Chapter 2
“All Hands: This Is The Captain”
Franchise: The Original Series
Season 1, Episode 14: “Balance Of Terror”
I’m beginning with this as the first full episode we’ll explore together, because it contains so many lessons on the nature and conduct of leadership. I’ve always believed that true success in any organization, be it a corporation, small business, nonprofit, network marketing, the military, the arts, or any other venture you might name, is driven first by a competent and confident leader. We’ll examine this idea in later chapters, but here in this episode we’re shown Captain James T. Kirk in one of his finest hours as a leader.
In all of Captain Kirk’s interactions with his crew as well as with others, he exudes an inner calm and confidence, the result of his complete command of his own technical and tactical skills, as well as full self-awareness which allows him to monitor and control his emotional responses in this dangerous and high-pressure situation.
We’re also going to see:
Didn’t know that you could find so many leadership lessons in one episode of a sci-fi series more than half a century old, did you? Well, here we go – “brace for impact!”
============================================
What Happens And What It Means:
As “Balance of Terror” opens, the U.S.S. Enterprise finds a group of deep-space outposts of her allied organization, the United Federation of Planets, under attack by a mysterious enemy.
(By the way, this is the first appearance in the franchise of the alien race known as the Romulans.)
The Enterprise moves to investigate and, if possible, protect the outposts; unfortunately, several of the outposts are destroyed before Kirk can move his ship into a position to help.
In pursuit of the enemy vessel, Kirk demonstrates a smooth working relationship and rapport with the members of his crew. He is able to communicate his wishes to his crewmen often with merely a word or a glance, as when he speaks with his chief engineer, Commander Montgomery Scott:
Kirk: “Scotty …”
Scott: “I’ve ALREADY talked to my engine room, Captain – we’ll get more speed out of her.”
If you’ve ever had a relationship like this with a teammate or business partner - so coordinated, so in sync that you almost felt you could predict each other’s moves - you know exactly how a scene like this plays out.
Once the Enterprise is within “sensor range” and detects the enemy vessel, Kirk’s science officer (the legendary Mr. Spock - we’ll learn MUCH more about him later on) manages to capture a video image of the Romulan ship and its commander. Much to everyone’s surprise, the Romulan commander bears an uncanny resemblance to Spock!
Upon seeing this, the ship’s navigator, Lt. Styles, is immediately inflamed with suspicion and hatred against Spock. You see, there had been a previous war between the Federation and the Romulan Empire, and several members of Styles’ family had been killed in that war. Seeing the resemblance, he conflates Spock and his enemy. At one point, Styles, in an act of open disrespect and contempt, even mutters an insulting comment in the direction of Spock (who, by the way, is his superior officer) - but Kirk instantly shuts him down:
“Here’s one thing you can be sure of, mister: leave any bigotry in your quarters – there’s no room for it on the Bridge. Do I make myself clear?”
Captain Kirk calls a briefing with his senior officers, to analyze the situation and determine how to proceed. During this meeting, Kirk continues to lead his team with a cool head and a steady hand, even in the face of disagreement and conflict. Viewpoints and opinions are bandied about back and forth across the conference table; even Styles (yes, THAT Styles) is invited by Kirk to speak freely (“Go ahead, Mr. Styles – I called this session for opinions”). Styles advocates for a direct attack against the Romulans, but he does it by again suspecting and accusing Spock of dual loyalties.
“These are Romulans! You run away from them and you guarantee war. … Now you know that, Mr. Science Officer - you’re the expert on these people, but you’ve always left out that one point. Why? I’m very interested in WHY!”
Imagine challenging your boss’s motives to his or her face, IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE SENIOR STAFF.
Let that sink in for a moment.
But… it turns out that Styles is RIGHT. Even Spock (clearly demonstrating that he never takes insults personally) actually agrees with him.
The interesting part of this exchange, though, is that Kirk allows it to continue. He does order Styles to calm himself emotionally at one point, but he is clearly more interested in the result of this conversation than in its form.
The goal here is to win. If emotions run a bit high along the way, the Captain can manage that, and live with it … in the service of victory.
(There’s also a small moment in this same meeting where Kirk gives a team member time to shine:
In planning their next move, Kirk brings up the possibility of using a passing comet as cover for an attack. He asks Spock about the comet, called Akaris 4, and hands him a reference book to use; Spock gently pushes the book aside and gives a complete description of the comet in question from memory. … Give your people the stage and let them do what they do best. Nice.)
There comes a point in this episode when Kirk has to make a momentous decision, one that could cost millions of lives and trigger an interstellar war. How he handles that moment is instructive.
One result of the prior Romulan/Federation conflict was the establishment of a “Neutral Zone” between the two powers, as a kind of physical buffer to help prevent future hostilities. Entry into this Zone by either side would be considered an act of war.
As the Enterprise is pursuing the Romulan vessel, they draw ever closer to the borders of the Neutral Zone. Seeing no alternative if he is to defeat the Romulan commander, Kirk makes the fateful choice – notice how he phrases his order to his communications officer:
“Lieutenant Uhura, Inform Command Base: In my opinion, no option. ON MY RESPONSIBILITY, we are proceeding into the Neutral Zone.”
In his sober visage, the implication is clear: he knows EXACTLY what he is doing, and what it may mean for the fate of the galaxy. Yet he does not hesitate to make the command decision, and he willingly takes the full weight of that choice upon himself.
It’s a simple statement, yet it’s full of emotional power and courage.
Just before the climactic battle with the Romulan ship, Kirk has a moment of rest in his quarters. He is visited by his chief medical officer and close friend, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. In their chat before returning to the bridge, Kirk lets his guard down for an instant, and we see his inner misgivings;
“I wish I were on a long sea-voyage somewhere … not too much deck tennis, no frantic dancing … no responsibilities. …
“I look around that bridge, I see the men waiting for me to make the next move … and Bones, what if I’m wrong?”
Kirk doesn’t really expect an answer – but Bones gives him one anyway. It’s a deep expression of the bond between the two men. Read this once – no, twice – and ask yourself what you wouldn’t give to be valued like this:
“In this galaxy, there’s a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this one. And in all that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us. … Don’t destroy the one named Kirk.”
Friends.
Now then, as to the final battle … wait, you don’t expect me to actually give away the WHOLE episode, do you? THAT part, you’ll just have to watch for yourself. About that battle, though, two comments.
First, during the cut-and thrust of combat, Kirk on several occasions recognizes that he is pitted against a cunning and shrewd adversary:
“He did exactly what I would have done – I won’t underestimate him again.”
Ultimately, Captain Kirk and his crew do achieve victory over the Romulan vessel and its commander. The Romulan captain, whose name we never learn, demonstrates that he understands the respect, even in defeat, that he has been shown by Kirk:
“I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind; in a different reality, I could have called you friend.”
Even his enemies acknowledged James T. Kirk as an uncommon leader. I hope that you are beginning to get a glimpse of what he and his crew, and so many in the Trek universe, whose names are household words to those of us who grew up with them, have to teach us about leadership, personal growth, and the success that we all seek.
Leadership Lessons You Can Use: