The Picard Maneuvers
I took this photo of Patrick Stewart at the Calgary comic book expo in 2012. A thrill of a lifetime to see the actor in person.
There are lots of inspiring leaders in the world. Some of them live today, and others live on the pages of history. If you were to ask me which leader I admire the most, I might surprise you because, without a doubt, the leader I aspire to be is fictional. Of all the leaders I aspire to be like, it is Jean-Luc Picard , Captain of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek the Next Generation. The character was introduced to me when I was a kid in the 80s on the T.V screen, and I've admired him ever since. Here are some of the lessons I've learned about leadership from watching Jean-Luc Picard. The character might be famous for inventing "The Picard Maneuver," * but here are three leadership maneuvers that define his leadership.
Leadership is defined by character not necessarily strength. The starship Enterprise was the most powerful and influential starship in Starfleet in the television series. However, Picard would never rush to use that power, and his instincts moved him to listen first and shoot only in the absence of other alternatives. His example tells me that the boss that has to prove they're the boss all the time is missing out on opportunities to grow.
The second is, to keep moving forward. The audience is now catching up with Jean-Luc twenty years after we last saw him in command of the Enterprise. We've now learned that his career went beyond the ship that made him famous, and he continued to work with new teams. The lesson for me, appreciate all the parts of your career for the value they brought to your life, but keep moving forward. Take that new opportunity! Invest the best you have into the new teams you get to lead. Engage!
Finally, Picard's loyalty stands out to me. It's very easy to work with your team members when they're doing well and performing as they should. However, devotion shines through when you support your team when they're not doing well. Personally or professionally. Mistakes happen, people fail, and sometimes your team will lose despite everyone's best efforts. Allow me to quote him here "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." How we treat our team in less than ideal circumstances is the test of loyalty. I've failed as a leader if my team members are afraid to come to me when something has gone wrong. A challenge is an opportunity to build trust instead of fear. Make it so!
Friend, thanks for reading; whoever you are, may you continue to explore and "see what's out there."
*The Picard Maneuver was a combat tactic developed by Jean-Luc Picard while he was the Captain of the U.S.S Stargazer. His ship had fallen under attack by an enemy Ferengi vessel. and during that battle, Picard had the Stargazer jump to warp speed stopping directly in front of the alien ship. The jump to warp speed made the ship appear like it was in two places at once confusing the enemie’s targeting equipment. Picard then fired 6 photon torpedos at the enemy vessel at point-blank range, destroying the Ferengi ship and saving his crew. I think it’s important that you know this.