Captain's Log: Leading from the chair just left of center

My Meagan was gone over the weekend, off playing Dungeons and Dragons with some friends.

I needed entertainment, so naturally, I did what any sensible person would do. I fired up some Star Trek: The Next Generation. Because sometimes the best guidance comes from 24th-century space explorers.

This time, I found out that Counselor Deanna Troi might be the most underrated leadership model in the entire Trek universe.

For the uninitiated: Deanna Troi is half-Betazoid, half-human, and serves as the ship's counselor on the Enterprise. Her empathic abilities allow her to sense emotions, making her an invaluable advisor to Captain Picard.

"I sense deception," she'd say, or "There's something they're not telling us." While the crew initially struggled with how to use her abilities, Picard quickly realized something crucial: emotional intelligence is a strategic advantage.

Lyraxia also wants to be a starship counselor when she grows up.

This isn't just sci-fi wisdom. In my work with clients, I've seen firsthand how leaders who tune into emotional undercurrents navigate challenges more effectively than those who focus solely on numbers and logic.

In the pilot episode "Encounter at Farpoint," Troi's empathic abilities help the crew understand the true nature of the mysterious Q entity. While everyone else is reacting to Q's words and actions, Troi senses his hidden emotions and intentions.

When working with clients, I've discovered my own version of this "empathic advantage." I can often sense when someone says "Everything's fine" but their nonverbals are screaming "NOTHING IS FINE!"

This isn't mystical – it's about paying attention to the subtle cues we all broadcast without realizing it.

What struck me was how Troi didn't just report what she sensed – she interpreted the emotional data in a way that helped the crew make better decisions.

How this applies to us: In business, the ability to not just recognize emotions but translate them into actionable insights is gold.

When a client tells me they want one thing, but I sense hesitation or conflict, I don't ignore it. I create space for that unspoken concern to surface.

A massive part of getting to know your clients so you can serve them with excellence is listening, and recognizing where those emotions are leading.

So here's my challenge to you this week, my movement makers and shoulder shakers:

Where might you be missing emotional information in your business conversations?

What would change if you trusted your "I sense deception" instincts more often?

How could you create space for unspoken concerns to surface safely?

Hit reply and let me know which of these questions resonates most with you. I read every response, and you know I'm always here to help you navigate your own leadership journey.

Until next time, remember – sometimes the most important information in any conversation is what's NOT being said.