Make it so, Number One!

I finished reading N. Graham Standish's book "Humble Leaadership: Being Radically Open to God's Guidance and Grace" and would whole heartedly recommend it to leaders in the church. Just the titles of the chapters give a good summary of the key points of his book: 1. Humble leadership; 2. Self-Aware Leadership; 3. Prayerful Leadership; 4. Unifying Leadership; 5. Spirit-Led Leadership; 6. Humbly Effective Leadership. And if I wasn't already sold on the book, in the final chapter Standish invokes "Star Trek- The Next Generation" as a model for leadership.

Standish makes the point that when producers came up with the "Next Generation" they had to come up with a captain who was radically different than the individualistic, charismatic style of Captain Kirk in Star Trek. They came up with Captain Jean-Luc Picard who instead modeled a uniquely democratic leadership style. Standish make the point that Picards leadership style was so unique that it spawned a leadership book, "Make It So: Leadership Lessons from Star Trek- The Next Generation".
I remember when Jean-Luc was faced with a problem he would ask for responses from all the members of his senior staff. After he had the input, then he would either choose one of the options or come up with something that integreted the different insights that members of the senior officers, all gifted leaders in their own right, had offered. As I read Standish's discussion of Picard's leadership style, I couldn't help but think that Picard in many ways reflected a post-modern leadership style compared to Captain Kirk's command and control leadership style. Standish asks the question "How do we lead others in a process that allows for full participation and at the same time offers decisive leadership?" He suggests that in the church, a democratic style "recognizes that the Holy Spirit speaks through many people in the decision-making process" and our job is sometimes to discern the Spirit's voice, no matter who the Holy Spirit is speaking through.

I knew there was a reason that I liked "Star Trek: The Next Generation" even better than the original. Of course when we say: "Make it so, Number One" we are talking about the One in Three triune God who is with us in all our adventures in faith no matter what galaxy it takes us to.