time off to staff. The risk of abuse by nefarious employees could very well turn a leave for a family emergency into a day at the beach or the ball game.
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Lesson No. 060: Root cause of child mis-behavior (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf’s is a Klingon, a race of warriors that value honor and courage above all. However, his pre-teen son is behaving very negatively by lying, stealing and even bullying others in his class. Worf proceeds to lecture his son on his bad attitude by explaining the value of honor and holding true to one’s words. He tells his son that a Klingon would rather face death than act dishonorably, for to show dishonor is to bring shame to the family name. His son quickly apologizes for his behavior and promises not to repeat his mistake. Soon after, the child is caught misbehaving again.
Lesson:
In most instances, children prefer to not be talked down to by adults. They usually respond more favorably if they feel that they are being understood by the adult and not being looked upon as just a mere child. However, the adult must remember that the child is still a child; that is, they are still unable to distinguish between all things good and bad, especially when it comes to behavior. Children learn from not only by that which is taught to them directly, but more importantly by what they experience day to day.
It is easy to understand why children exhibit attitudes detrimental to themselves when they come from homes with parents who perhaps argue all the time, or abuse alcohol or other controlled substances, or parade different “aunts” and “uncles” who stay the night. These children, unfortunately, are not offered the proper guidelines to help them understand what is and is not acceptable conduct.
What is not so easy to comprehend is when a child from a very caring and nurturing family environment pursues a harmful line of behavior that is contrary to their parents teachings. If the bad influence is not found within the family, then the child’s peers must be examined. Children are most receptive to the actions of their peers, whether good or bad, mostly out of a need to be accepted within the peer group. If the child’s friends are found to not be the cause either, then there is something much deeper occurring within the child causing them to act in a wrong manner and bringing attention to them selves. This is where admonishing the child for their behavior needs to be replaced with trying to root out the true motivations for their actions.
In the case of Lt. Worf, it becomes very clear that his son first felt abandoned by the untimely death of his mother, and then felt further unwanted when his father left him to be raised by his grand parents. His lashing out was his expression of frustration and anger at being left alone. When Lt. Worf asks his son to remain with him on board the Enterprise, his son’s demeanor reverses completely.
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Lesson No. 061: Only cowards have extra-affairs (Riker, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker has a past relationship history with Counselor Troy on board the Enterprise. They did not pursue the relationship, however, remained very good, close friends. While visiting an alien planet, Riker gets emotionally attached to one of the local female inhabitants of the planet. Recognizing his feelings for the alien female, Riker takes the time to tell Troy of his situation. Riker is not asking for permission from Troy, but does consider her feelings to be important in this matter. Troy expresses her appreciation for Riker taking the time to tell her about his situation and she says that it will impact their relationship, for it is the nature of relationships to change, and in their case, this change only makes her and Riker better friends.
Lesson:
If the one constant of the universe is change, then our emotional relationships are also at the mercy of this mercurial phenomenon. Change can be for the better and make relationships grow stronger over time. However, there are times when the change only serves to diminish.
Long before the heart begins to wane, the eyes are often the first to wander. To seek comfort in the arms of another while still remaining in a committed relationship with someone else is the act of a true coward. To commit such an effrontery while being married is the act of an evil person. Why not be up front and terminate one relationship before starting another? It doesn’t take much to break off a relationship, just a few words at most, which will no doubt cause hurt and pain. However, this will be nothing compared to the anguish that will felt by the betrayal of trust as the extra-affair is exposed.
For almost all of us, it is quite difficult to understand how the few stolen moments of pleasure sought in the arms of another, can outweigh the inevitable disaster that awaits these perpetrators. Self-respect and integrity are unknown to them, as is the shame that will be carried by every member of their entire family for their actions. Despite any good they may perform in their lives, history will not forget such betrayers of trust, from our leaders such as King David, King Henry VIII, Governor Elliot Spitzer (NY), Senator John Edwards (NC) and most recently, celebrities Tiger Woods and Jesse James (spouse of actress Sandra Bullock), to name but only a few. These cowards could have learned a very quick lesson in life from Riker’s forthrightness with Troy.
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Lesson No. 062: Overcoming personal bias for the right cause (Riker, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf, of the Klingon warrior race, finds the androgynous alien race of a planet, which the Enterprise crew is visiting, to be quite unsettling, almost to the point of being repugnant to him. Yet, when Cmdr. Riker plans an unauthorized visit to the planet to rescue one of the aliens from wrongful captivity, Worf is the only one to come forward and volunteer to go with Riker on the mission. Despite the prospects of a court-martial for this unsanctioned mission, Worf tells Riker that as his commanding officer, Riker can order him not to go; however, he asks Riker not to give him that order, for a warrior does not let a friend go into danger alone.
Lesson:
Let’s face it, we all have prejudices. No matter how unbiased or saintly we may feel about ourselves, we all suffer from personal likes and dislikes of certain things based on pure subjectivity. Even though these antipathies may be founded in something far less parochial than the pedestrian race, religion, creed, etc., based bigotries, they nevertheless do manage to control our actions and reactions.
There are times, however, when mankind does manage to show signs of a greater consciousness by displaying dispassionate impartiality in his quest for the just cause, no matter what his personal beliefs. We prove that we can be better than we are when we step forward to fight for the right cause or for the rights of others, in spite of ourselves. To stand in support of those of whom we may disapprove to fight the common enemy or to support the right to speak for those who speak against everything we believe to be right and value most dearly, these are amongst the highest self-less qualities of humanity.
Just as the Klingon warrior welcomes the opportunity to battle beside his friend, no matter what his personal feelings, so we humans too can overcome our own prejudices to always fight the good fight.
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Lesson No. 063: Unacceptable traditions and customs (Riker, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf, a Klingon warrior, is injured severely, resulting in a spinal injury that paralyzes both his legs. By Klingon tradition, a warrior, who can no longer walk is unable to fight, and must therefore, kill himself. The Klingon suicide must be performed with the aid of a friend. In this case, Worf reaches out to Cmdr. Riker to help him in the ritual. Riker is aghast at the thought of Worf killing himself. Worf tries his best to convince Riker to respect the Klingon way of life and, as his friend, help him to die the way of the warrior. Riker leaves and returns to Worf carrying the ritualistic Klingon blade used to end the warrior’s life. Pleased at first with Riker’s reappearance, Worf is quickly dismayed and shocked as Riker explains his findings on the Klingon ritual. With precise descriptive clarity Riker wields the blade showing how the suicide aide must first stab the blade deep into the heart of the warrior, then pull out the blade and wipe the blood from the blade on the aide’s own sleeve. However, as Riker found out in his research of Klingon tradition, the duty of the suicide aide must fall on the eldest son of the warrior. Worf’s son is only a pre-teen child, who happens to be on board. Unable to ever accept his son ever doing such a nefarious act, Worf decides not to commit suicide.
Lesson:
There is always place for maintaining tradition and customs in our human lives. Our tradition gives us a link to our ancestors and our respective cultures. We abide by these older customs almost instinctively, for to be without tradition and culture is to be without any foundation. We nurture our young with the knowledge of our heritage, much as the tree nourishes its leaves from the strength of its roots.
While our traditions do give us the building blocks upon which we grow, there are times when we must question some of the practices maintained within the culture. Any custom, which deprives the individual of their in-born rights as human beings to flourish and practice their own way of life, must be opposed. The individual’s right to maintain their own traditions and customs should always be permitted, as long as they in no way diminish the quality of the individual’s own life and does not negatively impact the lives of others.
As technology continues to bring the common man closer to his fellow man around the world, we find at times we do have vast differences in our respective traditions and cultures. As humans in charge of our own destinies, we always reserve the right to break with our traditions if it improves our quality of life.
Just as the ugly thought of Worf’s pre-teen son wiping the blood off the blade on his own sleeve after having stabbed his father through the heart caused Worf to reject his Klingon custom of suicide, hopefully, we humans can recognize the ugliness in some of our more ritualistic customs and abandon them just as promptly.
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Lesson No. 064: Genetic engineering (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The crew of the Enterprise arrives at a planet that uses genetic engineering to create their societies. This way, the alien civilization pre-programs each individual born with specific abilities, talents and limitations to best serve the society. Capt. Picard finds this genetic engineering manipulation of individuals from birth to be very distasteful. He sees the breeding out of the unknowns, uncertainties and self-discovery from life to be a hindrance, not a benefit. He believes that knowing the future is already written and that boundaries and limitations for growth have already been set in life is a life not worth living.
Lesson:
Our ever growing ability to understand and manipulate the onset of life at the genetic level presents many wonderful opportunities to rid our species of many illnesses and diseases. Just as the vaccines for Polio, Rubella, Smallpox, Tuberculosis and many others have already saved millions of lives, so perhaps one day our findings of the root causes of Cancer, HIV, and other fatal ailments at the genetic level will help rid us of those plagues also.
However, it is a totally another story if we decide to extend our genetic manipulation technology to the point of embracing Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. If we see the condition of our world today and recognize that the chaos and evils which reign supreme are all caused by those humans we ourselves have put in charge (political, religious, etc.), then can you imagine what kind of a genetically controlled world these self-centered, morally and ethically deprived megalomaniacs would create? To place the total control of the creation of life in the hands of just a few humans does not just deny us the rights to our intrinsic freedoms, but it also absolves us of our responsibilities to control our own destinies.
Science, especially medicine, should always break through the barriers of each new frontier. But, just as science comes to a screeching halt once we try to peek past beyond the theoritical Big Bang, or beyond the physical edge of our known Universe, so must our attempts to fully manipulate the creation of life. This is by no means intended as a religious fervor motivated remark. To totally control every facet of the creation of new life so as to produce artists, engineers, laborers, philosophers, etc. totally shaped and formed to never think outside of their area own of specialty, is to give birth to the death of humanity. If we manage to cut out of life the creativity, the motivations and aspirations to learn and experience and grow beyond our limitations, then we have lost perhaps our greatest gift of all and Friedrich Nietzsche will be proven right in his statement that “God is Dead.”…heaven help us all then!
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Lesson No. 065: A priori knowledge mandatory before meeting (Picard, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
On a first contact mission with a new alien civilization, Counselor Troy gets emotionally involved with the leader of the alien world, prior to his initial introductory meeting with Capt. Picard. As Picard and Troy head for their first meeting together with the leader of the alien world, Troy pauses to confess to Picard that she has behaved unprofessionally by getting involved in an inappropriate relationship with the planet’s leader. Despite facing the consequences of the admission of her guilt, she explains that she wanted to make sure that Picard knew all the facts pertaining to all the parties involved in the meeting, before Picard convened the meeting.
Lesson:
In any professional meeting, especially negotiation oriented meeting, one of the most critical factors to success is the proper and timely access to information in preparation for the meeting. It is not enough to know just the facts and figures. Many times, it is the fore-knowledge of the individuals involved in the meeting that can give the upper hand in any successful negotiations. Just as all good coaches and trainers formulate their strategies for the next game or match by studying the rival’s latest data, including reviewing past performances, so should anyone heading into any professional meeting. Knowing the meeting participant individuals likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses can help prepare one to control the direction of the meeting into self-beneficial venues.
The biggest deterrent to success is, of course, the introduction of any new damaging information, which was unbeknownst heretofore. Any surprise disclosure of facts seen unfavorable to one’s own agenda can quickly derail accomplishing any pre-set objectives. Therefore, in order to avoid such situations, one must have extremely trustworthy and diligent resources that will not leave any stone or rock unturned in gathering information for the meeting. It goes without saying that if there is any wrong-doing or even the mere appearance of inappropriate behavior on anyone’s part, this must become a priori knowledge before the meeting.
Hopefully, everyone’s staff resource is as conscientious and courageous as Troy and will voluntarily disclose such information to their management without any reservation, before it is too late.
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Lesson No. 066: Managing hasty decisions (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When the genetic engineered colonists of an alien world meet the crew of the Enterprise and learn of other worlds and civilizations, many voice their wish to leave their own world to experience the unknowns and the discoveries of non-genetically engineered life. However, in a genetically engineered world, each member plays a vital role in society and the absence of even a few will disrupt the stability of the colony, perhaps even leading to its destruction. As the restless members of the society gather to voice their strong desire to leave the planet, in spite of the consequences to the planet, their leader asks them to wait for at least 6 months, to help their society in adapting to their departure. This plea falls on deaf ears. Capt. Picard steps in to voice his concern that in the past 5 days, with the arrival of the Enterprise and her crew, the people of this world have only experienced the superficial side of life outside their planet. As emotions are running high, Picard asks the people wishing to leave to take adequate time to weigh the true impact and consequences of their decisions first, before committing themselves to leaving their world.
Lesson:
Haste makes waste is a fine proverb, leading at times to nothing but sheer disaster. We have all experienced, at one time or another, the incredible urge to respond to something immediately, with great passion. We may have received a communiqué (email, letter, phone call, etc.), observed a certain gesture from someone, overheard a comment, or been eyewitness to an incident occur, which caused us to have an immediate, passionate reaction to respond with vim and vigor. DON’T DO IT!
In almost all such scenarios, our passionate reaction almost always blinds us from seeing beyond our narrow tunnel vision view of the situation. More often then not, we are blinded from the real truth of the matter. While it is in the nature of humans to be mean, sarcastic, spiteful, and a dozen other malevolencies, it is quite possible that in our haste, we have criminalized the other party with these traits, when in actuality they are not guilty of any wrong doing. It is only our misperception of the other that led us to want to crucify them.
The only way to correctly respond in these situations is to allow for the transition of time. Time is our only recourse. Let the matter and the dust settle. When cooler heads prevail, then can we really see and gauge the good from the bad, the truth from the lie, and avoid making any serious mistake in judgment.
Picard’s advice to wait and weigh the consequences of leaving one’s home world is just as viable for us in our heat-of-the-moment decisions to leave our jobs, friends and families, or in retaliating incorrectly against those who are, in truth, not guilty of anything.
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Lesson No. 067: Managing sudden loss of resources
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The leader of a genetically engineered alien world, who has always worked hard to serve the people of his society, sees failure in him self when many of the population decide to leave their home world. The idea of leaving their home world does not arise from any dissatisfaction with their world or their leadership, but rather, with the arrival of the Enterprise and the attraction to visit other worlds and other civilizations. The leader of the world must now contend with serious gaps in his society, as each member in the society is engineered to serve unique functions and the sudden departure of so many will surely disrupt, if not severely damage the existing society.
Lesson:
Leadership, no matter how facilitating and engaging, is always vulnerable to the prospects of sudden loss of resources. The loss may not be directly caused by the leadership or even by the current working environment. People voluntarily leave organizations for a multitude of reasons beyond just dissatisfaction with their work or management. Health conditions, family needs, restlessness, continuing education and ambition, are but only a few reasons why people seek to change jobs. When this happens, the leadership cannot be self-reproaching. Instead, the leadership must first quickly accept the situation of the departures, for it would be detrimental to all concerned to linger on attempting to retain the resources. If by any chance, the departing resource can be “bought off” to remain, then this only delays their inevitable departure and just serves to antagonize those who did not receive any rewards for not trying to leave.
Once the gap analysis is performed on the missing resources, the leadership can work towards realignment or addition of new resources. True, there will be hardships endured by those who chose to remain by their picking up the initial slack in effort; however, once things return to a level of normalcy, these individuals should be quickly recognized and rewarded through various means including financial, promotions, increased responsibilities and even extra paid days off.
One of the attributes of good leadership is to accept harsh realities, no matter how painful they may be. Nothing is as painful or as jeopardizing as losing key resources. However, after an initial tilt, the leadership can bring the ship back on course, if acceptance of the situation is immediate and the contingency plans remain focused on the right goals.
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Lesson No. 068: Crayon is mightier than warp drive (Guinan)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Guinan, an alien bartender on the Enterprise, remarks to a child who is playing with drawings, how a crayon can take one to far more places than a starship can.
Lesson:
Every parent in today’s high tech world must take note of this statement. In fact, they should make a banner out of this statement and post it on the walls of their children’s rooms.
While it is far easier to keep a child occupied with television, internet games, iPods, iPads, Wii’s, Xbox’s and a multitude of other hand held video devices, there is nothing more powerful than letting a child explore their imagination. With simple pencil/crayon to paper, a child can pour out their un-coalesced thoughts into glorious images of rocket ships and princesses and anything else their innocent minds can conjure up.
These wonderfully malleable minds can be so quickly stunted and corrupted by the sometimes stark violent and banal images in video games and even the desensitizing harmful actions of TV characters. Perhaps the worst influence of exposing a child to high tech distractions, is the ability of such instruments to totally draw in the child to the point of their totally ignoring the real world around them, often leading to self-sequestering, ostracizing by others in later school life and an inability to relate to other humans.
If, as it has been said, that a mind is a terrible thing to waste, then to inhibit a child’s imagination is to deprive the world of Einstein’s and Beethoven’s.
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Lesson No. 069: Strongest man is he who stands alone (Picaard, Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Data, an android and senior officer aboard the Enterprise, works on an assignment with a scientist who has utilized artificial intelligence in developing a new set of tools called the ExoCom’s, The ExoCom, a small polyhedron object, is able to maneuver around and use instruments to perform menial tasks, which may be fataly dangerous to humans. Data soon realizes the ExoCom’s have become sentient and as such, he fights for their right to be treated as living beings and not just objects delegated to servitude.
When Capt. Picard and Lt. Cmdr. Jeordi become trapped in a situation where only the ExoCom’s can perform any possible chance of a rescue, Data stands alone in opposing the forced deployment of the ExoCom’s on the suicidal mission. Eventually, Picard and Jeordi are rescued by the ExoCom’s and in doing so the ExoCom’s prove themselves to be alive, especially as one of the ExoCom’s sacrifices his life to save the lives of its peers.
Afterwards, Data explains to Picard that it was very difficult for him to sanction the usage of the ExoCom’s to rescue Picard and Jeordi, even though he understood it meant possibly sacrificing both Picard’s and Jeordi’s lives. Data reminds Picard, that in the past, Picard had fought with Starfleet for the rights of Data to be recognized as sentient when no one else would stand up for him and it was in the same vein that Data stood alone in support of the ExoCom’s rights.
Lesson:
To fight for the rights of others who cannot stand up for themselves is a most valiant cause. As these battles are usually going against the established acceptable norms of society or culture, they can very easily end up harming personally, professionally, and at times even physically, the individual advocate for the cause. These hero advocates are never in the fight for the selfish reasons of seeking fame and fortune for themselves. Rather, they resolve themselves to the fight because there was no other option. Their glory comes in the satisfaction of righting a wrong, in spite of great risks to themselves.
History is replete with such advocate heroes, from President Abraham Lincoln, who eventually faced death in his struggle for the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves, to the fictional character Atticus Finch in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, defending the field worker, Tom Robinson, a metaphoric ‘mockingbird’ who is wrongfully accused of a crime, to Susan Brownell Anthony, prominent civil rights leader and a key player in the Women’s Suffrage movement in the US, who did not live to see the fruits of her labor by the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920 allowing women the right to vote.
Henrik Ibsen, the 19th century playwright said “The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone.” Within each of us is this strength, willing to fight for the wronged, the down-trodden, the underdog, oft forgotten and dismissed members of our society. What most of us lack is the passion for the cause which would allow us to look beyond our comfort zones of regular meals, nightly TV, air conditioned environments and convenient shopping malls.
Isn’t it ironic that we humans can so easily decide to not step-up to fight for the right cause, yet, as Picard noted to Data, the android, Data’s decision to fight for the rights of the ExoCom’s was the most human decision Data ever made.
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Lesson No. 070: Yesterday's enemy, today's friend (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf, a Klingon warrior and Chief Security Officer on the Enterprise, arrives at a sequestered Romulan held former prison planet where Klingons and Romulans now live together in harmony. Worf is unable to accept that Romulans and Klingons, who are sworn blood enemies for centuries, can now co-exist here in this manner. The Romulan leader tells Worf that he does not expect for Worf to understand why things are the way they are on this planet as Worf is set in the old ways of hatred between the two cultures.
Lesson:
In the history of mankind, our propensity has been to make enemies of each other based on religion, politics, amassing wealth and property. All of which is grounded in suspicion, envy and hatred of others who are ‘different’ from us and our ways of life. War, with its catastrophic results in loss of lives and destruction of cultures and entire civilizations, is always the inevitable consequence of our folly.
Strangely though, with the passage of time, once our battles have been fought, we find common grounds for dialogue, commerce, and even alliances with our former enemies. Within just a century, our recent memories can recall the sheer animosity and rage that most in the US felt towards the Germans, the Japanese, the Koreans and the Vietnamese. Yet today, all of the aforementioned live and prosper in the US, living side by side with their former enemies.
The opposite is also true. In more recent history, with the fall of Shah Pahlavi in Iran and the ensuing rise in tensions between Iran and the US, Iran’s neighboring enemy Iraq quickly became an ally of the US. Later, as the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, the US quickly allied with the locals in Afghanistan to oppose the invading forces. However, as the tides of man’s politics always manages to wash away any castles built in unity, so it was to be that former allies would eventually battle each other another day.
In the world of Star Trek, the alien Organian prediction made to Capt. Kirk, that one day the Klingons and Humans will become friends, is realized in the time of Capt. Picard and Lt. Worf, but only after the cost of millions of lives on both sides. The obvious parallel path between the Klingon/Human struggles and the Klingon/Romulan feud apparently escapes Lt. Worf. Minds set in the old ways, blinded by hatred, prejudice and fear can never see beyond their own limited unenlightened views.
As we evolve with each generation, some manage to see beyond our own self-destructive nature and try to encourage harmony between disparate groups. However, for the most part, we manage to hold on to our prejudices and promote separation within humanity in self-righteous pontification and, ironically enough, in the name of peace. For true global peace to ever reign supreme in our world, akin to the utopian view of Gene Roddenberry, the founder of Star Trek, the path to a unified world cannot be brought about by our leaders; the process must first begin within each of us.
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Lesson No. 071: Cultural heritage and assimilation (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
On a Romulan held former prison planet, Klingons and Romulans have lived together peacefully for decades. However, as Lt. Worf, the Klingon Chief of Security on board the Enterprise, arrives on the planet, he quickly learns that the Klingon culture is totally suppressed by the local Klingons and nothing about the true Klingon warrior ways of life are taught to the Klingon young. As Worf begins telling the stories of the Klingon home world and the Klingon ways of the warrior to the younger generation of Klingons on the planet, the youth are compelled and invigorated by Worf’s words of honor and pride in the Klingon culture.
Lesson:
As mankind grows ever closer together, due mostly to technology, we experience the wide variety of cultures that exists in our world today at a much faster pace. In the US, which is often considered to be the largest melting pot of cultures on our planet, one can experience the wonderful diversification of mankind, sometimes within just a single neighborhood. Growing up in mixed communities offers each individual an opportunity to learn and absorb parts of other cultures.
As new generations are introduced or born into such multi-cultural environments, it is only natural that assimilation into the local inhabitant’s culture prevails. However, such assimilation does not preclude the nurturing of one’s own culture, that which has been gained by heritage. In the US, promotion of one’s own culture is encouraged through distinct religious organizations, language classes, community gatherings and festivals.
To deliberately abort the culture, and especially language, of one’s heritage is to deprive the individual of an additional dimension and depth to their lives. Children are always encouraged to expand their horizons of learning by experiencing sports, music, painting, etc, to make them more compatible with the world around them. Learning of their cultural heritage and former mother tongue can be considered as just another facet of their education. Just as experiencing cultures beyond our own gains us insights into our fellow humans, the opposite is also true, and that excluding and ignoring other cultures only segregate us from each other.
If indeed we were scattered all over the world, cursed with different languages as a mandate to separate us (as per the story of the Tower of Babel), then we had better learn to continue to translate each others words and understand each others cultural aspects of life, if we are to continue to grow into a unified world. Appreciating the variety in mankind does not perpetuate separation between us; rather, the bi-lingual, bi-cultural individual helps us to bridge the gaps between us.
The very basis of Vulcan philosophy is the acknowledgment and acceptance of the vast variable nature of the Universe, symbolized by the IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations). We humans are fortunate enough to celebrate the IDIC right here on our home world, everyday, within our own communities.
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Lesson No. 072: Life preservers of old hatreds (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
On a planet where historical rival races, the Klingons and the Romulans, have learned to live together, Lt. Worf, a proud Klingon warrior, meets a Klingon girl for whom he has feelings. Upon discovering the girl has a Romulan father, Worf immediately rejects her. Worf openly tells the girl that he finds the union of her parents to be obscene and unacceptable. The girl defends the way of life on her planet and tries to make Worf understand that the Klingons and Romulans on her world have overcome their blinding prejudices and learned to live together in peace. She pleads with Worf by pointing out that he had liked her before finding out that she was half-Romulan, and now, can he not leave his old hatreds behind and continue to accept her as she is. Worf admits he is not sure that he can.
Lesson:
None of us are ever born with bigotry and prejudices of other cultures and other people pre-programmed into us. Just like math and science, we have to be taught these particularly disgusting human traits. Courtesy of every self-serving parent, teacher, political, community and religious leader, we grow up absorbing their hatred of others and make them our own. We make our wonderful gift of life very petty by working hard to diminish the value of others not based on their deeds or words, but rather based on their appearances and beliefs.
It appears that only time is the true cure for these afflictions.
Where we once stood proud to condemn Jews in Europe, locked arm-in-arm to block black American children from entering all-white schools in the US, and made pariahs out of those who would ever dare to marry outside of their own group, we now stand with our heads lowered in shame for our past disgrace.
Unfortunately, not all heads are yet lowered together in unison. As some clutch to their old bigotries as life preservers for their way of life, so new hatreds are borne by the next generation and we continue further away from achieving a unified people on our planet.
For those of us, who like Worf, believe that we are not able to change from our old ways of hatred, we remain as the lowest form of so-called intelligent life on our planet, diminutive in our status, composed of flesh, blood and bones and a wasted, closed-mind. When our love and hate of each other becomes based only on actions and not presuppositions, only then we will be on the threshold of a brand new trek.
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Lesson No. 073: Managing policies and procedures outside the office (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf, the Klingon Chief of Security from the Enterprise, is being held against his will on a peaceful planet where former enemies, the Klingons and the Romulans, now live together in peace. When Worf asks to travel outside of the restricted area and promises to not to try to escape, the Romulan camp commander, at first, rejects Worf’s request. However, as the elder Klingon leader on the planet reminds the Romulan commander that a Klingon never breaks his word, the Romulan Commander leaves the final decision up to the Klingon elder. Worf is given permission to travel outside by the elder Klingon; however, he is to be chaperoned by another Klingon, who in turn is given the direct order to kill Worf, in case Worf tries to escape.
Lesson:
One of the inherent responsibilities of management is to take risks in assigning tasks. It is not just the individual talents of the available resources that dictate the selection of personnel; rather, it is the overall ability of the resource to meet the necessary needs of the assignment and represent the organization in the best light that must be considered carefully. Whereas, tasks performed strictly internally within the four walls of a company can be distributed easily without too much concern for interaction with people outside, it is more the assignments which require contact by personnel from the company with people outside the organization that should raise concerns for exercising proper due diligence in the selection process.
When any internal personnel interacts with the organization’s clients, prospects, partners, outside media or even with another division within the same organization, the management must ensure the assigned person is fully aware of their fiduciary obligations as a formal representative of the company. That is, all words communicated and actions taken by the individual will be considered as sanctioned by, and as a reflection of the organization. This not only necessitates that the individual very carefully mind their P’s & Q’s, but also to hold to the very highest standards of ethical and moral behavior as constituted by their company’s internal Policies and Procedures manual. Violation of these standards may not only embarrass the organization publicly, but could also bring about financial and legal losses.
Under the prospects of such dire consequences, management is well advised to make clear to their representative the possible penalties that can be incurred for violating company policies, well before the assignment begins. The reductions in rank, loss of promotion possibilities, and dismissal are all noteworthy penalties. Unfortunately, even in the case of deliberate repeat offenders, management, however, may not consider the Klingon practice of death as a penalty, as a viable reprimand.
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Lesson No. 074: Is ignorance really bliss (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf, the proud Klingon warrior and Chief of Security on board the Enterprise finds himself on a secluded former Romulan prison planet, where Klingons and Romulans now live together in peace. Worf discovers that the younger Klingon generation has forgotten the old ways of the Klingon culture. When Worf begins to revive the deep rooted Klingon warrior nature within the Klingon youths, he disrupts the balance within the community and is sentenced to death by the ruling Romulans. A half-Klingon, half-Romulan female who grows close to Worf, cries out in frustration by asking Worf rhetorically why he ever came to their planet; the local Klingons were so happy that they were separated from the Klingon home world and they didn’t know there was anything missing in their lives…until Worf showed up.
Lesson:
Ignorance may be bliss, but it is usually advocated by those in power wanting to retain their control over others. Only by learning that there is something “better or more” than what we currently have, do we aspire to improve our lives and our world around us. With the knowledge of a better way, where we were once content with our daily lives, we learn to become dissatisfied with our situation and strive to improve our lot. Just as the appearance of endless opportunities of other lands drive many to emigrate from their own country, so do the prospects of greater financial rewards, promotions and corner offices drive many to seek career growth outside of their own organization.
The desire to grow and do better is a very human trait based on our levels of education, knowledge and experience. To try to restrain this quality has caused kingdoms to be overthrown, governments to fall and many of man’s own laws to be abolished.
With today’s global knowledge base so readily available to everyone at the touch of a fingertip, we can no longer hide from the reality of vastly differentiating lifestyles between the poor, the middle class, the rich and the super rich. Our knowledge in this case satiates us with dissatisfaction, leaving us always wanting more. What drives us to success also plunges us to depths of discontent if we fail to achieve. Not knowing what we are missing can, therefore, sometimes be quite an attractive asset, if the missing is truly unattainable.
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Lesson No. 075: Admitting guilt to upper management (Picard, Crusher)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Dr. Beverly Crusher, the Chief Medical Officer on board the Enterprise, suspects that the death of an alien Ferengi scientist was not accidental, but rather murder. Believing that only an autopsy will prove her point, she performs an illegal autopsy. She does this in direct defiance of Capt. Picard’s order, denying her autopsy request, due to the Ferengi custom of prohibiting any autopsies being performed on Ferengi people. Immediately after performing the autopsy, which yields no definitive results, Dr. Crusher goes directly to Capt. Picard and admits her wrong doing and tells him she is ready to accept any punishment for her actions.
Lesson:
When someone, especially management or anyone in authority, deliberately commits a wrongful act, ethically, morally or legally, the worst thing they can do to exacerbate the situation is to not admit their culpability or try to deny their actions and create a cover-up. Only by taking immediate responsibility for their actions can the guilty party ever hope to gain any sympathy from those in charge.
By informing management first yourself and letting them know your reasons for what you did may count well in your favor comes judgment time, as opposed to management finding out on their own about your erroneous actions from someone else. Worst of all, if your management is going to be held accountable for your actions, then their lack of knowledge of your actions will not only embarrass them, but may also compound the degree of penalty pronounced upon them.
There should be no hesitation in admitting your actions openly, if you believe you were truly justified in what you did, regardless of the consequences. By remaining silent, however, you imply your acceptance of your guilt in the complicity of your actions and compound decisions to be made not in your favor. To voluntarily admit or to not admit is the easiest question to ask yourself before undertaking any action that you think may be considered wrongful by others. There is only one right answer to this question and it doesn’t take a Medical Degree of Dr. Crusher’s to get the correct answer.
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Lesson No. 076: Faith is not religion (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf, a proud Klingon Warrior and Chief of Security on the Enterprise, begins to question his belief in his Klingon holy faith. Worf travels to the holiest of Klingon places where he performs days of Klingon rituals meant to help Klingons in discovering their faith through signs envisioned. After a while, as Worf resigns himself to failure in his efforts and prepares to leave, one of the elder Klingon priests tries to advice Worf on his quest. The priest tells Worf not to get discouraged so easily, and that his failure was in not seeking the right question to ask first, before looking for answers. He tells Worf that the truth can only be found by opening one’s heart and not clouding the mind with doubt and hesitation.
Lesson:
Faith is perhaps the most personal of human conditions. While we may find it acceptable to not be totally honest on all occasions with others, including family, friends and loved ones, we must always be completely and brutally truthful when it comes to being honest with ourselves and our faith. To seek one’s faith must be a pure journey, devoid of all distractions to the mind and the heart, and all thoughts of material things, personal passions and desires must be discarded.
Whether you identify your faith through providence, deity or God, is really irrelevant. These are just labels, as are the thousands of other names by which every culture describes their faith. If you believe that mankind is bound together by the highest of powers, then you have faith in something far beyond our normal existence and perhaps, even our understanding. Discussions and questions of faith cannot be conducted using logic or scientific analysis for faith is based in personal belief. Our connection to our God, through our faith, is immutable.
However, if logic is applied in a priori acceptance of God, and in the fact that we are all held equal before our God, then it is undeniable that no one individual can have a better relationship or connection to God than anyone else; that is, no one knows God any better than you. This is where faith and religion separate.
Our religions give us guideline for living our lives. Our keepers of our religion administer the written words and stories of our religion to help us to better understand these guidelines. This is a wonderful concept. It is, also, however, a business concept. This may be a very difficult conclusion to accept for one’s own religion, and may be not so difficult when it is applied to some other religion, for one culture’s scripture is another culture’s mythology.
Faith is each man’s individual connection to God, while religion is man’s attempt to quantify, clarify and distribute God’s words in a business plan based on administering or exploiting faith. Through religion we accept placing other men above and ahead of ourselves in their ability to better connect with God than us. This is unwarranted. It may be true that these Holy men may be able to discuss the written words better than some of us; however, God does not need Holy men as translators or middle men to reach each of us. There is nothing wrong in following these Holy men of God, as long as we realize that we are each just as worthy of reaching God by ourselves as anyone else who presumes to show us the right path.
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Lesson No. 077: Recognizing Omniscience (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Kahless, who is the revered, holy founder of the Klingon race and culture, and its first emperor, returns to reunite the Klingon people, 1500 years after his death. Amongst Klingons, his second coming is quickly accepted by some, while others, mostly those in power, reject his resurrection by denouncing him as a fraud. Kahless proves by his knowledge that he is who he says he is and that he has returned because the Klingon race has lost its true honorable warrior path with petty bickering and corruption. The increase of factions on both sides of Kahless can easily plunge the Klingon Empire into a civil war. When the truth is learned that Kahless is actually a clone, preprogrammed with all of the original Kahless’ stories and ways, a decision is made to allow the cloned Kahless to hold the honorary title of Emperor to help guide the people, and let the power of governing the Klingon Empire still remain within the ruling council and its leader.
Lesson:
Man’s true bond with his own faith is an immeasurable force. In times of need and critical situations, man always turns to his own faith for help, and especially when facing death, man is invariably heard calling out to his personal deity. The (Christian) Joab-like stories of man’s unswerving faith to his God perpetuate in various forms through out many beliefs. Similarly, almost all beliefs share an apocalyptical future when the respective Saviors of each faith are expected to return to salvage mankind and start life on Earth all over again in some manner. It is only our leap of faith, which tells us that we will actually be able to recognize such a Return.
Practicality, empirical data and logic can never be used to validate such an event. Given this lack of any factual evidence, it is very easy for each of us to quickly deride and dismiss such an occurrence within any faith outside of our own. Unfortunately, the exact same arguments can be used by all those in power within one’s own faith, who would not wish to lose their existing control over their societies and communities to a new found God-sent Leader.
It does not take a seer to foretell what the reaction of mankind will be to Omniscience in the form of humans. We just have to look at our own respective individual cultural histories to see our inability to recognize when we are in the presence of righteous Omniscient leadership, and to accept that there will always be men in power who will suppress and persecute such Leaders.
As is the case in all discussions of faith, it is only the pure strength of our personal beliefs that can guide us down the right path, and more often than not, we usually end up with more questions than answers.
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Lesson No. 078: Public beatings of loud cell phone users (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Worf, a Klingon warrior and Chief of Security on the Enterprise is given the task of liaison with a visiting exchange alien ambassador. Worf, an aggressive personality, tones down his usual temper to fulfill his duty in escorting the ambassador around the Enterprise. Unfortunately, the ambassador appears to be set on testing Worf’s patience. He continually provokes Worf by being extremely rude and dismissive. Worf manages his best to curtail his frustration and anger at every turn. In discussing the intolerable situation with Counselor Deanna Troy, she tells Worf to stop being so patient and accommodating and to let the ambassador know that there are limits and boundaries to bad behavior and that some behavior is just not acceptable in a civilized human society.
Lesson:
Dealing with adversarial, offensive and rude people is one of the basic functions of Management. We see this function in practice first as children. As a child, and later as a youth, we try to push the boundaries of behavior as set by our parents. Some obviously push harder than others, as evidenced by public displays of outbursts and tantrums. Later in life, based on our respective parental up bringing, and in some degree to our inherent qualities, we may decide to push the borders of proper behavior as set forth and deemed acceptable by our societies. In some cases, there are adults who may even try to push such envelopes of conduct in their work places.
In all of the aforementioned instances, there must be a place where those in charge - parents, law enforcement and work place managers - must draw a definitive line which may not be breeched by anyone, without incurring severe penalties. For breaking the parents’ rules for proper behavior, the children can be disciplined by eliminating their access to all electronic devices (TV, phones, computers, etc.) and canceling all extracurricular activities, including going out with friends. For breaking society’s rules of proper behavior, unfortunately, the authorities cannot intervene until a specific written law has been violated. The unacceptable behavior of smoking in clearly marked non-smoking areas or parking a car in a no parking zone can be dealt with by the authorities with citations; however, the sheer rudeness of the inevitable arrogant insensitive idiot who must talk loud on their cell phone in public places is not a punishable act…yet. Fortunately, most work places can be managed much better as the rules and regulations of office etiquette and proper behavior are clearly stated in writing. Violations of such rules and regulations usually results in verbal warnings, followed by written warnings and finally, dismissal.
Once we have defined the limits of acceptable behavior, we are empowered to first advise, then admonish if need be, people who are being offensive and rude. Worf manages to serve his admonishment to the ambassador with a 4 hour physical combat training session, where he gets to take out all of his pent up aggression by severely beating the ambassador. If only our laws allowed us to do the same to the publically loud cell phone user.
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Lesson No. 079: Managing contentious employees (Data, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When Capt. Picard and Commander Riker are taken aboard an enemy ship, Lt. Cmdr. Data, an android, assumes command of the Enterprise and promotes the Chief of Security, Lt. Worf, as the second in command, First Officer (Number One). Worf soon begins to show his dissention of Data’s decisions and commands. Worf even shows his annoyance with Data by muttering his sour feelings under his breath in front of subordinates. At this point, Data pulls Worf aside and informs Worf of his dissatisfaction with Worf’s performance as First Officer. By continually questioning Data’s orders in front of the crew and publically showing his disdain when not in agreement with Data’s command decisions, Worf is failing to do his duties in the role of First Officer. Data educates Worf on the primary function of the First Officer, which is to offer alternatives, if there any, on command decisions, and then to follow out the Captain’s orders, regardless of how he feels about the order, and especially if he disagrees with the order. Data gives Worf the directive to carry out his duties as described for the First Officer and refrain from making any further exhibitions of irritation or disagreement with command decisions in public; otherwise, Worf will be removed from the position of First Officer. Worf regrets his bad behavior and asks to remain as First Officer.
Lesson:
In order for management to retain proper control and be successful, there must be absolute respect shown for the management position from all subordinates. It is management’s duty to make the tough decisions and to take the necessary risks involved to achieve success in any endeavor. While it is acceptable for management to seek out alternatives from their staff, so as to make the best possible decision, it does not mean that the manager is relinquishing their management position.
In most organizations, management encourages staff to submit their input on many management-type decisions regarding tasks or the organization. However, when the management does make its final decision, the staff is expected to follow it without question. Should the decision turn out to be in error, then it is the management who will bear the responsibility and the consequences, not the staff.
Management should always maintain a very low tolerance threshold for any staff member who pursues a line of contentious behavior towards management. Staff should be allowed to disagree with their managers, however, not be belligerent or disrespectful, especially in a public forum. Such spoiled-brat type behavior and attitudes aimed at management usually indicate an individual only interested in seeking self-attention, and must be dealt with immediately and sternly. It is better to remove these personalities from the group quickly than to let them fester like an open wound and infect the rest of the body.
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Lesson No. 080: Management reprimand consequences (Data, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
While Lt. Cmdr. Data, and android, is in command of the Enterprise, with Lt. Worf serving as his second in command First Officer (Number One), Data has to reprimand Worf for his behavior. The reprimand is for behavior unbecoming that of a First Officer, as demonstrated by Worf in his continual questioning of Data’s orders and by publically exhibiting his irritation when in disagreement with Data’s command decisions.
When Worf is given the directive by Data to immediately cease from such behavior, or be removed from the position of First Officer, Worf expresses his regret for the situation and requests to remain as first Officer. Data grants his request.
Given that Data and Worf have always had a good work-related friendship prior to this altercation, Data takes the time to tell Worf of his regret if this incident has ended their friendship. Worf replies, in return, that it was he who actually jeopardized their friendship and that if Data could overlook this one incident, then, he would like to continue to maintain their friendship. Data agrees to Worf’s request.
Lesson:
Management must be very forthright and quick in its dealings with staff members who are disruptive and non-conforming to office etiquette and rules. Disrespectful attitudes towards other staff members and towards management should never be tolerated. However, once the fault has been addressed and if the responsible individual expresses regret for their behavior, management must be ready to exercise forgiveness. We are all human and we all make mistakes. If the guilty party readily admits their guilt and wishes to change their ways, management must encourage this individual and not persecute them. Holding a grudge will only deteriorate the situation and the relationship. It is far more cost effective and better for all concerned, to assimilate this individual back into the group, than it is to replace them with a new resource and spend the time and effort of re-training and re-introduction into the group.
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Lesson No. 081: Is management involvement really necessary (Picard, LaForge, Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard’s anxiety grows as his arrival at an admiral’s conference at Starfleet is severely delayed due to a malfunction in the Enterprise warp engines which has left the ship adrift. As Chief Engineer Jeordi LaForge and Lt. Cmdr. Data try to repair the warp engine damage, Picard hovers around them in the engineering section offering elementary suggestions for possible resolutions, all of which have already been attempted and failed. By injecting himself into the process, although with good intentions, Picard only manages to hinder the work being performed.
Lesson:
Managers are always required to be available to provide their staff with guidance, alternatives and hands-on assistance when needed. However, there are times when the involvement of a manager or higher level ranking personnel may only serve to delay and hinder the work progress. Especially in times of urgency, such as when deliveries fall behind schedule, or a road block is encountered in a task, or perhaps a customer is upset, there is an instinctive reaction from all managers to jump in and help resolve the situation by getting involved personally. Managers should always think twice before doing so.
First, managers must review if the problem really requires their physical presence or technical assistance; second, managers must ask themselves if they trust their staff to solve the issues by themselves; and third, managers must consider if the involvement of management might not send the wrong signal to all involved that the problem is more severe than it really is and that the staff is inept or incapable.
When staff is allowed to resolve problems by themselves, they gain a sense of pride and self-fulfillment that they accomplished something on their own, without management assistance. This is akin to the child who first toddles forward on his own two feet without being held up by an adult, or like the child who rolls down the road on his own bike without the parent running alongside, holding on to the bike. In these instances, the benefits of acquiring independence are equally shared by both the teacher and the student.
On the other hand, if the manager does not trust the staff to do the job right by themselves in the first place, then the manager has a far more serious problem than just the issue at hand. The manager needs to figure out where and how the trust was lost and fix that core problem, before trying to fix anything else.
Finally, keep in mind that staff, being respectful of managers, may not always tell the manager directly that the manager’s help is not needed. So, as managers, exercising restraint and even asking “Can I help?” may go a long way to avoiding un-necessary delays and frustrations.
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Lesson No. 082: Managing your manager (Picard, LaForge, Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard, being frustrated by repairs to the Enterprise Warp engines delaying his attendance at a conference, keeps unintentionally hindering Chief Engineer Jeordi LaForge and Lt. Cmdr. Data from fixing the problem by continually suggesting rather elementary solutions to the problem. Noticing Picard’s desire to help is only interfering with the work in progress, a low level engineer steps forward and asks Capt. Picard if he might assist her with an engine diagnostic that she is performing with regard to the problem. Picard is elated with the opportunity to be of help, and goes off with the low level engineer, leaving LaForge and Data to complete their work without any further interruptions.
Lesson:
The situation becomes quite precarious for staff when managers micro-manage and get involved in low level work issues with the staff. The micro-manager’s help often causes more interference with work progress than the intended assistance. As respectful employees, staff members will always appear to welcome the offer of help from their managers with perhaps even a pleasant “Thank you”, when in reality they are thinking “Go back to your office and let me do my work.”
So how does the staff member politely tell the manager to “butt out” without offending the manager or even getting fired? Truth is - you really can’t. The approach here is to understand the thought process of the manager first; then the solution becomes obvious.
The manager’s goal is to get the work done. The manager steps in when they believe there is a risk of failure. The manager may see the risk of failure as due to lack of time, lack of information, lack of resources, or worst case scenario lack of talent or skills in the staff to complete the task.
If the manager’s interference is resulting out of the worst case scenario of the manager lacking trust and faith in the staff’s abilities, then there needs to be a serious discussion first, privately, between the staff and the manager, before moving ahead with anything else.
If the issue is related to time, information, resources or something else identifiable and tangible, then the staff should put the manager to work in resolving those issues with clients, vendors and other management, away from the work at hand. If the issue is resolvable by the staff without any assistance, the staff should still put the manager to work in some menial task, such as testing something or reviewing written material, anything which is not going to interfere with the work at hand.
The key is to not reject the manager’s offer of help, but to ‘manage’ the manager’s resource availability towards anything which will help the task at hand and not hinder it. In effect, this is the same scenario as a child wanting to help a parent in the kitchen with cooking or with the maintenance work carried out on a car. Even though both of these work areas can prove dangerous to a child and hinder work progress, we never want to discourage the child by dismissing their offer of help. By asking the child to mix the batter instead of cutting vegetables, or to put the tools back in the tool box instead of actually using the tools, we end up encouraging the child with their involvement towards accomplishing the tasks.
Note: Any resemblance between managers and children inferred by this discussion is purely coincidental.
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Lesson No. 083: Repressed or confabulated memories (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
After communicating telepathically voluntarily with an alien telepath Lwaxana Troy, mother of Counselor Deanna Troy, falls into a coma. The telepathic interaction accidently surfaced long suppressed dark memories within Lwaxana of her other child being lost to drowning, thereby causing the coma. Once she confronts the dreaded dark secret of her past with the telepathic help from her daughter Deanna Troy, she comes out of the coma
Lesson:
There are times in life when we are confronted by events and incidents which prove unsettling and even traumatic to us. Abuse as a child, loss of a loved one, a fatal argument, a heinous crime, discovery of a lie, are just some examples of issues and happenings that we may all wish to not ever remember. It is our fervent desire to forget such times or our mental self-preservation faculties that sometimes trigger suppression of our memories of these distressful events. Real suppressed or repressed memories may be difficult to recognize from fabricated or confabulated memories. These types of hidden ailments can, at many times, be diagnosed and treated by proper professional medical and psychological attention.
The gnawing sensation that there is something wrong with oneself, and yet totally unrecognizable in either manifestation or cause, may signal a repressed memory situation. However, proper medical advice ought to be sought out before jumping to such conclusions. If there is actual evidence of repressed memories, then the discovery of those memories and the possible surfacing images of violence in the past must be handled with the guidance of proper licensed medical and psychological help. These are not matters to be trifled with alone. Having a Deanna Troy Counselor at hand is highly recommended.
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Lesson No. 084: Leadership air of confidence (Picard, Crusher)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard & Dr. Crusher are being held captive by an alien race that implants telepathic devices on both of them, enabling each to hear the other’s thoughts. While trying to escape, they come upon an area which has two possible paths to take. Crusher is unsure which path to follow. Picard points in one direction and assertively indicates that it is the correct path. As they start down the path, Crusher hears Picard’s thoughts and realizes that Picard has no better idea than her as to which path they should be taking and that he was only guessing earlier when he chose which path to take. When she tells Picard this and asks if he does that often when giving orders, Picard answers, that there are times when it is necessary for the Captain to give the appearance of confidence.
Lesson:
Let’s take that one step further. Leaders must ALWAYS give the appearance of confidence. We look to our leaders for direction, hope and inspiration. If we believe that our leadership is lacking decisiveness in the choices they make, then we lose our trust in them and do not believe that they can guide us properly. We are willing to accept that our leaders are only human and that they at times may make the wrong decisions; however, we still expect them to make the decisions and live by their eventual consequences. What is not acceptable is for a leader to show uncertainty and be wavering in making decisions. By vacillating too much, or hesitating in pronouncing directives, the leader proves to be undependable and not worthy of following.
Managers, when confronted with risk mitigation situations, must quickly digest and discern the available information to arrive at an actionable solution. To delay or to not make any decision would be to only exacerbate the situation. Sometimes, in the face of the sounds of battle, the regiment would much rather receive the order to charge towards the gunfire, than to wait around for officers to deliberate and allow the battle to come to them.
Once all the factors involved in a situation have been understood and all possible alternatives have been considered, the resulting selection of possible options to follow is not the final solution. Only when the actual actionable directive or directives are given is the decision process considered to be concluded. The leader must make the choices, right or wrong, and present them with certainty at all times if others are expected to follow. This holds true whether you are the head of a family, a corporation or a nation, and especially if you are the captain of a starship.
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Lesson No. 085: The unspoken thought (Picard, Crusher)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard and Dr. Crusher always share a daily morning breakfast together on board the Enterprise. Recently, Crusher has been preparing fancy and unusual meals for their breakfast. When the both of them are captured by an alien race and implanted with devices connecting the two of them together telepathically, they both learn telepathically from each other that they both dislike the elaborate breakfast meals. Crusher kept preparing the meals, even though she didn’t like them, because she thought Picard liked the meals, and Picard didn’t complain because he thought Crusher liked the meals. Both find out they prefer the simpler coffee and croissant type breakfasts.
Lesson:
Communications is the corner stone of each and every relationship, whether it is personal or professional. Whenever more than one human is involved in any event or issue, there can always be at least 2 different views and opinions on the same subject. Given this possible disparity, it becomes fundamentally necessary to ensure that there is no incorrect preconception or confusion in understanding between parties, especially if clarity is desired in any form of transaction. Only through the available means of communications (written, oral and visual) can we establish this common ground of understanding.
Over time, through experience, many can begin to predict the thoughts and reactions of others around them, such as long time secretaries and personal assistants with their bosses, parents with their children, and long-time married couples with each other, amongst others. However, for the rest, good old fashioned 2-way communications is the only solution.
So, let’s be sure to confirm that others really want that - morning report, or weekly meeting, or daily schedule updates, or coffee break chats, or after hours libations, or that your friend really wants all the phone calls, emails, flowers, candy and attention - and not just because you think they want them. In reality, you could both be under the same false impression and yet be totally reluctant to tell the other that these things are really not necessary.
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Lesson No. 086: Bearer of bad news (Picard, Data, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
An elderly female scientist shows up on the Enterprise claiming she was the wife of the scientist who built the android, Lt. Cmdr. Data, and thereby, is in essence Data’s mother. Data soon learns that even though she truly believes she was the human wife of his human creator scientist, she is in reality a more sophisticated android with emotional capabilities built by the same scientist to replace his real human wife, who had died. Data then faces the dilemma of whether or not to tell her the truth about her existence - that she is not human, but an android. In reviewing the matter with Capt. Picard and Counselor Deanna Troy, both of them give Data essentially the same advice - that it is far better for her to find out the truth from the one she considers and loves as her own son, than to find out from someone else, perhaps even a stranger.
Lesson:
After we have carefully weighed the benefits of relating bad news to family members, loved ones and friends and have arrived at the conclusion that the news needs to be told, the question of whether or not to relate information ourselves is really not that difficult an issue.
We first need to ensure that hearing the bad news will not cause any irreparable physical harm to the recipient, such as those who might be suffering from weak hearts or unstable mental faculties. Even for those with strong hearts and minds, the shock of bad news can invariably result in anguish, tears, and outpouring of a variety of unpredictable emotions.
While we all find it extremely difficult to be the bearer of bad news and to be the cause of such emotional distress in those we care about, the one major factor we really need to consider is how the news will be received if it is told by someone else. The shock of learning the bad news from someone else will be that much more compounded when the recipient figures out that we had withheld the information from them ourselves. Our complicity in not telling the information first will raise doubts in the recipient at the core level of our relationships. Fundamental questions about the loss of trust, caring, honesty and believing in each other can begin to dismantle the relationship, just because we failed to tell the bad news personally.
So, the answer appears obvious, better to hear from us directly than from someone else.
Relating the information ourselves becomes an even more exigent matter if the bad news in some way involves us directly and if we may in some way be held culpable within the bad news event. Our reluctance to tell this type of bad news personally is rooted in our fear of negative repercussions and losing face. It is just sheer cowardice that makes us believe, that is safer to not expose the matter and rely on the hope the information never gets out. The information always does get exposed eventually, and the resulting consequences are always extremely painful for all involved.
So, here again, better to be up front first, accept our penalties and try to maintain any shred of our remaining integrity and dignity, than to shirk our responsibilities and hide from the truth.
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Lesson No. 087: Dichotomy of the moral choice (Data, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Data learns that the visiting scientist, who believes she was the wife of the scientist who created Data and now considers her self to be essentially Data’s mother, is actually a very sophisticated android with feelings, built by the same scientist to replace his human wife who had died. Seeing that she is totally unaware of her android existence and that she truly believes she is totally human, Data is faced with the issue of whether or not to tell her the truth. In discussing the situation with Capt. Picard and Counselor Troy, Troy tells Data that as an android, if Data’s quest has always been to be more human, and given that the woman android believes her self to be human, why take away from the woman android the ultimate goal to which he himself aspires.
Lesson:
The question of do we always need to tell the truth has been the topic of debate of philosophers and of students of thought for ages. While it is true that axioms in physics and mathematics are incontrovertible, “to always tell the truth” cannot really be an axiom of moral law. Each case needs to be appraised on its own merits and situations.
When a very young child loses a parent, do we really need to tell the truth to the child that we have no conclusive or tangible evidence, and thereby knowledge, of what happens to humans when they die and that it is only in our faith and belief where we find any solace - or do we just calm the child by assuring them that their parent is now in a happier better place with other passed on relatives such as grand ma and grand pa. Also, if someone keeps swinging the bat and keeps missing the pitched softball and you intentionally throw a very easy pitch which they hit really well, should you take away their elation and sense of accomplishment by telling them the truth of the easy pitch?
To paraphrase the famous example from the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, if the Nazis knock on your front door and ask if you are hiding Jews in your attic (and in truth you are!), how do you answer them, knowing that telling the truth will result in the certain death of those you are hiding and most likely yourself too?
The moral duty is to obviously protect the innocents and to not tell the truth. However, as impractical and as cold hearted as it may sound, one may take the stance that to uphold my moral duty I must always tell the truth and the immorality which follows my action is that of the Nazis and not me. As ridiculous as that argument sounds, it does highlight the paradox of contradictory results that can arise from the maxim of always telling the truth. By doing our moral duty to protect the innocents we violate the moral law of always telling the truth and vice versa, by following the moral law of always telling the truth, we violate our moral duty to protect the innocents and condemn them to death.
There are no quick and easy answers to this issue here. All of us make such choices in our everyday life, maybe not so dramatic in consequence, however, just as important in our continuing self-appraisal of our own moral values. If we are not part of any fringe extremists section of the population, then we probably care about the welfare of all other humans around us, and it is probably in our exercise of the unwritten laws of kindness and concern for others where we can find the right answers to our moral dilemmas.
For Data, his decision to not reveal the truth to his female android ‘mother’ of her non-human existence reflects his overriding programming for the protection of humans against suffering and verges on the human conditions of exhibiting kindness.
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Lesson No. 088: Not afraid to promote those better than oneself (Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
In a private discussion, Capt. Picard relates to Cmdr. Riker’s old captain why he (Picard) chose Riker to be his Second in Command on board the Enterprise. Riker had apparently refused to let his former captain beam down to a hazardous area during a crisis, disobeying direct orders and even risking court martial, because Riker knew he was right in doing his duty of protecting the life of the Captain. Picard said he wanted his Number One to be someone who would stand up to him, be more concerned about the mission, the ship and the crew than how his actions might be reflected on his record.
Lesson:
When selecting members for a team for any assignment, and especially when promoting someone into a management position, it is imperative that personal ego does not interfere with the selection process. For it is usually the egos of those people with inferiority complexes, that motivates them to pass over talented individuals from selection, from fear of being overshadowed. In actuality, by selecting individuals who are more talented, skillful or experienced than ourselves, we not only better ensure the success of the tasks at hand, but we also gain to improve ourselves by working with these people. By challenging us and complementing us, those better than us, only drive us to aspire to greater heights and accomplishments.
In the tale of Robin Hood, Little John manages to knock Robin Hood off the log bridge in their hand to hand combat during their first encounter. Upon finding out that the man he had just bested was the same man with whom he had come to join up, Little John realizes that Robin Hood will probably no longer accept him, having just been dumped in the water by him. Instead Robin Hood shakes Little John’s hand and says that he (Robin) admires any man that can better him and he welcomes such men into his band of merry men.
Strong, self-confident leaders, like Capt. Picard and Robin Hood, are never afraid to recognize individuals who excel in different areas beyond themselves, as long as the individuals are committed to the same causes as the leadership.
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Lesson No. 089: Unchanging attributes (Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker, second in command of the Enterprise, is told by his former captain in a chance meeting, that Riker has apparently changed from the fresh cadet who was serving under his former captain to a seasoned officer as Number One on board the Enterprise, stating and standing by his convictions. Riker’s former captain offers advice that, while changes in a man’s life can be for the good, one should make sure that he does not change his sense of duty or loyalty, as they say more about a man than his rank or uniform.
Lesson:
Duty and loyalty, add honor, integrity, decency and valor and no more need be said for the guide to the perfect individual. We can all only hope to be worthy of such recognition in our own lives. While change is one of the constants of the universe, these intrinsic human qualities of goodness must always persevere over the passage of time. The one overriding control over all of these attributes must be the human nature of humility, without which, the rest of the qualities will be viewed upon by others with just disdain.
Just as Riker humbly expresses his hope that his sense of honor continues to remain firm, so this entire lesson should be humbly seen as an attempt to highlight a few of the founding blocks of mankind’s greatest attributes.
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Lesson No. 090: Confronting harmful management directives (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Cmdr. Riker, second in command of the Enterprise, is under direct orders of a Starfleet Admiral to not disclose certain classified information to anyone regarding their current mission, including to Capt. Picard. Picard soon discovers the non-full disclosure of the mission details and confronts Riker. Picard tells Riker that he cannot force Riker to disobey the Admiral’s orders, however, trusts that Riker will not jeopardize the ship or its crew by blindly following the Admiral’s orders, adding the stipulation that if he finds Riker has violated that trust, he will be forced to reevaluate the command structure of the Enterprise.
Lesson:
Following orders is part of the human condition. From childhood, obeying parental instructions, to adulthood, obeying managers, clients and even traffic signals, we all learn to follow orders as a daily part of our lives, sometimes without question. However, there are times, when we need to draw a line, beyond which we will not cross, just in the name of following orders. These lines may be drawn in moral and ethical values, or in recognition of potential jeopardy to others or organizations, or in the simple notion that the order is unjust.
When following orders that cause wrongful harm, be ready to face the consequences and not hide behind the skirt of “I was only following orders.” To underscore this by example - CFO’s who readily support their CEO’s in exploiting their companies to profit personally at the expense of the company must not be allowed to escape the full punishment of the law by pleading their innocence in just having followed orders. Leaders and managers should always make it very clear to everyone that, words and actions, which prove detrimental to the business, organization or its people, will not be tolerated, regardless from where the order originated.
Just as Riker is threatened by Picard with demotion for any betrayal of trust to the crew or to the ship, so must all within any organization be forewarned of equal or tougher penalties should they too betray the trust of the organization and its people.
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Lesson No. 091: When to obey harmful orders (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
An Admiral on board the Enterprise orders the ship into an extremely risky and unnecessary dangerous maneuver. Capt. Picard advises against the maneuver and countermands the order. The Admiral in turn pulls rank and orders Picard to follow his orders. Picard tells Lt. Cmdr. Data to note in the ship’s log that this maneuver action is being taken over the Captain’s explicit objections and to follow through with the Admiral’s orders.
Lesson:
There may be times when we find ourselves confronted with the dilemma of having received a directive from management that we find difficult to execute. For whatever reasons we may find ourselves battling with our own conscience to follow through with the orders, we must face the fact that there is only a binary solution to this problem. Either follow the order or don’t!
Disobeying the order to satisfy the conscience and exhibiting courage in the face of serious reprimand, including dismissal, for insubordination, may appear to be the right thing to do, at first. However, it is worthwhile to explore another facet of the problem before making a quick judgment call.
If you truly believe that the order given will prove detrimental to the assignment, or to the personnel or the organization, and you have no one else supporting you in your stance, then consider the consequences of your absence from the scene, when there is no one left to protest the order. At least with your presence, and by your words and actions, there may still be a slight chance that others may listen and you may be the only standing between a bad order and a resulting catastrophe.
If you do choose to follow through with orders which go against your better judgment, it is imperative that you log your disagreement with the order appropriately, according to the established protocol within your organization. Then, just as Picard, you too can remain on hand to look out for the safety of those to whom you are loyal, whether it is the assignment or the people or the organization.
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Lesson No. 092: Drawing the line on following orders (Picard, Riker)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard is forced into taking Enterprise into an extremely dangerous situation for a low level mission by an Admiral on board. Even though Picard follows through with the Admiral’s orders, Picard tells the Admiral privately, that if he (Picard) believes the risk to the ship and the crew exceeds acceptable levels for this low priority mission, then he will abort the mission and that the admiral may charge him with insubordination if he wishes, however, he will not jeopardize the ship or the lives of his crew for this simple mission.
Lesson:
When forced into following orders with which you may disagree, recognize that the one giving the orders may not really appreciate the front line realities of the situation. The hazardous risk factors to the personnel or the organization may be overshadowed by the exigency and political importance of the mission in the minds of those making the decision. It is definitely worth your while to attempt to highlight to your management that if the success of the mission results in the elimination of the personnel or the destruction of the organization, of what real value is the mission? In your personal exercise of risk mitigation in following the orders, ensuring the safety of the organization and its personnel may very well override the importance of the mission for you.
Also, you must evaluate the consequences of being charged with insubordination by not following the orders, versus following the orders to its resulting eventual disaster and being blamed for the failure of the mission, while those giving the orders originally are never held accountable and escape punishment.
Drawing the line, like Picard, and willing to accept the consequences for your actions of disobeying orders, may not always be justifiable, but it is definitely conscionable, if the motivation is the survival of the personnel or the organization.
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Lesson No. 093: Mentoring the timid (Picard, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
A new Ensign recruit on board the Enterprise is berated by Capt. Picard for her taking part in the cover up of an accident at Starfleet academy which resulted in the death of a Cadet. The Ensign quietly accepts the scolding and fails to mention she had already paid for her wrong-doing by accepting severe punishments pronounced by the academy. Later, in a physical exercise test with her supervisor Lt. Worf, she is forced into a hand-to-hand combat with only her being blindfolded. After repeatedly being easily overpowered by Worf, she finally takes off her blindfold, objecting that the test is unfair. Worf tells her that test was indeed unfair, and that perhaps next time she is judged unfairly, it won’t take so many bruises for her to stand up and protest.
Lesson:
One of the most fulfilling tasks of management is the act of mentoring. The process of teaching the technical and procedural functions of assignments to staff is an academic process, and they can be easily accomplished with instructional guides and perhaps some personal tutoring when required. However, it is a totally another matter when managers step up to mentor their staff. There are no written rules or manuals for this function.
To mentor someone is to relate personal knowledge that has been acquired through experience; to highlight nuances in organizational behavior that is not written in the Company Policies manual; to impart wisdom in exercising proper judgment; and above all, to motivate and bring forth within the individual being mentored, qualities, attributes and strengths they possess within themselves, but of which they were not yet unaware.
Worf is the iconic mentor here, teaching the student to overcome their inhibitions, reluctances and timidity in standing up for themselves in the face unjust treatment.
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Lesson No. 094: Unfair treatment for already-paid-for past mistakes (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When Capt. Picard blasts a new Ensign recruit on board the Enterprise for taking part in the cover-up of an accident at Starfleet Academy, which resulted in the death of a cadet, the Ensign just stands there and does not respond to the captain. Later, thanks to guidance from her instructor Lt. Worf, the Ensign defends herself against Picard. She tells Picard that she had already taken her punishment and paid her dues at Starfleet for her faulty actions and that perhaps the Captain should not have accepted her assignment to the Enterprise if he felt so negatively towards her.
Lesson:
If you have truly paid the price for your accidental mistakes, then there is no need to continually keep your head lowered in guilt. Accidents and mistakes happen. They are a part of our reality. If you have learned from your mistake and have paid any direct or indirect punishment for your mistake, then be willing to move on with your life and not dwell on the mistake.
When you accidently drive in excess of the posted speed limit, you are issued a traffic ticket, which you pay and accept the consequences of increased insurance rates. This event does not stop you from driving; rather it teaches you to be better and more careful driver in the future. In the same vein, if you should accidently commit a mistake at work which proves harmful in some manner to the organization, then admitting to the mistake, taking your punishment and learning from the mistake only makes you a better resource for the company.
Bottom line is, do not allow yourself to be wrongfully victimized by others for your accidental mistake, for, in most cases, only you can stand up for yourself.
In the case of the Ensign, Picard explains to her that he previously chastised her deliberately to see if she will stand up for herself, and that he had in fact personally requested her being assigned to the Enterprise precisely for her situation, so that he could ensure that she would not treated unfairly by others for her past actions. If only we all had such mentoring managers.
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Lesson No. 095: Death is not the answer (Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Data, an android, explains how during the initial time of his activation, it was very difficult for him to properly integrate new commands into his existing system. This accumulation of information was proving so problematic that he considered it might be safer and easier to do a complete shut down of his systems and performing an initial reboot. However, such an action would permanently erase all of his memories, in effect, simulate committing suicide. Instead Data chose to treat the information integration problems as challenges to meet rather than as insurmountable obstacles.
Lesson:
At times when the problems in our lives tend to overwhelm us with despair and hopelessness, it may seem easier and perhaps even more acceptable to think about ending all of our problems at one time with just one quick and simple life ending act. This is, however, never the right answer. Not only is it considered illegal in most of man’s laws and many faiths and beliefs, but it is also a most cowardly way to solve problems.
Problems of this extreme nature, which cause such devastating thoughts, must be faced head on and confronted with the total sum of one’s knowledge and experiences, and without doubt, with the help of family, friends and experts in the problem field. No matter how severe and relentless an enemy the problem is, our greatest weapon in the fight is our mind. By choosing to combat the problem foe, instead of surrendering to it, we earn our right to life.
When the problems appear indomitable, we need to remember Anne Frank and Stephen Hawkins and realize that even in the face of imminent death or lifelong incapacity, we humans have the ability to fight to survive, to live and fight yet another day.
Data’s realization of the importance of maintaining the continuity of his existence only serves to remind us that as humans we quite often take our gift of sentient life for granted, and that instead of cherishing it and fighting with our last breath to hold on to it, we sometimes fall prey to simply squandering it.
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Lesson No. 096: The role of management (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Deanna Troy, ship’s counselor, decides to take the Bridge Officer’s Test to attain the rank of a full commander on the Enterprise. Her main impetus for this decision was her one time prior experience at command during a past emergency situation when she was forced to take command of the ship. After successfully leading the crew to overcome the emergency, she had relinquished command back to the Captain. Afterwards, she always missed the experience of being in command. So, now she wants the opportunity to explore this whole new side of herself.
Lesson:
The role of management has many attractions. If having the power, prestige and greater financial rewards that accompany the rise to management are the incentives, then failure as a good manager is pretty well guaranteed. These types of self-aggrandizing goals to reach management usually produce very arrogant, uncaring, and pretty much worthless managers. However, if the main reasons for wanting to take a management command position is the desire to serve others before yourself, to help make the proper decisions for the benefit of others or the organization, to help others through mentoring, and to get the pure satisfaction from knowing that you are part of a greater process leading others and the organization to success, then you definitely have the right motivations for a management position.
There are many who are extremely well skilled and knowledgeable about their own particular areas of expertise. However, this may not necessarily translate into good managerial qualifications. The key abilities for any managerial role is really not the amount of expertise and knowledge in specific fields (although such skills definitely do help), rather it is the ability to channel the efforts of other experts into a cohesive process by which projects, assignments and missions are accomplished successfully. This is by no means a simple chore. Given the respective differing personalities, egos, territorial loyalties, departmental priorities, conflicting agendas, and the ever present unpredictable situations requiring immediate risk mitigation, the role of the manager is mainly delegated to showing leadership in relationship management, situation containment and resolution, and motivation for goal attainment.
Before you can take on the monumental responsibilities of managing others, you must first become very self-aware and comfortable with your own abilities, constraints and weaknesses. If you wish for others to follow your leadership and put their trust and loyalty in your judgments, then first be sure you can commit to do the same for yourself. That is, be sure you are confident in yourself first, before you ask others to have confidence in you.
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Lesson No. 097: Management actions for the greater good (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Ship’s Counselor Deanna Troy’s efforts to pass the Bridge Officer’s Test come to a grinding halt during the very final exam, an Engineering scenario simulating an impending ship wide disaster. As the Commander in the simulation, she continually fails to stop the destruction of the ship. She finally realizes that all of her efforts to learn the technical structure of the ship and its processes are for naught in trying to pass the test, as the only solution to the problem required someone going into a fatally lethal environment to correct the problem, resulting most assuredly in their death. The real test was to see if she understood that as the commander her first duty is to the ship, in which case she would be willing to sacrifice a shipmate by sending them to their death in an effort to save the ship.
Lesson:
One of the most difficult challenges of management is to accept the inevitability of having to make dire decisions, which are in favor of the organization, but at the expense of personnel.
Good managers always want to promote and protect their staff. It is a very natural and almost parental sense of duty to the staff that compels good managers to always take actions which favor their staff. However, great managers must think at a much higher level. The highest functioning body within any organization is the organization itself. If the organization or company is seen as a pseudo-living entity which provides life giving sustenance for the personnel within itself, then it is easier to understand that if the organization dies, then none of the personnel within the organization can survive. Survival of the personnel in this case is purely metaphoric, and refers really to the continuation of their job and income, which sustain the personnel and their families.
When faced with the ultimate challenge of balancing budgets to ensure the continuation of the organization into the future, management is often faced with the dilemma of reducing expenses by eliminating personnel resources. Good organizations and managements always exercise this venue only after exhausting all other options. However, at the end of the day, or more appropriately, as the bottom line will dictate, reduction in work force (a very euphemistic way of describing the much scorned term “layoff”) is mandatory for the survival of the organization. While some managers can be quite heartless in their decision process and can arrive at this conclusion quickly with no difficulty, most managers will deliberate long and hard, relenting finally by accepting this conclusion with much dismay. In either case, acceptance of the conclusion is a must. This is where the manager needs to put aside their own personal feelings and commit themselves to the survival of the organization and terminate the unfortunate personnel within their staff.
Sacrifices for the greater good are never easy and always regrettable, no matter how necessary.
Within his first year as CEO of Chrysler, Robert Nardelli was confronted with the devastating consequences of the economic disaster of 2007-2008. In a desperate attempt to save the company, Nardelli was forced to eliminate 35,000 people from his company, 5,000 of whom he had to let go the day before Thanksgiving Day. Nardelli is quoted as saying the event was gut-wrenching and traumatic, and when facing the reduced staff in a meeting later, he found it visually haunting.
On a more personal level for each of us, the amputation of our hand or foot is almost unimaginable; however, at the onset of debilitating Gangrene possibly spreading throughout the body and killing us, the removal of the root cause area, such as a hand or foot, can often save the rest of the body. For our own survival, we would choose to relinquish the hand or foot, no matter how painful the physical or emotional consequences.
If managers see their staff as extensions of themselves, then letting their personnel go can be just as painful as Troy committing one of the crew under her command to death, just to save the ship.
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Lesson No. 098: Addressing personal grudges (Riker, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
In one possible future time-line, Lt. Worf and Cmdr. Riker have a failing apart due to their respective relationships with Deanna Troy. Recognizing Riker’s past relationship with Troy and the possibility that the Riker and Troy may eventually get back together, Worf denied his own feelings for Troy and never approaches her. Aware of Worf’s feeling towards Troy, Riker takes umbrage, and when Troy dies, Riker and Worf grow further apart, holding grudges against each other over Troy. When his close friends tell Riker that both he and Worf have both suffered greatly from the loss of Troy, and that Troy would never have wanted these two close friends to ever be split apart, especially over her, Riker takes the first step and approaches Worf in a reconciliatory gesture.
Lesson:
When incidences cause separation between people, especially friends, family and even work associates, it is critical to address the issues involved without delay. With the transition of time, people left to their own thoughts on the issues, will surely pollute the situations to the point of truly believing that all blame for the disagreement rests squarely on others, but not themselves. The ensuing silence from the other parties on the topic only serves to reinforce this false belief. Only through direct communications can such differences be overcome, or at least avoid misunderstandings. Communications may not necessarily resolve all differences between the parties, but it will at least confirm everyone’s position on the issues and allow each to make their decision on how to go forward, based on fact rather than just impressions.
There was a story of a computer programmer who was working on a new project together with a salesman in a company. The salesman brought the client requirements directly to the programmer and the programmer would build the solution and give it back to the salesman to give to the client. One Monday morning, the programmer found an internal memo in his inbox from the salesman, requesting that if the programmer had any further questions on the project, that the programmer should communicate with the salesman’s manager. Affronted by the audacity of the salesman’s wish to no longer work with him directly, the programmer fired off an instant internal memo advising the salesman to communicate with the programmer’s manager if the salesman had any questions for the programmer. To the programmer’s embarrassment, the respective managers informed the programmer that the salesman was going to be on the road for over 2 weeks, and that the salesman had not wanted the programmer to suffer any delays caused by his absence, so the salesman had updated the sales manager and asked the sales manager to be available for the programmer, should the programmer need any assistance at all. Moral of the story - left to his own accord, the programmer had vilified the salesman in his own mind, based solely on his own misunderstanding.
Whether disagreements are due to misunderstandings or not, ending up by holding grudges and maintaining an air of animosity with other people benefits absolutely no one. If by clearing the air of all misunderstandings results in the realization that incompatibility between the parties is unalterable, it is better to part ways than to continue forward together harboring ill feeling towards one another. Life is way too short to spend on such negative pursuits. Additionally, it is far too late and not at all praise worthy, to reproach one self or to anguish over past grudges with people who have passed on from this life. Better to show true feelings to people while they are still alive, than in retrospect after they are gone.
Extending the first reconciliatory gesture by Riker is worthy of emulating by all who suffer from chronic grudges.
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Lesson No. 099: Leadership in the face of underwhelming forces Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Chief of Security on board the Enterprise, Tasha Yar is kidnapped by an alien race that live by certain codes of conduct based on maintaining honor above all. Cmdr. Data researches the cultural ways of the alien race and discovers that the kidnapping is the established way for the leader of the alien race to show his bravery over his visitors, the crew of the Enterprise. The correct acceptable way for resolving the kidnap situation according to their culture is for Picard to “ask politely” for the return of Yar. In spite of the readily overwhelming strength of the Enterprise with its Phasers and Photon torpedoes that can lay the entire alien planet to waste, Picard chooses to oblige the alien customs and acknowledges the alien leaders bravery at taking Yar and respectfully asks for her return.
Lesson:
Sometimes, leadership requires showing restraint and perhaps even some form of capitulation in the desire to obtain greater goals. Having the overwhelming power to totally destroy an enemy does not necessarily dictate usage of that power in all situations. Good leaders will always put aside their personal ego and selfish pride for the greater good in resolving hostile situations.
In the case of a hostage situation, the hostage negotiator can often do more good than the horde of officers and SWAT sharp shooters bearing down on the one bad guy with a single weapon pointed at the hostages. By simple math, the firepower of law enforcement clearly outguns the bad guy. However, such overwhelming strength is for naught if they do not have a clear access to the bad guy. On the other hand, through meticulously constructed conversation by a professional hostage negotiator, the bad guy may be reached and even impacted in the right manner so as to resolve the situation peacefully.
Deploying resources to end hostile situations forcefully may have merit in certain situation; however, the loss of life on all sides through this process is usually high. This is why leadership calls for exercising all other options before relying on brute force as the solution.
By not going in with Phasers and Photon torpedoes blasting, Picard manages to resolve the hostage situation with just some patronizing words, stroking the egos of the alien race leader, and without diminishing the pride of the Federation.
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Lesson No. 100: The omnipotent mind (Picard, Q)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Q, an omnipotent alien provocateur, challenges Picard to open up his mind by presenting Picard with a paradox whereby a space-time anomaly begins in the future and ends by growing in the past, in essence going in reverse time. By resolving this confounding conundrum, Picard manages to catch a glimpse, for a brief moment, of the enormous possibilities of true exploration of existence through the mind and not limited by starships and technology.
Lesson:
The exploration of existence can never be achieved by minds that are closed in by boundaries. ‘Thinking outside of the box’ is not just a figure of speech, it should be a mandate of life. We humans are clearly limited in what we can do, not only by the physical confines of our body, but also by the physical laws that govern our universe. However, where once humans thought they could never fly as the bird in the sky, we now fly the sky’s and have reached outside the gravitational grasp of our planet, walked on our lunar neighbor’s soil, and hurtled our instruments far outside of our own solar system into our galaxy. All of this we did because of those who came before us and were able to see beyond their limitations.
Our greatest key to everything we do in life is our mind. Our mind transcends the physical 3-dimensionality of space, and the 4th-dimension of space-time. We can envision the abstract and the intangible. We can place our thoughts in a myriad of locations in space and time simultaneously, and conduct our thought transactions at the speed of light.
The truly fantastic abilities of our mind to create such theoretical concepts as anti-time, gravitons, tachyon and the Higgs boson particle, to attempt to explain our existence, only highlights that our thoughts are boundless in realm and fluid in motion. Not only can our minds shatter the ‘box’ restrictions, but we can be infinite in our thoughts of not just one universe, but multi-verses, and life, beyond just our own.
Q may be omnipotent in abilities, but we humans can at least attempt to be omnipotent in our thoughts.
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Lesson No. 101: Diffusing uncomfortable situations (Picard, Riker, Data, LaForge)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
During a meeting of the senior officers on board the Enterprise, including Data, on the topic of assembling a new Data based on duplicate parts of Data found on a planet, everyone is fumbling around apologetically, when referring to the new Data as “it”, not wanting to offend Data. Capt. Picard interrupts the meeting to interject that while the subject matter being discussed may be sensitive in nature, they cannot proceed with the meeting with the cloud of hesitation over every question being asked or remark being made, due to reluctance in offending Data. Picard finds common ground for all to feel comfortable with the knowledge that humans are, after all, just machines too, only electro-chemical in nature. This puts everyone at ease immediately and the meeting proceeds successfully.
Lesson:
When an issue of a sensitive nature is being discussed in a meeting situation consisting of multiple people, there is quite often a tendency on the part of many in the meeting to be very cautious in their choice of words, so as to not offend anyone. In the process of trying to be so politically correct, the meeting usually deteriorates into making everyone feel very uncomfortable in saying almost anything. As this defeats the main purpose of holding a meeting, it becomes the primary task of the meeting leader to confront this uneasiness head-on, immediately and to diffuse it, so that everyone is comfortable again in having an open discussion.
By publicly remarking on the elephant in the room that everyone is trying to avoid so delicately, the meeting leader can break through the glass walls of people’s hesitation to speak. Sometimes, it may take nothing more than just the mere mention of the sensitive issue to clear up the matter, while other times, a more direct edict may be required with the stipulation that nothing anyone says will be held against them should they wish to speak up.
In the movie Anatomy of a Murder, (1959), there is a murder trial situation where, given the mores of that time, there was great uneasiness in openly discussing a female undergarment which was an evidentiary part of the trial. The judge takes quick control of the court room audience degenerating into a locker room situation by openly announcing the name of the undergarment and advises everyone present to get their silly little giggling out of their system, so they can continue with the trial at hand. Results were immediate and conclusive.
Just like Judges with their court rooms and Captains with their crew, always retain control of your meetings as the meeting leader.
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Lesson No. 102: Relinquishing old habits and work responsibilities (Worf, LaForge)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When most of the crew of the Enterprise comes down with flu-like symptoms, Chief Engineer Jeordi LaForge is placed in command of the ship. While in command on the bridge, LaForge receives a report of a problem from his Engineering area. LaForge immediately tells Engineering that he is on his way down to Engineering to help solve the problem. Lt. Worf, Chief of Security, who is on the bridge with LaForge, reminds him that he, LaForge, has command of the bridge and that he should let the engineers handle the problem in engineering. LaForge agrees with Worf, tells Engineering to handle the issue and report their findings back to him. LaForge then takes the time to thank Worf for the reminder.
Lesson:
It is sometimes quite difficult to let go of old ways when there is a change in status for most people.
While being promoted to a new management role brings with it new assignments and responsibilities, there is a tendency for many to drift their focus back to their older tasks and retain a desire to continue to work their older functions. If the new role requires relinquishing older responsibilities, then one must overtly combat one’s own instincts from wanting to return to their old ways.
This is even more critical on issues of a personal level, as in the case of a single person considering entering into the institution of marriage. It is definitely not appropriate to continue in many of the old ways of bachelor/bachelorette life if one is considering a life long partnership with only one person.
Letting go of old habits is not always easy, in either personal or professional lives; however, it is mandatory, if one wishes to be successful in the new venture.
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Lesson No. 103: Recognizing personal faux pas' (Picard, Crusher)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
While Capt. Picard and Dr. Crusher are discussing the health of a visiting Starfleet Admiral, Dr. Crusher comments that she believes the Admiral is hiding something. Without thinking, Picard replies instantly that he expects those types of assessments to come from the ship’s counselor, thus implying - not from the ship’s Doctor. Dr. Crusher appears offended by this supposition. Seeing her reaction and realizing the impact of his unintended disparaging remark, Picard quickly walks over and sits next to the Doctor and asks her to be on the bridge to help observe the Admiral to confirm her suspicions.
Lesson:
One of the tenets of good leadership is to be acutely aware of the reactions of others with whom they interact. Respect of the leadership is earned and re-confirmed each day with every word uttered and in every nuance in the expressions of the leadership. On a personal level, we all expect recognition of our value and encouragement for our work from our immediate management leadership. One wrong word or gesture from management may be misconstrued as being dismissive, discouraging or even offensive. This will lead to the belief that management is not appreciative. Good leadership will always ensure that such messages are never sent erroneously. If management has made such a faux pas by their conduct then they must rectify the situation immediately through their follow-up actions and words of encouragement.
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Lesson No. 104: Finality in closing communications (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Aliens on a cloaked planet appear unannounced and kidnap some of the children from the Enterprise, whom they intend to keep as their own, offering only their alien advanced technology information in a negotiated trade for the children. Even though the situation is absolutely unacceptable to everyone on the Enterprise, including Capt. Picard, Picard realizes he has to keep the aliens engaged in talking and negotiating, otherwise, they will simply cloak the planet and disappear with the kidnapped children forever.
Lesson:
Whether it is on a personal or a professional level, maintaining open communications is mandatory for continuing relationships and accomplishing goals. If the goals are necessary or desirable, then closing the lines of communications is a fatal mistake.
From the peace negotiating parties of nations at war, to two individuals on a quest for possible romance between them, the one underlying foundation for both is the exchange of thoughts and desires through communications. In situations where the outcome of closing dialog results in abject failure and possible loss of everything, including lives sometimes, keeping the lines of communication open is a must, regardless of the cost in pride or image.
The closing of channels of communications is permanent and helps no one. Whereas, by continuing to listen to the other side, no matter how objectionable their words may be, there is still the opportunity for reaching a solution. Compromising by just listening is a very small price to pay, especially if the alternative is enduring permanent loss. If nothing else, continuing the dialog accomplishes the retention of the most important resource of all - time. Once communications is closed, there is no more time left and, therefore, no hope of any success, ever.
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Lesson No. 105: Circularity of apprehension, worry, stress and anxiety (Worf, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Wesley Crusher is undergoing final testing to enter Starfleet Academy. While he excels at all of the technical tests, he fears the final exam, which is known as the ‘psych’ test. This test is intended to evaluate everyone on their darkest personal fears and is of an unknown nature and different in context for each candidate. His trepidations over what the test might be causes Wesley anxiety and he struggles to deal with his panic. Lt. Worf, a seasoned officer, seeing Wesley’s concerns tells Wesley that thinking about things over which you have no control only wastes energy and creates its own enemy.
Lesson:
We all have to grapple with this monster almost everyday of our lives. There are always an abundant number of events that occur in our lives where we have absolutely no control over the process or are unable to impact the outcome in any manner, whatsoever. From boarding a plane for a flight, to undergoing surgery, to eventually finding the right mate for marriage, to conceiving life, we do put our lives in the hands of others or in those of fate. While it is true that we can take measures, in certain cases, to increase the probability of our success, we are, nevertheless, still not ever in full control of our own destiny. There is perhaps no better example of how much our lives are really not in our control than to consider the truly random and unpredictable nature of death. No matter what precautions one may take to delay death, there is still no way for us to control the timing of its occurrence, outside of any premeditated action.
For those who worry about disasters and failures over things which they have no control, they enter into a vicious cycle of apprehension and distress, which in turn creates more worst case scenarios to ponder, and in turn add more to the worry and anxiety.
So, once we have done everything possible that is within the realm of our influence to impact a situation, we need to accept that the next step will occur outside of our control no matter what else we may do and the best we can do is to be prepared to react to the consequences. By accepting this relinquishing of control over events outside of our influence, we distance ourselves from worry, anxiety and self-doubt over what may happen and focus more readily on what our actions and contingency plans might be based on the possible different outcome scenarios.
Outside of the harmful mental and physical problems that can arise from the stress of worrying about things not in your control, you will often find that the time devoted to the worrying has managed to make you miss out on many of the good things that occur in your life. Time spent unwisely and fruitlessly, unfortunately, can never be regained.
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Lesson No. 106: The only one with whom we must compete (Picard, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Wesley Crusher fails in his first attempt to get into Starfleet Academy. He feels he failed Capt. Picard and everyone on board the Enterprise. Picard asks Wesley if he tried his absolute best in the tests. Wesley replies that he did. Picard then asks Wesley if he expects to improve in his tests next year. Wesley replies yes. Picard then advises Wesley that the only person you are truly ever competing with is yourself; you have to measure your own successes and failures from within and not from how others feel or think you did.
Lesson:
Too many people gauge their own success by comparison to others. Keeping up with the Jones next door or seeking a higher promotion at your job just because your friend got one are but only two examples of a truly shallow person. This person will forever be dissatisfied with their life. This person is convinced that there is always someone else doing better than them, which ends up making the person feel inferior about them self. By continually trying to compete with peers, friends and family, the individual is condemned to fail as all of their successes will always turn to failure as soon as the next comparatively better person or better situation comes along.
The absolute truth is that there is only one person with whom you must always compete - that is, yourself.
No matter what state of knowledge or skill you have reached on any topic, you must always strive to do better next time. Once you have done your best, then there is no need to feel any self-doubt or apprehension in the results. No matter what the results, if there is absolutely nothing more that you could have done, then you must accept the conclusions. If failure is the result, then learn from the mistakes made, if any, and be ready to do better next time.
Our true tests are always within ourselves first. We can always make ourselves feel superior by comparing ourselves to some one lesser than us, or make ourselves feel inferior by comparing ourselves to someone better than us. Regardless of the direction of the comparison, the end result is irrelevant as the basis for the comparison is arguably variable.
In the classic movie, The Big Country (1958), the main character of Jim McKay played by Gregory Peck is an Easterner, former sea-captain, recently moved to the old West. He is confronted by many instances where others provoke him into situations for their own benefit and amusement. However, McKay always walks away from those situations, even at the cost appearing cowardly. McKay does so because he has nothing to prove to others. He is firmly confident in himself and chooses to tackle those situations only when they help him to improve himself, or get his point across. Whether it’s trying to ride a wild horse or fighting hand-to-hand with the ranch foreman, McKay does so without attracting attention and glory to him self. He exemplifies Picard’s statement of measuring your own successes and failures from within and not from how others feel or think you did.
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Lesson No. 107: Resisting the changing wind (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
A renegade Klingon, set in the old ways of the Klingon warrior traditions of the hunter and prey, finds the new ways of alliance and peace with the former enemy, the Federation, unacceptable. While on board the Enterprise, the renegade Klingon tries to convince Lt. Worf, a Klingon and Starfleet officer, to betray the Federation and join him in his quest for the old ways of Klingon glory by helping him to commandeer the battle bridge of the Enterprise. While the renegade Klingon speaks of the thirst of the warrior for battle, Worf tells his fellow Klingon that he looks for battles in the wrong place and that the true test of a warrior is not without, but within, inside one’s own heart, overcoming one’s own weaknesses is the greatest battle for the warrior, and to talk of glory, conquests and creating legends mean nothing without duty, honor and loyalty, without all of which a warrior is nothing.
Lesson:
While the old adage of “It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.” may hold true for dogs, we should never extend the metaphor to humans. Human beings are intelligent, thinking, adaptive life forms - well, most are!
Those people, who find new changes in their life style, community or environment unacceptable, will invariably oppose the new views which are often held at first by only a minority section of the population. Their opposition firmly entrenches them in their belief that their view point is absolutely correct. In trying to bring credibility to their movement to resist changes, they will espouse the righteousness of their chosen path by declaring they are aligned with their deity, their God, in their steadfastness. As time passes and the voice of the minority sweeps across the land and becomes the voice of the majority, these misguided few will continue in their reverence for the old ways, thus, in turn becoming the minority themselves.
It is inevitable, that with the passage of time, comes changes in established ways of life, and that, which was once quite acceptable can now no longer be tolerated, and vice versa.
In 1963, Alabama Gov. George Wallace stood in defiance of a federal government ruling by blocking the entrance of African-American students into the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. His battle cry of “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” was quite acceptable to the local white-majority at that time. After multiple failed attempts to win a US Presidential election and following an assassination attempt on his life by Arthur Bremer, a white-man seeking celebrity status, which left Wallace a paraplegic, the man who once stood for segregation of the races, had changed his ways so much over 20 years that he actually received an overwhelming number of African-American voters’ support to become the Governor of Alabama one final time in 1983.
People who do not grow and progress with changes in time and culture, holding on firmly to their old prejudices, old differences, and old grudges are very a sad lot who should be pitied. Blinded by bigotry and ignorance, people can separate themselves from society until they become the evil they themselves had originally sought to protest. Whether the age old conflict is between races, religions, cultures, or even between humans and aliens, we should pay heed to Worf’s observation of the misguided always looking for battle in the wrong places.
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Lesson No. 108: From life to death to … (Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When a Klingon warrior dies, other Klingons gather around the dying Klingon and perform the Klingon death ritual where all the Klingons present scream out a gut wrenching roar simultaneously. This is the Klingon way of warning the dead that a Klingon warrior is about to enter their realm. After death, the Klingons treat the remaining body as just an empty shell, devoid of the spirit and may be disposed of in any convenient manner available.
Lesson:
In many long established cultures, death is seen as just a transition from our current state of life to another state, one, which we are yet unable to comprehend from this side. The transition from our current living state into the next state is believed to involve only the human spirit or soul or life energy, and never the physical body.
While the truth of the matter may never be known until we each face our own time of ‘transition’, we can conjecture, however, that if life does in fact conform to the physical laws of nature, then certain empirical laws of physics must also hold true for life. In particular, the laws of the conservation of energy in an isolated or closed system, where energy is never created nor destroyed but only transformed from one state into another and remaining constant or conserved over time, perhaps may also be applied to our life energy.
The relationship between matter and energy shows us vividly how ice can be heated into water, then boiled into vapor, then cooled back down to water, and frozen back to ice, in a never ending cycle. This shows us that energy, matter and information within our universe is never really lost, just transformed, while still retaining all of its elementary pieces. It is not too difficult to extrapolate these laws to also include life energy.
Consider the transition of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Here we see two distinctly different states of physical life. The key questions to address here are the before and after states. Before the transition, does the caterpillar know that it will become a butterfly, and after the transformation, does the butterfly remember it was once a caterpillar?
We can bring the question of transition closer to home by asking ourselves if we remember what it was like to be living in a totally liquid environment before we were delivered into this world, and if we were aware of the air breathing life which was awaiting us. Through observation of others and via documented birthing videos of ourselves, we have physical, validated proof that we undergo a cataclysmic event in the transition of our life energy in the process known as birth. If our beginning of this state of our life was the result of a transition, then could the end of our current state of life, known as death, be nothing more than just another transition?
Where we came from and where we go are two questions that no one can really answer. Manifestos and doctrines of many religions have the luxury of easily providing answers to these questions without submitting any conclusive evidence as support, because they rely on belief as the only required answer. It may very well be that one of the boundary conditions of life is to never allow the secrets of post-death state to be revealed to us in this life.
It would be a real waste if this life were to be a one shot deal, which ends in oblivion of nothingness and non-existence with absolutely no continuation following death. Fortunately, the universe hates waste.
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Lesson No. 109: Adapting to new management (LaForge, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Enterprise is attacked while Chief Engineer Jeordi LaForge is left in command. In his newfound command position, LaForge experiences great stress and concern at taking the ship into battle; however, he keeps a cool head, takes charge of the situation and makes some very difficult decisions. Even though LaForge believes the Junior Officers under him are handling the current situation as well as he is, Counselor Troy points out that they are actually not faring as well as LaForge and that they are quite nervous about making mistakes. Troy recognizes that the junior officers need more encouragement from LaForge, they draw strength from LaForge and look for guidance and leadership from him; she tells LaForge to help them by showing confidence in them, just like Capt Picard once showed confidence in him.
Lesson:
Adapting oneself to a new management role must take into consideration addressing the “buy-in” or acceptance of the new management by the staff. Just as the new manager looks for guidance and encouragement from the management above them, so the staff seeks the same confidence builders from the new manager. Instilling trust and confidence in the staff by recognizing their knowledge, talents and experience is primary to developing a successful team. Cohesion in teamwork occurs through open communications and understanding of common goals and methods of operations as shared by both the staff and the management.
Staff has a better chance of attaining peak performance if they are not burdened with doubts about their management’s opinions of their abilities, whether they are working a company project or flying a starship into battle.
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Lesson No. 110: Dwelling in the past (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard tries to come to grips with old unresolved feelings about an old girlfriend he had stood up in Paris, France many years earlier, before he took command of the Enterprise. He uses the Holodeck to recreate the old Paris environment so as to address his issues properly through dialog with a Holo-image of his former girlfriend in the original setting. After initiating the conversation regarding his old girlfriend, Picard stops the Holodeck simulation abruptly, exclaiming, “enough of this self-indulgence” and exits the Holodeck, returning to duty.
Lesson:
With the passage of time, we sometimes come to realize that there may have been occasions in our lives, in the past, where we perhaps could have done better, acted differently, said kinder and more appropriate words, or even behaved more empathically in certain situations. This realization shows growth in maturity and a glance at gaining a modicum of wisdom. While this ascension in better understanding oneself is to be highly encouraged, there is an underlying, unseen trap that must be avoided.
Recognizing that we perhaps might have handled a past situation differently often will draw us into creating multiple scenarios with alternate outcomes in our mind, each of which leads to satisfy us better. While this mental play of images and words may serve in pleasing us, they manage to pull us in further and further into self-directed thoughts and conclusions that, before long, have detracted totally from reality.
Addressing our past issues and learning from our mistakes helps us to do and be better in the future. Dwelling too long on issues in the past serves no purpose as we are powerless to change past events. Even with the time-travel capabilities of the starship Enterprise at his disposal, Picard knows that he is unable to change his past history. Better to just accept our past actions, learn from our mistakes and move on.
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Lesson No. 111: Trust of true friendship (Picard, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Capt. Picard receives a private communiqué from some his oldest friends, all of whom are Captains in Starfleet now, and were all once virtually inseparable as very close friends. The private message instructs Picard to meet secretly with his fellow Captains so that they can warn him of a possible high level conspiracy underway at Starfleet. When reviewing this extraordinary request with Counselor Troy on board the Enterprise, Troy points out to Picard that his friends’ conduct has violated Starfleet regulations, keeping secrets from their superiors, disobeyed Starfleet orders, and are now putting Picard’s career at risk by involving him in their dangerous plans. Picard stands by his friends and tells Troy that he trusts them all and that friendship must dare to risk, otherwise, it is not true friendship.
Lesson:
Capt. Picard’s attitude towards friendship reflects a relationship between people who are not tied by blood, or by marriage, and yet are as close, and at times perhaps even closer, than that of brotherhood or sisterhood.
We build our friendships over time and the bond grows stronger with each moment enjoyed together and each problem shared in times of need. We are reminded by this scene that true friendship requires an almost unwavering trust between friends, which allows us to overcome any doubts, risks or even fears that we might have in blindly moving forward to help a friend.
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Lesson No. 112: The primitive society (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Humans from the 20th century are found in cryogenic stasis in a derelict ship by the crew of the Enterprise. When they are revived, the 20th century humans feel quite out of place and out of time. As they look ahead to their new lives in the 24th Century, one of them, a successful 20th century businessman, complains that he no longer has any money, no office of work, no means of support, and wonders how he will live or what he will do. When Capt. Picard explains that in the 24th Century such material needs no longer exist, the 20th century businessman asks, “Then what’s the challenge?” Picard says the challenge is to improve and to enrich oneself.
Lesson:
Our human quests today, here at the beginning of the 21st century, still remain so petty and trivial. Most of us just continue to go about our daily lives, buried neck deep, in the sole pursuit of wealth. Our selfish goals of amassing wealth and satisfying our material needs, overwhelms us.
We do this today, of course, just to get some kind of control over our lives and our destinies.
As a species we are still very primitive and dwell more on protecting our possessions, than on sharing. With very few exceptions, most of the human race still remains quite self centered, content with our own comfortable lives and always looking the other way when faced by the needs of others. Regardless of what political “-ism’s” or religions we follow, we will not be able to change our ways as long as we perpetuate human poverty, bigotry and greed, clearly the true Triad of Evil.
Come the day when everyone has a “piece of the pie” and no one needs to worry about food, shelter and proper care, the basic necessities of human life, only then we can appreciate Picard’s way of life in the 24th century. Ironically enough though, we already know today, the one clear path to reach that glorious goal, and that is to learn to replace our indifference and dispassionateness with the one true “-ism”…altruism!
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Lesson No. 113: Selflessness vs. selfishness (Guinan, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Wesley Crusher has to leave the Enterprise to join Starfleet Academy. He doesn’t want to leave the Enterprise, but he does it because it is what he is expected to do. When discussing his decision with Guinan, the ship’s wise alien bartender, Wesley says he believes that sometimes you have to do what others want you to do and not be selfish. Guinan replies that it is at times more difficult to decide when it is better to be selfish and think about your self instead of thinking of others.
Lesson:
For those who believe it is better to always receive than to give, the idea of being selfish in making decisions is not a difficult concept to grasp. However, for those with a conscience about their fellow man, whether they are a stranger or familiar to them, there is always a driving impulse to do things that will benefit others more than themselves. For these kind and very empathic people, there is the risk of not knowing when to draw the line between benevolence and victimization.
It is an unfortunate reality of our times, and perhaps of our species in general, that there are always unscrupulous people looking to exploit the good and the kind amongst us. Pouring out words and expressions that support the goals and beliefs of the audience present, these villains seek to manipulate the emotions of others to benefit their own selfish purposes. After all, is this not the modus operandi of almost every politician?
In the case of the young malleable mind of Wesley Crusher however, the pressure he feels to enter the academy, from his mother, the Captain and other crew members of the Enterprise, has no underlying tones of meanness or harm intended towards Wesley. When it comes to career choices, the final decision must satisfy a self-need more than the needs of others.
Selflessness is a wonderful human trait, but it must always be on guard to not fall prey to the sometimes selfishness of others.
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Lesson No. 114: Management encouraging open discussion (Picard, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Enterprise encounters a dark void in space which registers no energy or matter. Lt. Worf, head of security, suggests going to yellow alert immediately. Capt. Picard, curious about Worf’s reaction, inquires why Worf made that recommendation. Worf pauses and does not answer. Seeing Worf’s hesitation, Picard tells Worf that the ship operates best when its officers share what is on their mind. Worf replies that his reaction was based on an old Klingon legend which talks of such a dark space creature that devours entire space vessels. Worf admits that he believed such thoughts were not worthy of a trained starship security officer and that’s why he didn’t want to mention it.
Lesson:
The hesitation of people to speak up in a public forum can have its roots in multiple reasons, from being embarrassed, to facing retribution, to disclosing ignorance, or to even just plain shyness.
In organizations, and especially in meetings, it becomes the duty of the leadership to encourage everyone to be expressive and to contribute to the process, no matter how trivial they may feel their item to be. By the leadership clearly stating that all input received will always be evaluated with proper care and respect, many of the fears of expressing oneself in public are greatly diminished.
For those who have opinions and are still reluctant to express themselves, it is worthwhile to mention that issues that go unaddressed may lie dormant and not surface until too late. One word or one question heard today may proactively stave off a disaster later. It also helps to underscore that it is usually the questions and issues that go unattended which can escalate into problems, finally surfacing not from within, but rather from clients.
Picard’s comments on a ship’s best performance being derived from the shared thoughts of its crew and officers easily translate to fit the functions of an organization and its staff and management.
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Lesson No. 115: Understanding death (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
A totally unknown alien life form queries Capt. Picard on the human condition and understanding of what is death. Picard replies that some humans see it as the changing of themselves into an indestructible form which lasts forever, while others see it as just simply blinking themselves into nothingness, finding out that all of their hopes and dreams were nothing but illusions. Picard postulates that given the clockwork perfection of the universe, the truth about death must be more than either of these philosophies and that death is un-measureable, un-definable and not understandable by our current standards of thought.
Lesson:
Defining and understanding what is death has been one of the most sought after quests of mankind for all ages. Yet, to this day, with all of our super high technology, mathematically configured universe, and philosophical considerations of past sages, we are still no closer to comprehending death than the first cave man that saw his fellow cave man fall down to never rise again.
Outside of religion, which can claim to explain death sans evidence or logic, based solely on belief, we have predicted, perhaps rightly so, that even in the 24th century with interstellar faster than light speed technology, we will still be no closer to quantifying and qualifying death any better.
Arguments disfavoring this conclusion might point to humans building machines to “see” beyond our experiential senses of the visible spectrum and discovering Infra-red, Ultra violet, Gamma rays and X-rays. These bands of radiation have always existed alongside us, just not discernable to us without technology. This example cites therefore, that the post-death state is in existence with us, just not registering in our ordinary senses or technology.
Another simple observation in this life tells us that we know nothing of whence we came and nothing of the post-death henceforth to where we shall go. If we came from nothingness and end up in nothingness, does that mean we return to the same condition after death as we were in before life? Does that make birth and death nothing more than just two points on a step function, or even more elementary, the two sides of the same coin? In this line of conjecture, death becomes nothing more than a point of exchange, from life to post-life. Unfortunately, this point of exchange is still a one way door, not letting us communicate in either direction.
Bottom line - whatever idea, understanding or belief we may personally have of death today - we are each just as right and just as wrong as everyone else.
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Lesson No. 116: Simpler times of yesteryear (Data, LaForge)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Chief Engineer Jeordi LaForge builds a model replica of an old sea-faring sailing ship by hand as a gift for a former Captain with whom he had served on another ship prior to coming on board the Enterprise. When he shows the ship to Lt. Cmdr. Data, remarking that the model represents the proper way to move a ship, by wind and sail, Data sees a contradiction in Jeordi’s comments. Recognizing that Jeordi is well known for his talents and skills in Anti-Matter and Dilithium crystal based propulsion, Data queries Jeordi on his fascination for the archaic wind and sail method of motion. Jeordi answers that it is human nature to yearn for simpler days.
Lesson:
In our hi-tech world today of instant information and instant gratification, many look back on the simpler times of yesterday when people actually read books and newspapers, and talked with their neighbors, and knew that working a career would lead to a comfortable retirement.
Gone are those days of naïveté, replaced today by hand held technology bringing the world to our fingertips instantaneously, and avoiding eye to eye contact with others lest they engage us in conversation, and careers making money from money without ever producing anything.
In spite of all of this negativity about the present making one yearn for the simpler days of the past, let’s not forget that as the forward flow of time takes us into tomorrow, we will look back upon today as those wonderful simpler days of yesteryear.
So, why not just enjoy today, for we will surely miss it tomorrow.
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Lesson No. 117: Learning from failure and defeat (Data, LaForge, Pulaski)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Data, an android, programs the Holodeck to experience a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Having downloaded all of the Sherlock Holmes novels into his memory, Data always solves the mysteries without any effort at all. Dr. Pulaski points out that Data, as a computer, is unable to experience the true mystery of the unknown and therefore, cannot experience the human condition of the thrill of victory because there is no risk of failure in his approach. She also points out to Data that we humans actually learn much more from losing than from winning, and more from a fatal mistake than from a success.
Lesson:
Learning from our losses and mistakes is a concept lost on many humans. If losses and mistakes are seen as only failures and something to be admonished and reprimanded, then we miss a golden opportunity to learn and improve ourselves.
Victories, while elating us in success, really do nothing more than to confirm either that our approach in the competition was basically correct or perhaps better than that of our losing opponents. Whereas, a single or a first victory may teach us that we have chosen the correct path, repeated victories may indicate a lack of true competition and leads us into complacency.
From the late 1960’s to the early 1970’s, George Foreman became the most fearsome boxer in the world. After winning the Gold Medal in boxing at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Foreman turned professional. By winning all of his fights, mostly by knockouts, Foreman had become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. The knockout thunder of his punches always defeated his opponents quickly within the first few rounds of each of his 37 out of 40 different successful fights.
Then came the “Rumble in the Jungle”, Foreman’s fight with the legendary icon of boxing, Muhammad Ali, in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974 for the heavyweight championship of the world.
For the first time in his entire career, Foreman had to fight well into the eighth round. After throwing his powerhouse bone crushing punches at Ali, who basically moved a little, but mostly stayed glued to the ropes, absorbing everything Foreman had to throw, the invincible Foreman showed severe signs of fatigue. The juggernaut punches of Foreman had by now turned into well-telegraphed, slow motioned swats incapable of any real damage. With Foreman gasping for a breath and his arms now cuffed by the anvils of eight grueling rounds, Ali stepped in. A quick left followed by a devastating right and the master had given the student the final lesson. Forman lost by a knockout.
More was learned in that fight by Foreman and by everyone watching, than in the 40 fights which preceded Foreman’s career. This loss by Foreman, lead to the introduction of new tactics in boxing and to better appreciation of intelligence over brute strength in a competition. Foreman had also discovered his Achilles’ heel - stamina.
The thrill of victory, especially repeated victories, can never teach us as much as the agony of one defeat.
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Lesson No. 118: Uniquely human trait (Data, Guinan)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Data, an android, in his quest to be more human tries to learn the concept of humor from a Holodeck simulation of a stand-up comedian. Failing to be funny as a stand up comedian, Data seeks out advice from the ever-wise alien Guinan. Seeing his dilemma, she tells Data that being able to make people laugh and being able to laugh is not the end all and be all of being human. Data replies that while that statement may be true, there is absolutely nothing more uniquely human.
Lesson:
Humor has probably been around since the first caveman tripped over a rock accidently and fell down in front of his peers. Physical, slap-stick style, humor still remains as the purest form of humor, as evidenced by the laughter of children, the most innocent of audiences. The antics of characters from the Tom & Jerry cartoons to the Three Stooges incite the same laughter from all, bridging languages and cultures.
More sophisticated humor premised on language is generally localized as it is referential in material. While this type of humor may at first be difficult to convey across different languages and cultures, the more familiar we become with our global neighbors, the easier it becomes for us to laugh in unison.
Humor still remains the easiest way to put others at ease, especially in a first contact situation. Humor provides a release mechanism for us in our times of difficulty and great emotional stress. Humor helps us to bond and bind with others as friends. Humor is the easiest way to bring a smile, laughter and joy to others.
As humor is the cause of smiles and laughter, and smiles and laughter are evidence of joy and happiness in humans, anyone able to convey humor accurately deserves to be, therefore, considered a master in the art of communications of bringing happiness to others.
Laughter, being a uniquely human reaction (not including the simian emulation of laughter), can be used as a mutually identifiable force to bring us all closer together. Through humor inspired mutual laughter, we can feel more comfortable with each other. When we laugh together, we find it less important to concentrate on hating and killing each other.
Even Data realizes the closeness of the words humor and human are more than just the letters that make up the two words.
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Lesson No. 119: True test in the face of defeat (Picard, Data, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Data, a most sophisticated android, loses in a computer strategy game to an alien master strategist. The loss leads Data to suspect that he may not be functioning correctly and he removes himself from duty. Counselor Deanna Tory, realizing Data’s dilemma, tells Data that one can handle defeat in 2 ways - either lose confidence in oneself or grow by learning from mistakes. As Data is quickly all consumed by his self-imposed study of his supposed malfunction, Capt. Picard finally orders Data back to duty and advises him that it is quite possible to commit absolutely no mistakes and still lose - and that is not a weakness, that is life.
Lesson:
Losing is always a very hard pill to swallow. Accepting defeat after trying one’s absolute best is quite often a disheartening task. However, the true test of one’s mettle is always in the face of defeat, not victory.
In nearly every competitive encounter, the rules are usually organized such that the outcome of all events will result in one and only one winner. By default, this mandates that all of the other competitors must lose. If one has done everything humanly possible, and even beyond at times, to prepare for the competition and still does not win, then there is absolutely no reason for reproach or self-recrimination.
Although the victors may receive the public accolades, the true winners of competitions are all those who tried their absolute best to win, regardless of the results. These true winners have accomplished something greater than the fleeting fame of victory - they have enhanced the quality of their lives permanently by improving themselves physically and/or intellectually.
Learning from one’s losses and mistakes can bring about victory, even for legendary Kings.
As the old tale is told, Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, retreated to a cave after losing a battle for Scotland’s freedom from the English. Whilst in the cave, despondent and resigned to failure, he observed a spider trying to build a web. After falling down over and over again, failing in his attempts, the spider kept endeavoring, finally completing his web. Invigorated by the spider’s triumph, the King went forth and rallied his men against the English to the famous cry - “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.”
Looking into the face of defeat, one can see the true image of one’s own character.
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Lesson No. 120: The partiality of recorded history (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
On a distant planet where warring cultures had managed to totally destroy themselves, to extinction, Capt. Picard discovers technology still active that is able to shed new light on the history of the warring species. Picard conjectures from the evidence found that perhaps the so-called hostile warriors on the planet may actually not have been hostile at all, but made to appear hostile by the surviving descendents of the planet. Picard states that victors write their history invariably to their own advantage, in favor of themselves, usually as heroes or even victims, but never villains and aggressors.
Lesson:
Not only do the spoils belong to the victor, but in cases of war, also the rights to author their version of the truth for history to remember.
If a man were to incite the masses to overthrow the government, is he a rebel or a revolutionary freedom fighter? Depending on the name of the antagonist, it is usually our own personal prejudice and not the truth of history that will answer this question. Lest that statement sounds too harsh, ask yourself how you would label these leaders of men who overthrew established governments - William Wallace, Fidel Castro, Mao Zedong, and George Washington.
If the Cheyenne & Sioux nations ruled the US today, would the battle at Little Big Horn in 1876 still be called a massacre? If Japan had won World War II, would the battle of Bataan in 1942 be viewed as a crowning moment of glory with no mention of the Bataan Death March? If Napoleon’s empire had survived the loss at the battle of Waterloo 1815, would the term ‘Napoleon’s Waterloo’ somehow be used in a positive way today? What if the battle at Yorktown was not the final struggle of the American Revolutionary war, and today, the people of the US all spoke with British accents and still bowed to the Crown of England, would the battle at Yorktown still be called a Siege or the Final Rebellion of the Insurgent Colonists?
In order for the truth to be recorded as history, pure unadulterated objectivity must replace passion and personal opinion. This is almost an impossible task for humans. We are quick to blame others and prone to praise our own. In situations where we have a dog in the race, we always choose the side of the wall that favors our entrant.
This jingoistic view of the world knocks us off the wall of neutrality and leads us to record victories as massacres and massacres as victories, depending on, as Capt. Picard said, who writes the history.
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Lesson No. 121: Limitations in life (LaForge)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
A telepathic deaf alien peace negotiator uses telepaths from his own race to express his thoughts and emotions. He compares his telepathic interpreters to Lt. Cmdr. Jeordi LaForge’s visor. Just as the visor helps LaForge overcome his blindness and see, the interpreters translate sound into thoughts for the deaf peace negotiator and help him to understand others. When the alien asks LaForge if he resents the visor or his blindness, LaForge answers that he resents neither, as they are both a part of him and since he likes who he is, there is no reason to resent either. The alien says that it is a blessing to understand that they are both special, each in their own way. LaForge agrees heartily.
Lesson:
All human beings have physical limitations of some form or another. The quick reflexes, strength and stamina of professional athletes elude the majority of us. Yet we accept our not having their abilities as part of what is considered normal in most societies. We neither condemn the athletes for having superior abilities to us, nor do we sink into self-deprecating thoughts and behavior for not being able to do what they can do. We accept our limited ways in life.
When the challenges of physical limitations are magnified by quantum levels through the loss of senses, limbs, immunity, or other medical conditions, then the struggle to live what we call a normal life becomes a daily battle. If there is no cure for the ailment and the battles appear futile and without any final resolution, then the strategy of the war must change for there to be a victory. While the ailment may reduce human physical activity, it must never be allowed to contain the human mind.
As in any good ghost story, the unknown and unseen entity always manages to inspire fear in us. However, once we see the ghost or the monster, we are less afraid. To see the enemy’s face and understand its ways, we no longer fear it, but learn to confront it and even to subdue it.
By facing the ailment and understanding its causes and effects, we can learn to accept its challenges. We construct our environment and activities to diminish its control over us. We curtail its hold over us by never letting it discourage or depress us. We may not be able to defeat it, but neither do we have to let it defeat us.
As we each learn to live with our own individual set of limitations, we grow more accepting of our lot in life. This allows us to cherish the gifts of life and to share it with others.
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Lesson No. 122: Assuaging fears of being alone (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
An alien peace negotiator, who is deaf, communicates with others through telepaths who are also from his own race. When his translators are killed during negotiations, the alien negotiator is panicked and rambles on feverishly in sign language, totally incoherent, not understood by anyone in the room. Capt. Picard reacts quickly to the situation by facing the alien, grabbing hold of the alien’s head with both hands and speaking directly in front of him to ensure the alien can see the Capt.’s face. With the alien eyes locked in to view the Capt’s words mouthed, Picard says clearly and with determination “You are not alone in this. We are all in this together now.” By understanding the Capt.’s words, the alien calms down immediately.
Lesson:
In any catastrophic scenario, one of the worst possible situation is to be alone. It is undoubtedly un-nerving and just down right scary, to be the sole participant in a situation where disaster is imminent and everything is out of control. Believe it or not, this is a condition many face in every day work life.
The scene presented here may seem overly dramatic for an office situation to an outsider, however, any employee who has missed a deadline, caused a serious grievous error on a project, or lost a customer can quickly identify with the feeling of mortification and numbness that ensue in these situations. Panic and loss of coherency are the first to arrive. Without support from others the fear only worsens.
This is where management must charge forward like the cavalry, to rescue not just the employee, but also the situation. Management must instill in the employee immediately that they are not alone in the event and that with the combined forces of management, they will resolve the situation, one way or another. Even if the results may not be favorable to the customer or the organization, the rescue of the employee from their quagmire is exigent. This is particularly important if the employee is the sole source of information about the situation.
There is always a great deal of comfort in knowing that one is not alone, and that there are others willing to fight alongside us.
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Lesson No. 123: Organic nature of building confidence (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When a deaf alien peace negotiator’s telepathic interpreters are all killed during negotiations, the alien panics and shuts down completely. He doubts he can ever do anything anymore for anyone, now that he can no longer communicate. Counselor Deanna Troy, who has been working with the alien, reminds the alien that she cannot help in the situation if he has already resigned himself to failure, for confidence is faith in one’s self and it cannot easily be given to another.
Lesson:
Without confidence, failure is almost guaranteed in any situation. Lack of confidence in any management or leadership role is totally unacceptable. We have but to ask ourselves the question, would we follow someone who is not confident in themselves and unsure of their decisions?
Confidence in our selves comes through experience and knowledge. It builds through wins and losses, and through successes and failures. Over time, we begin to recognize and understand our own limitations, and then we can target them for surmounting, resulting in greater confidence in ourselves. If we let our limitations dictate our actions, then we have embraced a lack of confidence in our judgment and even in our thought process. The absence of confidence is not easy to hide for it interprets our words and actions into semblances of resignation and failure, no matter how hard others may try to be supportive of us and try to convince us otherwise. Confidence has to come from within and not from without.
Deanna Tory is absolutely correct, in that confidence cannot be administered - only self-full filled.
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Lesson No. 124: Reaping success from disadvantage (Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
When a deaf alien negotiator loses his telepathic interpreters, he finds that he is unable to continue with the peace negotiations he is conducting. When Counselor Deanna Troy offers to step into the negotiations in his place, the alien negotiator offers her advice by stating that the main tool of negotiations is to always try to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Troy, frustrated by the alien’s discouraged loss of confidence in himself, challenges him by asking why he cannot turn his new disadvantage of the loss of his interpreters into an advantage and make that his starting point for negotiations. This gives the alien negotiator an epiphany and leads him to return to the negotiations, solo, without any interpreters.
Lesson:
Turning disadvantages into advantages is an extremely difficult task, mostly because we find it easier to resign ourselves to failure rather than to continually battle to overcome that which appears to be insurmountable. Just as every coin always has two sides, if we try to find the good in the bad, the positive in the negative, we can actually manage to accomplish the alchemy in the situation.
While the loss of a steady job is seen as a negative, one could use it as an opportunity to explore new areas of growth which may lead to better jobs. Sometimes, the lack of jobs in the market has led to successful entrepreneurial ventures by many who may never have tried to go solo if they had landed another job.
The terrible event of the loss of human lives has at times been the impetus for new laws being established or the creation of new charitable foundations.
Then there is the one remarkable true story, iconic of this topic.
Once there was a child born into a wealthy family. His father was a doctor. It was naturally assumed that the child too would follow in a similar professional path. As the child grew up, even though he loved to play soccer, he studied law at the university and wanted to become a successful lawyer.
At the age of 19 he was in a car accident that left him paralyzed. For 3 years, he underwent convalescence treatment, resigning himself to the fact that his days of soccer playing were over and his studies in law would be severely hampered by being wheel chair bound.
While under medical care, a nurse gave him a guitar. Soon he learned to play the guitar, write songs and began to receive praise for his singing. Much to the chagrin of his parents, he decided to try a music career.
His name - Julio Iglesias.
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Lesson No. 125: Danger of idle hands and minds (Riker, Troy)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
The Enterprise encounters ship-wide systems problems, which stalls almost all activity on the ship, including weapons availability and propulsion system. Adding panic to the situation is the confrontational presence of a Romulan war ship. As tensions on board rise to very high levels, Cmdr. Riker, left in charge of the ship, asks the ship’s Counselor Deanna Troy for recommendations for calming down the crew. Troy suggests giving everyone on board something to do, something which will focus their attention away from the prevailing problems. Riker approves Troy’s recommendation and orders a ship-wide task of preparing for full evacuation of the Enterprise. Even though evacuation to the planet below is virtually impossible given the current condition of the ship, the assignment, nevertheless, gives everyone some critical task to perform.
Lesson:
If idle hands tend to end up in mischief, then idle minds always result in non-constructive thoughts. In the event of a crisis, idle hands and minds never bring about calm, but rather fuel the panic.
In any organization, when confronted by an emergency situation, the leadership must not allow panic to sweep through everyone. Clear, decisive orders and directions from management will calm nerves and maintain order. Beyond this initial reactionary phase, the goal of attacking the problems confronted must be tackled with thought given to all the people within the organization. Even though there may only be a few key resources who will be assigned to the actual problem areas, it would be detrimental to ignore the rest of the people in the organization, especially if they are impacted by the crisis. Left alone, they will mostly speculate, conjecture and even gossip about the situation, usually spreading further panic.
One sure fire cure for this is exactly as Counselor Tory suggested - give everyone something to do. If they are busy, they will have less time to dwell on the crisis and stay focused on more productive tasks.
Additionally, as many within the organization will want to come forward to help with resolving the problem situation, this will lead to the case of too many cooks spoiling the broth or put simply, just getting in the way.
With clarity in message, management can distribute resources appropriately to directly address the problem issues, steer offers of help towards augmenting the resolution process peripherally and get the remaining idle hands and minds busy back at their work.
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Lesson No. 126: Importance of proper training (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
An Alien ensign on temporary assignment to the Enterprise discovers an unknown bacteria life-form has attached itself to a Klingon vessel which is rendezvousing with the Enterprise. The Ensign fails to inform anyone of his findings as it is the procedure of his species to not discuss any matter until it is fully analyzed and options for solutions are made available.
After the Klingon vessel departs, the bacteria life-form is discovered by the ship’s automatic systems as it has begun to eat away the hull of the ship. When the Ensign explains that he had discovered the bacteria earlier and felt it was not yet necessary to inform anyone, Picard informs him that it is procedure on board the Enterprise to inform command immediately of any anomaly or anything that occurs which is out of the ordinary, pointing out that the Ensign’s delay has not only endangered the Enterprise, but also missed the opportunity to inform the Klingon ship of the danger also.
Lesson:
This highlights the importance of training. Whenever new employees join an organization, it should be mandatory policy to provide training not only for the technical aspects of the job, but also for all company policies and procedures.
Every company always has certain nuances in the manner in which they conduct their business affairs. From formal business wear, to decorating personal work areas, to protocol based communications with upper management, to taking coffee breaks, to working overtime, to charging business expenses, each company has its own set of rules for employees to follow. Although violation of such rules may not bring about anything as catastrophic as the destruction of the Enterprise, however, it may very well result in something far more serious - getting fired!
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Lesson No. 127: Mentoring new management (Picard, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Ensign Wesley Crusher is given his first assignment, to form a team to make a geological survey of a planet. Capt. Picard advises Wesley that for his task, the senior officers are available to help him, not judge him, and that he respects an officer who admits ignorance and asks questions rather than one who out of pride blunders forward blindly.
Lesson:
As staff employees are promoted into supervisory and management positions, it becomes critical that they are mentored properly in their new roles. In their new found rank, most individuals will do their utmost to prove themselves worthy of the promotion and in trying to do so they will usually not want to expose any of their deficiencies. Exposure is usually curtailed by not asking any questions. This may lead to wrong decisions, judgment calls or actions on their part, all of which may go unnoticed until too late.
Anyone in a supervisory or management role must be educated up front to the fact that leaders always recognize their own limitations, admit to themselves their areas of lacking knowledge or experience and are always ready to improve themselves by asking questions when needed. This is the proper and preferred method of conduct for management. It is not acceptable to blindly move forward without certainty, take stabs at getting it right and causing harm or failure, all in an attempt just to save one’s face by not exposing their ignorance.
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Lesson No. 128: True rewards of management (Riker, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Ensign Wesley Crusher is given his very first mission, to make a geographical survey of a planet. While selecting his team, he asks Cmdr. Riker for advice regarding the hesitation he is feeling about his team members being much older than him self and how best to handle any personality conflicts. Riker replies that Wesley’s concern is irrelevant to the mission, because the team members are all professionals, and if there is a personality conflict, then he (Wesley) is in charge and he (Wesley) should settle it. Wesley realizes that to manage the team, you not only have to understand the job at hand, but also be a counselor to the team.
Lesson:
There are always at least two major parts to every management jobs, the technical aspects and the human aspects. Many usually consider the technical aspects of management easier to manage than the people issues; however, if the right motivations and directions are used with empathy, the human factor is quite often the more personally rewarding part of the job.
The task of a Manager would be all so simple if all the Manager had to do was to stay focused on just the projects and the assignments. However, life is never that simple. As is the case in all situations where more than one human is involved, there will undoubtedly be differences in opinions. It becomes the role of the Manager as team builder, motivator and, yes, even counselor, to ensure the human experience within the group is positive. While it may be impossible to avoid conflicts amongst members within the group, it is very possible to minimize their occurrence by being resolute in addressing concerns immediately and resolving confusions long before they can grow into issues. By resolving conflicts and pulling the group together in a team spirit, not only does the work get done faster, but the people within the group find greater satisfaction in their work.
One of the best rewards of management is the opportunity to help others to recognize talents and abilities within themselves, of which they were unaware. The professional and personal growth of each member within the group, as a direct result of management involvement, extrapolates into growth of the group and the organization. Where the level of personal satisfaction for a Manager is concerned, this is why the work with the human factor can easily far outweigh the technical functional aspects of the management role.
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Lesson No. 129: Self-imposed trepidations of management (Pulaski, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Dr. Pulaski notices Ensign Wesley Crusher is hovering in the hallway, hesitating to walk into a meeting room. When asked, Wesley says his newly formed team for his first mission managing the geological survey of a planet is waiting in the meeting room for him and that he is nervous. Pulaski tells Wesley that once he walks in to the meeting, he has nothing to prove about his authority to run the group. She reminds Wesley that even though Cmdr. Riker may have given him the authority to lead this mission, it is now up to him (Wesley) to hang on to the authority and prove that he is worthy of the position.
Lesson:
Achieving promotion in rank is only part of the struggle. Once attained, the new manager must be ever vigilant to ensure they are performing at the top of their ability to deserve the trust conveyed upon them by upper management.
The very first meeting with the staff is always unnerving for the brand new Manager. Having come from the staff level personally, the new Manager is acutely aware of the expectations within the group. By anticipating the group’s possible challenging reactions, the new Manager will immediately drown themselves with reservations about all the areas where they are lacking in knowledge and experience, and thereby, increase their own trepidations about succeeding in their new position.
Such negative, defeatist thoughts are a total waste of time. There are always two things to keep foremost in mind in these first encounter situations between the new Manager and their staff.
First, be reassured in the fact that, with the exception of Royalty and some political Dynasties, no one is ever born into leadership. Even in the case of those born into Royalties and political Dynasties, the task of leadership is merely an inherited duty and not a quality inborn. The quality of leadership is learned, through education and experience. Therefore, the first meeting becomes nothing more than just another step in the process, undertaken by all good leaders throughout history, including your personal upper management. So regard this first meeting with your staff as just the introduction into your next class in leadership.
Second, no matter what the expectations, hostile intentions, or even disruptive influences that may be present within your staff, they are your responsibility, nevertheless. You have the power to guide them to success and the power to demote them or possibly even to dismiss them. Their jobs and career futures are in essence under your control. This in it self is a huge responsibility, not to be taken lightly. Each member of your staff is not just a wage earner for themselves but perhaps for their entire family. Therefore, their success or failure will directly impact others, including their spouse, children and possibly parents, amongst others. All of those lives are really depending on you succeeding.
Therefore, you should recognize that what you are about to step into is part of a quite natural business process and that regardless of whether the staff acknowledges that the future of their jobs are really in your hands, you must take full control of the situation. By leading this first meeting with confidence in yourself, in your words and in your actions, you will reassure everyone that you are deserving of your new found rank and that the staff can look to you for continued growth and success.
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Lesson No. 130: Management decision making process (Riker, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Ensign Wesley Crusher requests advice from Cmdr. Riker on issues he is having on his first assignment managing a team. Wesley is disturbed that he was unable to order his team to perform certain tests because they advised him the tests were unnecessary, even though he (Wesley) thought the tests were important. Wesley denies the issue has anything to with being intimidated or ego driven, rather it is his reluctance to give orders to people who are older than him. Wesley says he feels unsure that he is correct in his decision and that he questions why his judgment is superior to the other team members. Extrapolating on the situation, Wesley asks what if he makes the wrong decision in something more critical and ends up losing lives.
Lesson:
The lesson in this case is really taught very concisely and clearly by Cmdr. Riker himself. As such, his words alone will suffice here.
Riker answers that age difference is not relevant in the mission. He educates Wesley, that responsibility and authority go hand in hand with command and that the goal is to have Wesley make a few decisions which will lead him to a pattern of success and help build his self confidence in command. Riker warns Wesley that if he (Wesley) has no trust in his own judgment, then he does not belong in the command chair; being in command means, that if you are wrong in making a decision then you are wrong - just accept it. Riker tells Wesley that it is arrogant to think you will never make mistakes.
Height of hubris indeed to think one will never make a wrong decision. Great advice for all new managers and overconfident Managers also!
When Riker tells Wesley to always ask the question “What would Capt. Picard do?” in the situation, Wesley says the Capt. would ask everyone’s opinion and then make his decision. When Riker queries further, why doesn’t anyone question Picard’s decision, Wesley can only answer, “Because Picard is Picard” - meaning Picard’s command decision stands on its own merits and based on the Capt.’s reputation; therein, lies the answer to this question on command.
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Lesson No. 131: Finding common ground (Picard)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Two different races of human off-springs from two different planets have the capability to help each other survive by forming a symbiotic relationship. However, while on board the Enterprise negotiating the idea of working together, one party considers the other primitive, hostile, disruptive and requiring a great deal of effort just to educate them, while the other party resents these remarks and asserts that his people have no intentions of begging the other side for their help. Capt. Picard immediately intervenes by stating that he will not allow posturing and bigotry to destroy the meeting. Seeing their respective fear of each other is based on the stark differences between them, Picard finds common ground with both parties by saying that it is the differences amongst humans that has made the human race stronger.
Lesson:
When faced with adversarial parties in a meeting, it is always advisable for the moderator or meeting chairman to seek out and highlight first, the common grounds of benefit, or possible harm, to all involved in the event the meeting should fail.
While it is the obvious goals of each party to try to get their point across, or their issues addressed, or their demands met, regardless of the consequences on the other party, the moderator must try to highlight the wins and losses for each side in each scenario objectively. Citing vivid living or historical examples of similar situations is always an excellent venue for the lines of discussion.
Above all, it is unwise to avoid any glaring issues, such as the intrinsic and perhaps even cultural differences between the parties involved. By embracing the differences and acknowledging their influences on the agenda at hand, both parties can at least perhaps begin to try to understand the other side and benefit mutually from the ensuing discussions.
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Lesson No. 132: Separation of personal and professional issues (Picard, Worf)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
An old girl friend of Lt. Worf’s shows up on the enterprise as an emissary from the Klingon Empire. Worf is not happy to see her due to the old relationship of theirs, which did not end well. When Capt. Picard assigns Worf to assist the emissary on her mission while on board the Enterprise, Worf asks Picard that someone else be assigned to her. Picard asks Worf if there is any personal reason for the request. Worf answers - yes. Picard then asks if there are any professional reasons for the request. Worf says - no. Picard then pauses and just stares at Worf. Realizing the full gravity of the situation Worf quickly withdraws his request and accepts the assignment.
Lesson:
One of the more difficult items for most people to handle is the separation of personal issues from the professional environment. As humans we are all creatures of emotional habits. We react very quickly to situations, people and things based on our likes and dislikes. However, this can be detrimental in any work environment.
Overwhelming majority of people work in jobs where there is a multitude of different people from different backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. Add to that the natural human differences in attitudes, emotional disposition and personal prejudices, and we have the makings of a very volatile and disjointed work place. This is where management must step in, to constantly remind everyone that the main reason for everyone being at their job, is for the sole purpose of performing their respective functions to the best of their ability for the successful growth of the organization, and thereby, reaping the rewards personally for their efforts, financially and otherwise.
There should be no hesitation by management in advising all, that any reluctance to work with others and get along with others in the work environment due to “personal” reasons will not be tolerated and dismissal of staff is well within management’s purview as the final resolution in all such situations.
Hopefully, most personnel are as quick as Worf to recognize management’s displeasure in the staff allowing their personal matters to cloud their professional performance and judgment.
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Lesson No. 133: Cloaked in rank and title (Picard, Q)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
As the omnipotent alien Q loses all of his powers and becomes totally human, full of frailty and weaknesses, he ponders what it takes to be human. He confesses to Picard that he does not have what it takes to be a human. Without his superior powers he finds that he is frightened of everything, and declares that he is a coward and that he is miserable.
Lesson:
This scene ought to be seen by every arrogant person in a power position, management or otherwise, who acts impertinently towards others, driven solely by their own over-inflated egos due to their position.
It also provides great insight for those who fall victim to these dreadful tyrants.
Never allow anyone in an office of power to intimidate you with their rank. The true measure of a person is not based on their rank or the office they hold, but the manner in which they treat others. Power, due to rank or authority, demands from the person of position, empathy and humility. All arrogant abusers of power, who wield their rank as weapons of intimidation over others, are not to be feared, but rather pitied. They are nothing more than this same frightened, coward of an alien being, who is a whimpering nobody, afraid and alone, once their power is removed.
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Lesson No. 134: Helping the underperformer (Picard, LaForge)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Low performing and under achieving Lt. Reginald Barclay in engineering on board the Enterprise is receiving a lot of bad reports about his performance. Barclay’s manager, Lt. Jeordi LaForge tells Capt. Picard that he has tried his best to help Barclay and despite all of his efforts, Barclay is just not improving in his performance. LaForge admits that it may be the best for all concerned if Barclay were to be transferred to another ship. Picard says it’s always far too easy to transfer a problem to someone else. He tells LaForge to try harder at salvaging a member of his team who needs help and find someway for Barclay to make a positive contribution. Picard goes so far as to tell LaForge to make Barclay his best friend and to get to know Barclay better. As LaForge explains that he can barely tolerate Barclay, let alone befriend him, Picard interrupts LaForge and gives him a direct order to put his personal discomfort aside and help Barclay to improve.
Lesson:
This is one of the foundational tenets of great leadership and management.
A driving principal of great management and leadership is to recognize that everyone deserves proper guidance to produce their peak performance, and that everyone has something to contribute to the task and the organization.
In order to recognize if an individual is right for a position, it is fundamentally important to find the optimal performance level of the individual. Part of the management duty is to provide mentoring to help individuals to rise above their current limitations to meet their objectives. The final goal of leadership and management is to find the right fit for the right individuals within the organization.
It is important to exercise caution when evaluating the appropriate fitness of individuals based on their performance. Much like the categorization of apples and oranges, evaluations must be carried out with varying degrees of measurement.
An employee working strictly an 8-hour day and never expending any extra effort, even in the face of fire-drill situations, may not necessarily be an under performer or under achiever. If the quality of their work during their regular 8-hour work-days is exemplary, then allocate their responsibilities accordingly, never requiring any more from them. However, be sure to parallel the individual’s recognitions and rewards accordingly, with a plateau in promotions and any future salary increases, for such benefits belong to only those who perform above and beyond expectations.
In the case of true under performers and under achievers, too often do they get overlooked and passed by, by those in charge of their future.
This is one of the calamities of today’s education system. Too many kids end up graduating High School with out learning to even read or write, just because their teachers were incompetent and too lazy, and passed them off to the next class without ever trying to help the child to improve.
In the movie, A Few Good Men, it was clearly noted in several scenes that it was the duty of fellow Marines, and especially officers, to help underachieving recruits in improving their level of performance. Simply transferring the underachiever to another division was not acceptable. Although the “Code Red” disaster took center spotlight in the movie, the underlying notion of not bypassing failing individuals still prevailed, right up to the final scene.
Passing the buck in the responsibility to properly mentor says more about the inability and ineffectiveness of the manager to manage, or teacher to teach, than the individual staff member or student to perform properly.
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Lesson No. 135: Dangers of nicknames (LaForge, Data, Wesley)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
While on a break with Lt. Cmdr. Data and Lt. Jeordi LaForge, Ensign Wesley Crusher refers to fellow worker Lt. Barclay (who is not present) as “Broccoli”. When Data asks why Barclay is being referred to clandestinely as a vegetable, Wesley laughs and says it is a nickname used as a joke. Data says nicknames are defined as generally denoting fondness and something shared between friends; however, that it does not appear to be so in this instance. Recognizing Data’s clear explanation of the insulting nature and impact of the nickname, LaForge immediately orders everyone to stop using that nickname ever again.
Lesson:
Admittedly, at one point or another, in each of our lives, we have either witnessed, or been the architect of, or a collaborator of, or been the victim of such comments. While this may be a matter easily laughed off and dismissed by many, for others, the end results can be very scarring and sometimes quite tragic.
It is the responsibility of everyone to come to the support of those maligned by such remarks. Managers and teachers, in particular, must take quick and determined measures to stop all ridicule or belittling comments against other staff, management, students and teachers, respectively.
While at first such name calling may produce an air of levity, it may quickly spread through out the locality through gossip and rumors. If the negative comments ridicule a religion, political party, foreign culture, ethnic group, or such, then, the problem is group-targeted and may cause wide-spread dissension, but, it reflects more on the bigotry of the one making the comments than anything else.
However, the problems are more insidious and harmful, when the negative name calling is directed at any one individual. In this instance, only one person is targeted with the insults and, unable to confront the masses alone, the victim will feel insecure and begin to withdraw from the group and perhaps even from society as a whole. We have all either seen or experienced this situation personally in our school lives.
Yes, name calling is definitely a form of bullying.
We are all too aware of the consequences of such actions. The victim will either resign themselves to accepting the demeaning attitudes of others, forming inferiority complexes and sinking into some form of depression, resulting maybe even in suicide; or as we have seen far too often on the news, the victim will retaliate in full force upon his peers and any innocent victims in their line of sight with gunfire.
All managers and teachers must follow the LaForge line of action and immediately confront, and eliminate, all such name calling and bullying situations at the first sign.
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Lesson No. 136: Personal culpability unrecognized (Data)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Data, an android, creates a brand new android life-form, based on his own architecture. As the creator, Data considers the new android life-form his child, fashions it as a female and names her Lal. Upon hearing of Lal, an Admiral arrives from Star Fleet to take Lal away from Data for studying back at Star Fleet. Data declines to support the request as he does not wish to relinquish his child. When the Admiral makes the request an order, Lal experiences emotions for the first time, and in a fit of terror of being ripped away from her father Data, Lal suffers internal cascade failure causing a permanent shut down. After Lal expires, all that the Admiral can say of Lal and the incident is “It just wasn’t meant to be.”
Lesson:
Swine! Swine! Swine! This horrendous individual, the Admiral, is totally devoid of any conscience for his own culpability. This Admiral proceeds in complete arrogance, exercising his self-proclaimed supremacy and unfaltering lack of any guilt for having been the sole cause of the death of Lal by trying to forcibly remove the child from its parent.
Unfortunately, these most disgusting, despicable and not even pity worthy examples of humans are usually found in high ranking positions, always unleashing harm upon the masses without any hesitation or reluctance, for they all suffer from a lack of conscience.
There are heads of companies and nations alike through out history that have wrecked financial and economic havoc, and war, respectively, and never felt it necessary to hold themselves accountable for the devastation and loss of lives they caused.
Be forewarned when you see these people. Recognize them for their truly evil nature and shun them for the pariahs that they are.
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Lesson No. 137: How to meet/pick up someone (LaForge, Guinan)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
While sitting in the ship’s lounge, Lt. Cmdr. Jeordi LaForge is lamenting his dating woes with his friend, the female bartender Guinan. LaForge, wanting to understand the reason for his failures with women, asks Guinan for the female point of view. LaForge explains that he can field strip a reactor, but just can’t seem to make anything work with a girl. He just doesn’t know what to do or what to say. He just can’t seem to talk with women, no matter how hard he tries. Guinan tells LaForge that he is doing just fine talking with her. LaForge says this is a different situation, in that he is not trying with her. Guinan smiles and answers “Exactly my point.”
Lesson:
Why do we always manage to make something so simple, so very difficult?
When approaching a stranger, if we just act naturally and be ourselves, then we have nothing to hide, nothing to justify, and nothing to fake. This way we eliminate not only the time wasted in playing coy and manipulative games, but we also reduce the emotional stress factor down to almost nothing.
If we find ourselves attracted to someone new, then we should introduce ourselves personally; of course, the preferred method is to always be introduced by someone else. After the introduction, we should let them know, gradually and gently through our words and actions that we are attracted to them. If the feelings are not reciprocated, then, after expending a reasonable amount of effort, we should always back-off.
Breaking through the ice of the initial introduction is the real life fear of most people, which is usually intensified by the presumption of rejection. Unfortunately, the fear is always self-imposed and never really necessary. Where there is free-will, there will always be the chance of rejection. As surely as we each reject the advances of others whom we do not particularly like, should we not expect others to reject us accordingly?
We should never let the fear of rejection dissuade us from approaching others to whom we are attracted. Only by inquiring do we find out if the attraction is mutual. By just being ourselves and not pretending to be that which we are not and especially, not trying so hard, do we understand Guinan’s advice and stand any chance of success In our quest.
The answer is really so simple - don’t try, just be!
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Lesson No. 138: Bridging the gap between client and designer (LaForge
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Jeordi LaForge, the Chief Engineer of the Enterprise expresses in a discussion with a hologram image of one of the designers of the warp engine that he wishes Chief Engineers could be present when a ship was being designed. The designer in turn expresses the problem with designers is that they never get out into space.
Lesson:
This is a perfect example of many real life work situations. The gap between the expectations of the client/user and the understanding of the designer/builder is often quite vast.
For any organization producing a product or service, there is a mandatory requirement to bridge the knowledge and experience gap between the designers/builders and the users/customers. Too often when the customer wants a ‘widget’, the vendor delivers a ‘gadget’.
Somewhere along the lines of communications between the client and the salesman and all the intervening management and departments that are involved, before reaching the final developer hidden somewhere in the basement, left alone in the dark, what was asked for and what was delivered may end up as not being the same thing.
This is why methods of project management like AGILE, SCRUM, etc. espouse involving the customer directly with the developer/designer to eliminate misunderstanding and reduce the loss of clarity in the goals of projects.
Consider the salesman who overheard a conversation on the train that a company was having difficulty getting a client contract because they could not produce a thousand ties a week. Knowing that his company could produce such a number of ties in a week, the salesman hurriedly went into production, produced the thousand ties and approached the unknown client, with ties in hand, ready to sign the deal. To his dismay, the salesman found the client was not interested in his neck ties, but rather railroad ties.
For any business, it is imperative that clients and builders both speak the same language and clearly understand each other.
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Lesson No. 139: Announcing your limtiations (Picard, Data, Crusher)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Cmdr. Data, an android, is surprised to find Capt. Picard and Dr. Crusher waiting in attendance for his upcoming violin recital. Taken slightly aback by their unexpected presence, Data suggests to Picard and Crusher that they attend a later performance of the same recital, when someone else will be performing his same violin piece, as his (Data’s) performance may not be as good for it lacks “soul”.
Crusher tells Data that announcing he is going to fail before he attempts something is never wise. When Data responds by asking if honesty is not always the preferred choice, Picard advises that excessive honesty can be disastrous, especially in a commander and that knowing your own limitations is one thing, however, advertising them to the crew can damage credibility as a leader. Data understands how this could lead to the crew losing confidence in the commander. Dr Crusher delivers the most cogent point of all by pointing out that the risk of constantly predicting potential self-failures before they happen, is that one may actually begin to lose confidence in oneself.
Lesson:
Successful leaders and managers must always recognize and admit to themselves their own limitations. To deny one’s own limitations is to invite failure whenever the boundary conditions of the limits are encroached. Only through an understanding of the limitations can one ever hope to surmount them and exceed beyond their current capabilities.
However, publically predicting failure due to one’s own limitations is never advisable. It disillusions and destroys confidence in all concerned. Great leaders through out history may have recognized the inevitability of defeat in their immediate battle due to overwhelming odds and superior fire power, however, from General George Armstrong Custer at Little Bighorn to the allied soldiers in Bataan during World War II, defeat, was never pronounced before the fight.
Although pure in his quest for absolute human honesty, Data is well advised by Picard and Crusher to not let honesty be mistaken for a lack of confidence.
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Lesson No. 140: Filtering methodologies (Data, LaForge)
Movie/TV Series: Star Trek - The Next Generation
Noteworthy Scene: (Skip to the Lesson if you're not a Star Trek fan!)
Lt. Jeordi LaForge and Lt. Cmdr. Data are studying a Federation shuttle craft which appears to have been in a battle with the Federation ally, the Klingons. Presented with the hundreds of multiple possible answers to the question of who was responsible for the attack, as evidenced by the energy pattern found on the shuttle craft, LaForge recommends using a little common sense to narrow down the search, instead of just plowing through all the possible attackers. LaForge recommends focusing in on the solution by posing the argument of who has the most to gain with the alliance between the Federation and the Klingon Empire falling apart. The answer was obvious - the Romulans - as he validated with a blast pattern match.
Lesson:
This methodical approach (although simple in concept), of addressing situations where there are multiple, even potentially millions of possible candidates as possible solutions to a problem, is still not practiced very well by many organizations. Given the efficiency of computers, many organizations choose to use a brute force method of canvassing all possibilities, rather than approaching issues intelligently and narrowing down the list of possibilities first.
Successful salesmen, in particular, use this approach of narrowing in on targets when marketing their product and services. Random mass mailing is usually futile and the return on investment is extremely low to almost non-existent. However, a well-coordinated, well-researched campaign strategy will result in more successes for less effort and less expenses. Through strategic deployment of marketing resources there is always a better chance of success.
Sometimes, if the list cannot be easily narrowed down based on any best candidate algorithm, then the list can at least be reduced by eliminating the worst or most incompatible candidates.
In addition to the savings in effort and cost, there is also the benefit of savings in time. In particular, as in the case with LaForge, identifying who the real enemy is in battle, before the next attack occurs, does not afford the luxury of time to filter through all possible potential enemies, even with warp speed computers.
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