Be a Leader/Inspiration like Martin Luther King, Star Trek and the Many Rescuers at the Haitian Earthquake

January 15 is the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was declared a holiday in 1983. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States, and he has also become a human rights icon. He became a leader because the work he cared about led him to become one. Granted, he led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, and his efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as a legendary orator in U.S. history. But again, these that followed him were convinced of his call to serve and believed in his cause.

Like King, many lead as volunteers in the massive devastation of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where many military troops, doctors and aid workers pour into this country on the celebrated Martin Luther King Birthday. The news reports that billions of dollars will be needed following the quake which has killed an estimated 200,000 people and left many still struggling to find a cup of water or a handful of food doesn't necessarily mean that many will answer a cry for help, but still these leaders of service emerge.

In the midst of such devastation or not, how does one lead when tasked to do so. Being tasked by How to Become a Better Leader, I have chosen to examine the selfless characterization that becomes an often referenced leader; Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Yes he is a fictional Star Trek character, but he exhibits many fine characteristics like Martin Luther King, Jr, that any leader could follow today. He is moral, highly logical and perhaps cerebral, but he is also a master of diplomacy and debate. Something needed in the workplace and the rescue fields of today. He is one who resolves seemingly intractable issues between multiple parties much like those raised over the plight of Haiti's devastation.

Take notes from Picard's book of leadership and find resolutions in conflict that are peaceful but utilizing tact and cunning. In viewing the first episode of Star Trek The Next Generation (TNG): "Encounter at Farpoint", I am enchanted by Picard's presence and the strength of his backbone. Although he is motivated by his command and the responsibility it carries, I find his moral compass to be fairly even. This assessment is obviously an early assumption. He keeps his head, though confronted with a powerful enemy called the Q, a visitor from what it calls the Q continuum. Compare this to the devastating uncontrollable effects and after effects of Haiti's earthquake.

Picard logically contemplates how to deal with an extradimensional life-form that demonstrates power to manipulate space and matter, and interferes with the execution of the Farpoint investigative mission. Although Picard is surprised by his crew being charged and placed on trial for being a "dangerous, savage, child-race"; he keeps his head and instead challenges Q's intrigue: "Those who go on misinformation, half-information, self-righteous life forms who are eager not to learn but to prosecute, to judge anything they don't understand or can't tolerate."

Now the threat from one extraordinary alien is contained by his own desire to prosecute and judge. The Q releases the crew of U.S.S. Enterprise-D spaceship, allows them to continue on their mission under observation of tried accusations. Again, Picard is cerebral but strong in his personal belief of what good his crew will accomplish within the optimistic guidelines of The Federation: "We've no fear of what the true facts about us will reveal." In the end his conviction proves true and wins his crews' freedom from the Q and gains moral goodwill from an enslaved spacefaring life-form by returning it to its mate after gifting it with needed energy to set itself free. This may prove helpful for future missions to come.

The challenge is in seeing the logical approach and believing in the end resolve. Unlike a seasoned Captain Picard, the many volunteering now (like a young Martin Luther King, Jr founding and leading the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957) are new leaders gaining the beginnings of their leadership experience; Picard's character had many years of life experience leadership to draw from. Interpreting what the world's challenge is and assessing a method to solve it is anybodies guess. Remember the Haitian earthquake and remember King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. All that's needed is a conviction of choice to serve and to lead.