Alex and I are not too far apart on his analysis. If you haven't already read the article, click the link Forbes - Five Leadership Lessons from James T Kirk before continuing. It's a quick enjoyable read.
I concur with his assessment of the captain's service record and would amplify his accolades by stating that the captain not only saved Earth, but also, the galaxy.. let's not forget the Borg.. and anyone who defeats Nazis is an absolute hero on my book. I will comment on the lessons and quibble a bit with Alex:
1. Never stop learning. I consider this a life lesson more than a leadership lesson. However I would point out that the leader is responsible for creating a culture of intellectual curiosity within their organization. To do so the leader must dedicate resources and manage expectations carefully. And while, Alex is correct, that the captain had a voracious appetite for information, he kept much of it to himself. Leaders inspire others to learn, unlock their possibilities, form the team, and create synergy.
2. Have advisors with differing world views. I agree. The sign of a confident leader is a healthy respect for the dissenting voice. This is insurance against "Group Think". The leader should seek to surround him/herself not with,"yes men" but with the best qualified people that produce a fountain of ideas to choose from. The leader makes the choice, but should see every possible angle.. Not just nuances of his own. I tend to agree with Alex on this 100%. It wasn't only Spock and Bones but Sulu, Ahura, and Scotty all played critical parts.
3. Be a part of the away team. I guess here is where Alex and I have to part ways. While all leaders have to "pet the dragon" to remain relevant, leaders at Kirks level are not front line foot soldiers. A dynamic environment requires a deep bull pen of well trained young leaders to fill those away team positions. People in the position of the captain are indispensible highly sought after commodities. They lead at a different level. Where's the leaders place on the battlefield? The textbook answer is wherever he/she can exert the most influence over the critical event. If the Enterprise (at least 200 strong) has to rely on the captain (equivalent to a Colonel in the Army) to save the day in every cage match then there are leadership issues inside the organization. Doesn't Starfleet produce enough squads of Infantry? World class organizations, in this case Starfleet, are not built on the cult of personality. They are built on strong institutions who systematically produce leaders, some of which will become great - the successors of Kirk. Therefore the most physically able, best equipped, and most educated get there turn to vanquish the Gorn. This is not to say that I don't think leaders have a place in the trenches. I do agree with his pizza story. The best time to visit the troops and show presence (pet the dragon) is when the pressure is on and the chips are down. Alex is right, it makes a difference for the troops to see their leaders at the front but the role is either diplomatic or inspirational.
4. Play Poker not Chess. Again, I find myself agreeing with Alex. And I would add that the savvy leader will get there first and choose the game. The bluff only works when the leader has placed his organization on the sound footing that enables him a seat at the table. In other words, there needs to be some kind of a track record behind that bluff. Effective bluffing requires a reputation of action. Kirk clearly had this.. Leadership is about stacking the deck in your favor ahead of time. The battle should be won before it is fought. In this sense the leader uses skill and influence to the manipulate circumstances surrounding the event. He/she arranges them in his/her favor rendering the bluff a more potent instrument.
5. Blow up the Enterprise. Yes.. every leader should be ready to do whatever it takes to save his team even if that means sacrificing himself/herself. In my experience building strong teams around proven systems frees the leader to think and chart the way forward and avoid the type of nightmare scenario so burned into Alex's memory.
Parting thoughts. I think Alex has brought a strong case. He makes valid points that should be a part of any leaders kit bag. But does,"Blow up the Enterprise" really make the top five? I think there are other more valuable leadership lessons such as, "Understand the problem", "Be Decisive", or "Assume Risk". Captain Kirk was very successful at using his subordinates and the instruments aboard his ship to understand exactly where the critical point was. Once he discovered this he marshaled all of his resources and focused them on achieving success. He was decisive and more importantly he was ready to assume great risk with the knowledge that his diverse team was capable of overcoming any threat that came his way. And though flawed (as we all are) James T. Kirk believed in people (and a few aliens). He remains a great leader!
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