What Captain Kirk Taught Me about Leadership (Hint: It Involves Mojo)

Star Trek conventions are an exhibition of devotion to heroes. Imitation klingons and characters with green skin patiently stand in line waiting to meet Mr. Spock, Sulu and Captain Kirk. Trekies spend countless hours on their passion. The rewards come back tenfold when they lock eyes with their idol, and take back a little piece of hero for him or herself.

This phenomenon is not unique to the Star Trek experience. We see it at Star Wars events and business conferences as Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet strolls onto the stage. We want to kiss their ring, or just be in the midst of our hero. What happens when the devotee wants a bit of that influence for him or herself? Must they wait for their own TV show or multimillion-dollar corporation to build a following? Heroes, change agents and business leaders have three things in common. Follow their lead and create a life worth writing about.

1. They Dare to Be Amazing – An amazing life is closer than you think. Boldly go where you have never gone before, and allow those experiences to change you. Switch your mind off autopilot, and learn something new. Allow your adventures to fill your soul, and serve as a guideline as to where you should serve. Do you have an adrenaline rush while you are outdoors? Volunteer in the environmental conservation movement. If filmmaking is your hobby, become a social entrepreneur, teach African women your skill and allow them to tell their stories. The world is waiting for the next hero. Are you going to fill the role, or watch them on TV?
   
   
2. They Check Their Motivation – The hero is never bigger than the mission he or she serves. Before you step up to the plate of social or business leadership, examine your reasons for doing so. Do you seek recognition? Are you craving validation? Every leader’s sole mission is to advance a cause, business, idea, dream—whatever it is he or she wishes to press forward. If you are doing anything of importance, and you are doing it right, remember the movement will exist with or without your involvement. Even with his prowess, the ship sometimes ran without Captain Kirk at the helm thanks to Mr. Spock.
   
   
3. They Have Mojo – Captain Kirk can stroll into a room and command attention. Is that ability innate, or is it a byproduct of experience? A hero can confidently walk into the room because he or she knows they belong there. The leader has a lifetime of experience under his or her belt to offer a battery of stories to keep audiences entertained. Moments of insecurity might creep in, but the leader knows they have masterfully completed steps one and two.
   

In college, I used to watch men scurrying like lab rats on the basketball court. One by one, they would throw imaginary balls into a very real basket. “Why don't you just play for real,” I asked them to have deer in headlights looks meet me in return. I knew their type. They would eventually grow up to blurt out catch phrases, such as win-win and synergy, at business meetings to appear smart. Here lays the difference between pretenders on the sidelines of life, and leaders that work hard to lead a heroic life worthy of storytelling. I cannot imagine Captain James T. Kirk being content playing imaginary basketball. And for Mr. Spock to spew business catchphrases in the pursuit of coolness would be illogical.

Dawn is still on her quest to become someone amazing by unleashing the rock star, do-gooder and explorer of her childhood dreams. She hopes to surf for the first time next week.

What Business Leaders & Politicians Can Learn from Mr. Twigg

With crisp overalls and a mop in tow, Mr. Twigg walked the hallways. He was the most popular man at Whiteside Elementary. I chuckle when I hear Dr. Martin Luther King’s quote, “"If life makes you a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be.” Mr. Twigg was leadership personified.

I burst through the doors of my school every weekday. “How are you doo-ing today, Dawn?” Mr. Twigg asked with his trademark toothy grin. “Fine, Mr. Twigg!” I exclaimed. Faithfully, he would ask about my family, class, or my dog, Bootsie. Off to my class I would skip—his friendliness and insight gave me fuel to start another day of learning. When roughneck girls picked on me for being a child of teachers, Mr. Twigg knew when I wanted to hide behind a water fountain, a carved out dinosaur—anything so the world could not get to me. “How are you doing today, Dawn?” he whispered softly. “I’m okay, Mr. Twigg,” I replied, my eyes barely holding back the tears.

Great leaders are like that. They tailor their approach to the individual, and never lose a single drop of sincerity in the process. Politicians able to tap into the undercurrent of the nation can skyrocket to a public office. Meanwhile, candidates—sometimes with laudable platforms—who rely on formulaic tactics often falter. Consumers typically flock to companies with marketing campaigns that express honest concern for their wants and needs during an economic downturn. When my classmates at Whiteside Elementary needed reassurance, they did not turn to the coolest kid in school (sorry Tommy); they looked to our resident pied piper, Mr. Twigg.

We have an innate need to feel special and heard, which explains my pangs of jealousy the first time I heard Mr. Twigg ask another student, “How are you doo-ing today?” Then again, the world would not have been as enjoyable if I kept leaders like Mr. Twigg to myself.

Lead With Strength - Operating Within Skill Set Is Key To Success

My former boss would stick out his chest out exclaiming, “We must lead from strength!” It was not until I became a consultant that I grasped the meaning of this powerful phrase. Businesses must recognize their strengths and market them fervently. Agility might be necessary in this ever-changing marketplace, but businesses – especially small businesses – that attempt to be everything to everyone inevitably fail.

Internally, business owners who don too many hats are certain to become overwhelmed. They overlook important tasks and attempt to tackle duties outside of their areas of expertise. This is most apparent in marketing and administration. Easy access to word processing, desktop publishing and web design software lulls business owners into a false sense of ability. They assume their ability to use the software translates to the talent needed to create professional materials that produce results.

Rudimentary ability should never be a substitute for expertise. Many professionals boast of their writing skills. Without a comprehensive knowledge of the theory and mechanics of writing, these professionals produce pieces riddled with embarrassing errors. Press releases go to the media with improper formatting and full of advertorial copy. Just as sure as you can say, “spam,” editors trash these press releases almost as quickly as they arrive.

All too often, eager business owners create postcards in a generic desktop publisher program. They throw in a barrage of cartoon clipart without giving pause to what colors detract from sales. They mail them out to prospective clients and wait in vain for the calls to pour in. They never do – at least not at a rate to keep the business alive. Score one for big businesses who know better.

“I cannot afford a copywriter or graphic designer,” is what small business owners say. Most business experts agree that 20% of a business’ budget should go into its marketing. Still, marketing seems to be an afterthought to the average small business owner. They believe customers will overlook their lackluster or non-existent marketing materials and ignore the excellent pieces of their wiser competitors. They believe that their clients – usually other businesses – will understand their plight when piece mill direct mail inches across their desk.

They do not understand. I have seen many an executive mercilessly pick apart a competitor’s website, or direct mail piece. I have even chuckled over terribly written press releases. It is a shame. A business owner’s time is much better spent running and growing their business instead of doing something outside of their skill set.

My recommendation to you great business leaders out there is to find your strength and lead with it. When it comes to writing, just leave that to professionals like me.