Leadership in Star Trek: Lessons from the Captain’s Chair

What are the skills necessary for effective leadership? How can we learn to lead toward a better tomorrow? For six decades, the captains of Star Trek have demonstrated the potential for leaders to leverage reason and compassion in the service of others. Grounded in science yet focused on practical application, this book uses case studies from more than 40 episodes and films to explore how Captains Archer, Burnham, Pike, Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway relied upon the basic leadership skills of communication, patience, and relationship to navigate the most challenging of events.

This work lays out how leaders can leverage reason and compassion to create organizational cultures in which everyone has a place at the table. Whether you are a professional or a student of business, academics, schools, or government, Star Trek is more relevant than ever to the leaders of today to boldly go.

Jason A. Kaufman is a professor of educational leadership and director of the institutional review board at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a licensed psychologist. His research explores how nature-based and mind-body interventions can promote human functioning and academic success. Aaron M. Peterson is an active researcher and former assistant professor of educational leadership at Minnesota State University-Moorhead. His research explores conflict engagement best practices for higher educational leaders, students and also the private sector.