Thread by @ShelfNerds

#MicroTreks

“I’m all for the personnel serving with me to express what they’re feeling, but,” begins Jellico. “There’s a time and place for it. And that time and place is not on my bridge during a crisis.”

Kovich sits still, peering at Jellico through his glasses.
1/10

“If we’re thrust into a chaotic situation, the survival of my ship and crew depends on the orderly implementation of my commands by my bridge crew,” Jellico explains. “I would expect the same of my own child during a crisis.”

“So you are a father?” Kovich asks.
2/10

“Yes,” Jellico replies. “I have a son.”

“Have you ever been with him during a crisis?” Kovich asks.

“As a matter of fact, I have,” Jellico answers. “The Cairo was about to enter into a pretty nast ion storm.”
3/10

“Our shields were thin from an exchange with some Nausicaan pirates,” Jellico continues. “So I ordered everyone to evacuate areas near the outer hull. But he didn’t want to leave our quarters. Worried about his paintings and sketches and such. My boy’s an artist.”
4/10

“So what did you do?” Kovich asks.

“We had about five minutes until impact, so I ran down to my quarters, knelt down before him, and asked him, ‘What’s keeping you from getting to where it’s safe?’ He told me, and I asked him if his art was more important than his life.”
5/10

“Good question. How did he answer?” Kovich asks.

“He said ‘no,’ and we got him to safety,” Jellico says. “After that, he never let his feelings get in the way of my expectations or orders again.”

“Why?” Kovich asks.

“Well,” Jellico starts.
6/10

“I suppose he learned to trust my judgment after that experience,” Jellico considers.

“Not because of what you said, perhaps, but because of what you asked,” Kovich explains.

“I—I don’t follow,” Jellico replies.
7/10

“You just said you lowered yourself to his level and asked him questions,” Kovich explains. “Giving him the opportunity to share his feelings with you, which freed him to look passed those—concerns to listen to what you had to say.”

Jellico doesn’t move.
8/10

“Order and professional detachment from our emotional drives has its place on the bridge, but acknowledging and giving space to what we’re feeling does as well,” Kovich says. “We just can’t do our best work without releasing what we’re feeling in words.”
9/10

“Isn’t that the job of a ship’s counselor?” Jellico asks.

“Sure,” Kovich responds. “But leadership sets the tone and expectation by their own—public practices.”

“Well, Mister Kovich—” Jellico begins.

“Doctor,” Kovich interrupts.

“You’ve given me a great deal to think about.”