10 Surprisingly Useful Business Tips From a Parody Twitter Account Want to your kick management skills into warp speed? Here are some great business tips, courtesy of the wacky world of Twitter.
By Jason Fell
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
If you were alive in the late 1980s and mid 1990s, you might remember Jean-Luc Picard. Played by actor Patrick Stewart, Picard was captain of the USS Enterprise in the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series, as well as several movies. What you might not know is that the guy has some pretty sage business advice.
Let me explain.
Last night, I sat on my couch watching 2013's Star Trek: Into Darkness. Kind of lame, I know. I know. But for a nerd like me, it was a pretty decent flick.
It got me thinking about Picard and "The Next Generation" and how that show was, well, always a little too geeky even for my tastes. But then I took to Twitter and thought, heck, I'm gonna search for Jean-Luc Picard and see what turns up. That's when I found @PicardTips.
I don't ususally think twice about most Twitter parody accounts but this one had me reading. And reading. Whoever manages this one shares some surprisingly useful tips on management -- all presumably gleaned from Picard's role as captain on Star Trek.
Related: 7 Ways to Get People to Take You Seriously
After scanning his feed, I've collected 10 of @PicardTips' best nuggets of advice. They're good reminders even for the most serious business person.
Here they are in no particular order:
Picard management tip: The respect you show your crew is a major factor in determining how they feel about their work.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) May 20, 2014Picard management tip: Tell good stories. The right story can persuade, inspire, or illuminate.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) May 5, 2014Picard management tip: It is not necessary to agree with the majority. Part of leadership is individuality.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) May 17, 2014Picard accessorizing tip: Don't overdo it. A little bling goes a long way. pic.twitter.com/Epq748bDc2
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) March 7, 2014Picard management tip: Run crisis drills when all is well. A real calamity is not a good time for training.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) April 25, 2014Related: The 3 Qualities of Likable People
Picard management tip: If you succeed too much and become cocky, recognize it, admit it, and stop it.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) May 10, 2014Picard management tip: Question authority, and permit others to question yours without fear of punishment.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) April 7, 2014Picard management tip: Respect and seek to comprehend the viewpoints of people who are very different from you.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) March 14, 2014Picard perspective tip: Spend some time staring at the stars. It feeds the soul and revives the mind.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) April 3, 2014Picard ethics tip: Target their weapons.
-- Picard Tips (@PicardTips) May 5, 2014Related: Successful Entrepreneurs Do These 5 Things Daily
