Having Problems with Loyalty? Try SELF SACRIFICE [aka How NOT to Lead People] Monday, Mar 31 2008

The movie under consideration is Startrek Voyager Episode: Resolutions

First lesson I see here is HOW NOT TO LEAD PEOPLE. What happens when u take a person totally devoid of emotional intelligence (EQ) takes over leadership when there’s been an emotional crises.

When a leader makes a sacrifice of himself/herself, including and especially the power she has been bestowed, all but the most hardcore cynics melt down in loyalty and admiration. It is the concept of the leader who has not defined himself/herself in terms of her positional authority – it makes a followership so loyal …’they will gladly fly gasoline into hell’ for their leader.

That’s what Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay achieve when they don’t hesitate to sacrifice themselves so as not to put their crew in harm’s way.

In this movie, I also take home a lesson of LIVING IN THE MOMENT. It is futile sacrificing the present for a future that may never exist. Powerful reminder than purpose in the meaning can always exist in the here and now …. question is … do u have what it takes to find it?

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Leaving 99 Sheep to Look for One Lost Sheep! Tuesday, Mar 11 2008

StarTrek Voyage Season 2 – Episode 2: ¨Initiations¨

In this episode and in several others in this series … I am reminded of the parable of the lost sheep in the bible. —- A good shepard will leave 99 sheep to look of one missing sheep, sometimes even putting those 99 in harm´s way in the process. Captain Janeway does just that in this episode and in other episodes as she won´t leave any of her people behind who are captured, sick, missing or separated from the crew inexplicably. The good shepard thus inspires loyalty in the team and fosters teamwork because all the other 99 sheep are confident that if it were them that were in this situation, their leader won´t leave any stone unturned in trying to get them. This act sends one simple message – ¨Everyone of you is an important part of this journey/endeavour/venture, I will go out of my way and do everything in my power to keep you safe¨

A leader NEVER compromises his principles – s/he will not sacrifice others to save himself.

And from Commander Chakotay himself ¨A man does not own land, he doesn´t own anything except the courage and loyalty in his heart¨ – wow! and here I thought we owned land, houses, cars and corporate empires! and what is that in the heart? courage and loyalty?

In light of the previous quote … we have our next tenet – a leader´s message/appeal is goes to the heart and spirit – to the potential for greatness within us all. That message could be verbal but more importantly the message is by behaviour – there is something the leader DOES that make even his enemy buy into his value system. In this episode, Commander Chakotay´s refusal to kill innocent children, risk his life to save that which he cares about and even give himself up as a sacrifice (at great risk) so someone can gain something they hold dear is a message that is louder than anything any orator could say.

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