Okay, I confess my crime of passion for Fox’ 24 (starring Keefer Sutherland as the moody, manipulative and maniacal federal agent Jack Bauer). As a relative latecomer to the real time terrorist drama (I missed the first four seasons but am feverishly catching up through DVD loans), I can’t believe it took so long for me to get hooked. If I could watch in my sleep, I would.
I’ve learned a lifetime of leadership wisdom from watching Jack lead his CTU pals to defuse bomb plots and diffuse assassination attempts. Leadership is influence and the ability to accomplish an objective through leading a team. Jack Bauer is the quintessential leader. Cool under pressure. Creative. Discerning. And able to wield a real big stick. Naturally, there’s enough insight to pen pages on Jack, but let me briefly share a few helps I’ve learned in viewing 24.
First, never give up. No matter how insane the situation or how difficult the task, Jack Bauer never quits. His own head can be on the block and still he moves forward. He can be on the run from both good guy and bad boy and still hold his focus. Jack Bauer keeps plugging, pushing and pulling until he figures out a way. It ain’t over till it’s over. I was told as a kid that “quitters never win and winners never quit.” It seemed trite as a child, but as a man it’s the difference between achieving your dreams or settling for mediocrity. The greatest trait in leadership, next to integrity, might be persistence. Real leaders press on.
Second, every obstacle possesses opportunity. Jack Bauer may be at the end of his rope but somehow uses it to lasso a door of escape. He can be suppressed, sequestered and stymied but he views each situation as pregnant with possibility. It’s what keeps us turning in, week after week. Like winding a clock, the hour progresses and the tension mounts until right at “whatever :59” the action strikes midnight (and you have to wait a week to learn how Jack gets out of this mess). It’s a good leadership insight, really. Too many times it’s easy for many individuals to look at trouble and trial as “the end” when leaders recognize it’s really only the beginning.
Third, remember your resources. Jack Bauer often goes maverick in his attempt to bring down assassins and spoil terrorist plots and yet he’s no lone ranger. He knows he needs friends and confidants to feed him valuable counsel and inside information if he’s ever going to succeed. In season one there’s evidence of “dirty agents” inside CTU who’ve compromised intelligence and, consequentially, placed many lives at risk. And, yet, despite the high level of distrust by Jack, he still relies upon Nina to provide information and deliver necessary resources. It’s a good lesson for life. Too many times leaders try to succeed at others’ expense rather than tapping their team’s resourcefulness. Relationship and resource are keys to both survival and success—immediate or long-term. Leaders stay connected to both.
Fourth, know when to say when. Jack Bauer is an intense individual who occasionally heads south in his attempts to exact intelligence from informants (whether willing or not). He’ll fearlessly pull a gun and put it against the head of someone withholding information or fighting against Jack’s plan. Rarely, if at all, does Jack pull the trigger. His goal is to frighten a confession not finish the crime. Nevertheless, in the heat of high intrigue blood can flow and bones can break. It’s a good lesson for leaders pushing a plan or pumping a vision. Not everyone will get on board nor fully agree (at first or ever). Leadership is influence. It knows when to say when. It recognizes when to pull the plug or point the finger and call “charge.”
Finally, not everything you do will be rightly interpreted. Most of Jack’s battles are fought on two fronts: one with the terrorists and the other with co-workers, friends and even family who have misinterpreted his actions as tricks or treason. Jack is a rogue agent whose personal lifestyle leads much to be desired. Nevertheless, Jack Bauer is faithful to his objectives and keeps his integrity in tact. He is true to his word and protects those who hold his confidence. Consequently, those who learn to trust him often put their own lives on the line, risking promotion, reputation and health. Leaders often war against external terrorists like time, talent and treasure as well as inner battles with apathy, discord and power plays. In the process, a leader’s vision can be misinterpreted, misunderstood and, even, misapplied.
In the end, Jack Bauer always wins. He finishes well. He completes the mission and saves the day. He teaches us that true success isn’t found in a minute but a day or month or years. For those captivated and caught in the test of a momentary situation—offering reward or punishment, carrot or stick, power or failure—the wisdom to discern between the long and short-term is invaluable. Too many people choose the temporary over eternal, the pleasure over principle and the feeling over faith. Jack teaches us to think with our hearts and feel with our heads; to know the difference between what’s right now and what’s now right.
With Jack around, the world is safer.
And for most leaders, that is a 24 hour job.
I’ve learned a lifetime of leadership wisdom from watching Jack lead his CTU pals to defuse bomb plots and diffuse assassination attempts. Leadership is influence and the ability to accomplish an objective through leading a team. Jack Bauer is the quintessential leader. Cool under pressure. Creative. Discerning. And able to wield a real big stick. Naturally, there’s enough insight to pen pages on Jack, but let me briefly share a few helps I’ve learned in viewing 24.
First, never give up. No matter how insane the situation or how difficult the task, Jack Bauer never quits. His own head can be on the block and still he moves forward. He can be on the run from both good guy and bad boy and still hold his focus. Jack Bauer keeps plugging, pushing and pulling until he figures out a way. It ain’t over till it’s over. I was told as a kid that “quitters never win and winners never quit.” It seemed trite as a child, but as a man it’s the difference between achieving your dreams or settling for mediocrity. The greatest trait in leadership, next to integrity, might be persistence. Real leaders press on.
Second, every obstacle possesses opportunity. Jack Bauer may be at the end of his rope but somehow uses it to lasso a door of escape. He can be suppressed, sequestered and stymied but he views each situation as pregnant with possibility. It’s what keeps us turning in, week after week. Like winding a clock, the hour progresses and the tension mounts until right at “whatever :59” the action strikes midnight (and you have to wait a week to learn how Jack gets out of this mess). It’s a good leadership insight, really. Too many times it’s easy for many individuals to look at trouble and trial as “the end” when leaders recognize it’s really only the beginning.
Third, remember your resources. Jack Bauer often goes maverick in his attempt to bring down assassins and spoil terrorist plots and yet he’s no lone ranger. He knows he needs friends and confidants to feed him valuable counsel and inside information if he’s ever going to succeed. In season one there’s evidence of “dirty agents” inside CTU who’ve compromised intelligence and, consequentially, placed many lives at risk. And, yet, despite the high level of distrust by Jack, he still relies upon Nina to provide information and deliver necessary resources. It’s a good lesson for life. Too many times leaders try to succeed at others’ expense rather than tapping their team’s resourcefulness. Relationship and resource are keys to both survival and success—immediate or long-term. Leaders stay connected to both.
Fourth, know when to say when. Jack Bauer is an intense individual who occasionally heads south in his attempts to exact intelligence from informants (whether willing or not). He’ll fearlessly pull a gun and put it against the head of someone withholding information or fighting against Jack’s plan. Rarely, if at all, does Jack pull the trigger. His goal is to frighten a confession not finish the crime. Nevertheless, in the heat of high intrigue blood can flow and bones can break. It’s a good lesson for leaders pushing a plan or pumping a vision. Not everyone will get on board nor fully agree (at first or ever). Leadership is influence. It knows when to say when. It recognizes when to pull the plug or point the finger and call “charge.”
Finally, not everything you do will be rightly interpreted. Most of Jack’s battles are fought on two fronts: one with the terrorists and the other with co-workers, friends and even family who have misinterpreted his actions as tricks or treason. Jack is a rogue agent whose personal lifestyle leads much to be desired. Nevertheless, Jack Bauer is faithful to his objectives and keeps his integrity in tact. He is true to his word and protects those who hold his confidence. Consequently, those who learn to trust him often put their own lives on the line, risking promotion, reputation and health. Leaders often war against external terrorists like time, talent and treasure as well as inner battles with apathy, discord and power plays. In the process, a leader’s vision can be misinterpreted, misunderstood and, even, misapplied.
In the end, Jack Bauer always wins. He finishes well. He completes the mission and saves the day. He teaches us that true success isn’t found in a minute but a day or month or years. For those captivated and caught in the test of a momentary situation—offering reward or punishment, carrot or stick, power or failure—the wisdom to discern between the long and short-term is invaluable. Too many people choose the temporary over eternal, the pleasure over principle and the feeling over faith. Jack teaches us to think with our hearts and feel with our heads; to know the difference between what’s right now and what’s now right.
With Jack around, the world is safer.
And for most leaders, that is a 24 hour job.
1 comment:
I am often amazed at what I can learn from characters.
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